New Life For Haiti
Brian Miller and Michelle Donnell were interviewed on the WCIA noon news show concerning the upcoming fundraising banquet on January 12, 2008 at the Walkway in Mattoon, IL. See www.newlifeforhaiti.org for more information.
New Life for Haiti is an organization that was founded by three Church of God churches in the Midwest Region. We are working with missionaries Steve and Jolene Moore (whom some of you may know). The work is in southwestern Haiti, south of Jereme, in the Grande Anse River Valley. All of our work so far has been in Marfranc.
This year, we expanded a primary school. Next year, we plan to build a Medical clinic, a secondary school, and a guest house so that Steve and Jolene and our teams can be closer to the work. If anyone has any interest in working with us, please let us know.
This work came about because of an encounter we had with Pastor Bob Roberts in Keller, TX. We had asked him how we could be more successful in planting churches since his church plants more churches in the United States than anyone else. He said, "Boys, if want to plant a few churches around Chicago, don't waste my time. Find some place hard in the world to work. Work there 20 years. And then you will know what to do around Chicago."
Labels: Bob Roberts, Haiti, Missional, Missions
posted by Brian at 4:38 PM
25 Comments:
I found your comment that CGGC is good at building things very insightful. It's one of those things that I just never sat down and thought about as an asset of the CGGC. However it is one of those things that is so obvious that it can miss our attention. Kudos for seeing what we are good at and running with it.
I'm not sure if he meant the whole CGGC or just the particular churches involved with New Life For Haiti. Among the four or five churches involved we do have an inordinate number of building trades people.
Actually, I meant Steve Moore, our missionary is good at building stuff. If Steve or Jolene were good at medical care, I suspect we would focus on that, or education, or whatever, but they are good at building, so that strongly influences our actions.
New Life for Haiti isn't actually a part of the CGGC. It just happens that 5 of the 6 churches currently involved are CGGC churches. I didn't note this on the post, but I wonder if that is part of what is emerging -- decentralized missions.
Despite what Brian meant, I think Andrew is correct that construction has been a strength of CGGC missions (and many other American-based mission organizations). It is a key component of many short-term mission encounters, as it is not necessary for a participant to speak the language, and at least in the past, building projects provided concrete, defined, financial goals that churches could get behind. While building is only one facet of missions, it can be a positive one and a way to meet the needs of a community.
More and more, supporting mission projects beyond the local community is a hard sell in many American churches. Perhaps, this is not true across the board, but in my experience, those who consistently support missionaries (or mission projects) are an aging group that is not being replaced by younger generations.
Those who commit their entire lives to living as missionaries in a foreign culture are also becoming rarer. With global communications, the ability to circle the globe in days rather than weeks or months, personal needs, rising debt, interpersonal conflicts between missionaries, and the plethora of short-term projects available that allow us to fulfill our missions “commitment,” the face of missions is changing. I point this out simply as a fact, not as a judgment. Though I grew up as a Missionary Kid and have been involved in short-term missions, I am not the “model” mission supporter or missionary, but am a part of this generation that sometimes questions the whole idea of “foreign missions.” These changes should make us sit back as a church and ask, "Why and what should we do about it?"
I think Brian's comment about the decentralization of missions being an emerging phenomenon sheds some light on the answer, but I’m not sure. At the risk of stirring the waters (though I don’t like to do so), I would like to ask, Why are churches moving toward starting from scratch and taking charge of their own missions endeavors?
This is not a criticism of New Life for Haiti, but a question I’m throwing out because I’d like to know your answers to it. I see it as a positive step that younger churches are making radical commitments beyond their immediate neighborhood, and though I understand “centralization” has its problems, I also know difficulties can arise when mission organizations (big or small) are too independent and do not cooperate or learn from each other. I can deduce some of the pros and cons of handling missions more independently, but I do not have personal experience with this approach to missions. It would be helpful to get first-hand feedback on how these more independent endeavors are motivating younger generations to take outreach to the world more seriously, and whether they are able to avoid the problems of “centralization” long-term.
Looking forward to hearing more about this.
Congrats on a well-done interview, Brian, and I hope the banquet goes well.
Sherri
Sherri's question:
Why are churches moving toward starting from scratch and taking charge of their own missions endeavors?
We long to be what we once were, but to do so, we spend most of our time keeping our current structures in place.
To be a healthy organization (IMHO), new ministries should be starting at the edges all the time. Winebrenner himself was always starting something new, if not a church, a business. And out of all the churches they started, most of them never took root. They ceased to exist.
Speaking only for myself, the question for me would be why aren't new works starting up more often, both churches and missions? In fact, from a church planting point of view, we will never be healthy until new churches begin to spring up with little to no offical permission. And they won't be denominational plants; they will be reproducing mother churches. And some of her daughters will not be Churches of God. But... many will be.
I assume it is partly because we have an institutional mindset and it isn't for the local levels to start a mission. I'm talking about an institutional mindset not the structure itself. Most of the time, it isn't the people that are the problem, but the preservation of the institution itself which sets artificial boundaries.
For us, within the structure itself, we have been in contact with Don Dennison to some extent to share information and advice. It would be my hope, though I've never formally shared it, that we might be able to work with the established Haitian conference as we expand our work. I've had the fortune of meeting Evenson Guirerr (sp?) twice. It is my understanding that he has an entrepreneurial spirit.
But at the same time, our work is in a part of Haiti where there are no Church of God churches. But there are hundreds of MEBESH churches. We have already begun to work with them.
Pastor Fran Leeman shares a story of how he became more involved in Haiti. (This is just one story. I'm sure there are exceptions.) He had been on several trips to Haiti with the CGGC and had worked with Steve and Jolene Moore. On one trip, they were painting a building, which was a usual type of work project. Fran asked Jolene, "Isn't there something more we could do than just paint?" Jolene reportedly responded, "No one has ever asked me that before? Yes, there is much more you could do."
I would hope there is a freshness to missions bubbling up locally, that would infuse energy into what is already established. What we are doing is not in reaction to the current state of CGGC missions, it is a direct result of seizing the opportunities God has set before us as we have prayed for an opportunity to work globally.
Interestingly, because our local church is so directly involved with New Life for Haiti, our banquet is not a church event; it is a community event. We hope to raise money and awareness in our city and our county, beyond our own church.
I've been thinking lately of established structures as sails, and we wonder (and complain) as to why there is no wind, no movement. I'm wondering/learning that wind comes from the grassroots, from the local church, and rarely any place else. When was the last time a local church caught fire (mixing my metaphors) because of a denominational program. Renewal seems to occur mysteriously at the level of the church. And then these winds can blow into established structures and cause movement.
Brian wrote:
"When was the last time a local church caught fire because of a denominational program?"
So...back to my other post about the new CGGC Director of Development. What are some thoughts? If Brian is correct (and I agree with him), how can a new CGGC staff member assist a grass-roots movement?
Since the decision has already been made to hire someone new, I am not trying to undermine those efforts. I am trying to be constructive in helping those who read this think through what's at stake.
Brian,
You said... "Speaking only for myself, the question for me would be why aren't new works starting up more often, both churches and missions?"
I don't mean this in a smarty-pants way, but do you read "The Missionary Signal" and the updates from CGGC CCM? There are OODLES of new churches and mission projects starting under the CGGC's Cross Cultural Ministries Department. In recent years we have moved into Moldova and Sweden and there is now a vision to move into Thailand. Furthermore, the reports from established places like Bangladesh, Haiti, and Brazil indicate that our churches are absolutely EXPLODING there. God is on the move!
To the everyone else:
Are emerging-type persons in our denomination excited about what God is doing in our already-established yet exploding ministries on the mission field? I hope so. If not, then why not get on board? These kinds of things are exactly what I think those in the Emerging Church are pining for. Just my opinion.
-Pastor George Jensen
Enola First Church of God
George,
You make a good point about CGGC missions. There has been healthy expansion. I certainly wouldn't discard it! I would give more emphasis to it rather than less.
I considered writing more, but let this point stand for the moment.
George,
With the understanding that being younger doesn't necessarily equate with "emerging-types", I can tell you that among the students in my youth group (an admittedly small sample) there is intense interest not only in established missions in the CGGC and ministries outside of the denomination, but also an intense interest in understanding how God is on the move throughout the world (churches growing in China despite persecution, relief efforts in Africa, etc) and (perhaps most importantly for their stage in life) on their high school campuses.
So that's just a wordy "yes" to your question about emerging-types being interested in established missions. I know that as far as I am concerned (as someone firmly located somewhere between emerging and non-emerging, for lack of a better term), I am excited anytime God is on the move wherever that may be.
(plus I am obviously addicted to parenthetical expressions!)
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I'm excited about any mission, CGGC or otherwise, that is practicing Jesus' Luke 4:18-19 gospel declaration:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Mike,
The baptism of John
Was it from God,
or was it from men?
And if you would, what does that have to do with Luke 4:18-19??
I want to see if when you refer to that passage, you and I would be understanding it the same (right) way.
Sherri,
I don't know why you removed your last post, because it was a good one.
Thank you for your insight speaking as one that has been out there doing the work.
If I could go back a quarter of a century, that is precisely what I would have directed myself toward. Unfortunately today, health concerns would not allow me.
I would want you to know however that I agree with you about the pastor's/lay leaders responsibility. I try and do my best, probably there is more I should be doing and I hope to learn as I go along. I think that one great barrier today to effective missions is communication. Communication between the denomination and its leaders, and between the leaders and the people they are called to shepherd. For me, It is hard to get people to look beyond their own sphere and think about the world out there that needs to be saved. I hope in the future to get better doing that.
I accept your challenge however to keep missions before them and just keep on keeping on.
Again, thanks for your insights
I'm afraid I don't understand your question Ken. You're obviously trying to set me up for something, so why don't you just come right out with what you're getting at?
You answered the question Mike,
Thank you
Okay, well, I hope I passed your little test, whatever it was Ken.
Mike,
IT was scripture
Do business with IT,
not me.
It know from whence my authority come. It does not originate with me.
I would suggest that this is an understanding that you also must arrive at.
Repent, so that the Lord might use you more effectively
friend
Pastor Ken,
I have a confession to make.
Luke 4:18 is about me.
I am poor, and desperate to have my deepest need fulfilled. I am captive to the things I love in this world that stand in the way of true freedom in Christ.
I am blind to the boundless love and mercy of the Creator. And I am oppressed by my sinful nature and by the one who knows my weaknesses.
Thanks be to God that vs.19 is about me too.
Thanks be to God its about you.
Peace,
Felicia Swavely
Felicia,
You have captured the meaning of the passsage,
You are right... I share the same poverty that you do. Thanks be to God for His amazing grace!
God's blessings on you
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Ken, what in the world are you talking about? I swear, I can't follow you at all. You're the king of non-sequiturs. What did your response to me have to do at all with what I said?
Mike,
John 3:8 is appropriate
(perhaps 3:10 also)
That's all I can tell ya, friend.
blessings
"the king of non-sequiturs"
Hi everyone,
It has been a while since I posted on this site... a long while. I haven't even followed the topics of discussion for this time either.
If I may comment, since I've just read over some of the comments posted, not much has changed here. The reason I quit being involved is still staring me in the face as I read the posts. "In My Opinion" is a fall back far too much. The time spent wasted sharing opinions could be much better used reaching out to people seeking to find the reason for life, Jesus Christ. I really don't care much about anyone's opinion. There is a saying about opinions that I've heard before "Opinions are like rear ends, everyone has one." what does this fix, how does this correct the issues at hand? It doesn't it only creates an area where everyone can be drawn into and share their opinion and think they are contributing to the solution, but they are not. They are only working on getting others mad at them, pressing harder to be heard and not listening to the truth in the other person’s ideas.
If this Blog is going to be of use everyone needs to push their opinions aside and start looking at the elephant standing in the room. Are there issues in the CGGC, yes if I were to say not I'd be lying. Are there issues in other denominations, of course, if not people wouldn't be part of it, that is why there are problems... I am the problem, a man, a human being who fell from grace before I was born. Born into sin, with a natural draw to sin and a heart to please God.
Take time to read over the last few posts and the comments that are posted. Look at them from the eyes of a non-Christian. What do you see? I see a group of people that have a hard time accepting each others ideas of "Church" and how to run a "Church". The truth is You and I are the church and we can't get along how do we ask others to join in the "Church"... why would they want to?
Just My Opinion? I think not!
Rob,
How about sharing your insights into the Director of Church Development discussion? You wrote: "Are there issues in the CGGC, yes if I were to say not I'd be lying..."
This is a current topic with much importance. You've had a variety of experiences that could be of value as this position is explored.
As a follow up, I might say the night went great and we raised over $7000.
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