Episodes
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Trauma has the potential to cripple individuals that have experienced adversity, poverty and exclusion. There isn't an area where this is more clear than in global orphan care and there isn't a better person to walk us through what building resilience looks like than our guest today. Dr. Nicole Wilke is the Director at the CAFO Research Center where she leads a team focused on making research applicable to everyday practitioners in global child welfare. On the show, Nicole talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about what she's learned both from living in Peru as well as through the research that she has conducted in promoting better practice for orphaned and vulnerable children. We close our conversation with diving into the new book that she co-wrote with Dr. Amanda Howard called Overcoming which is out now. There's something in this conversation for everyone, so jump in with us!
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Resources and Links from the show
Caleb Koala's Comeback Ride
Overcoming: What Scripture and Science Say About Resilience (CAFO Site)
Overcoming Book on Amazon
CAFO's Core Elements
Transitioning to Family Care Resources
Conversation Notes
The needed mutuality between Global North and Global South within the family of God The difference between endogenous and exogenous empowerment in cross-cultural missional work Christians in orphan care had become known with leading with their hearts rather than their heads Addressing the distrust between research and Christian orphan care practice The products and resources at the CAFO Research Center that turns research into applicable practice How scripture and science align to bolster understandings of resilience Trauma is real and at the same time use of the word 'trauma' is often watered down in the West Adversity that turns into trauma happens at an instantaneous and subconscious level and will affect people differently The keys to building resilience that can happen at any time for anyone Data-informed practices and frameworks that will promote resilience in childrenTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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The problems surrounding poverty are wicked and complicated. Pat answers and short term solutions are never going to get us where God is calling us to be. The challenge is that nonprofits often experience constraints (either real or perceived) that keep them from innovating better approaches to meeting peoples needs. We're joined today by Abe Wright and Greg Bixler who are the co-founders of Design Outreach. As an organization that not only values innovation but actively invests and rallies donors towards research and development, they've been able to provide significant upgrades to common problems in WASH and medical care. The communities that we partner with deserve better and Abe and Greg provide us with helpful insight and direction as we iterate and innovate.
Podcast Sponsor
The Resilient Communities Center helps you become all God intended for you to be through training and coaching within a community.
Check Out All The Offerings from the Resilient Communities Center
Resources and Links from the show
Design Outreach Online
When Global Ministries Merge on Think Global, Do Justice (A Conversation with the Leadership from Water For Good)
Conversation Notes
The necessity of transforming what it means to be a humanitarian organization and the ways in which we operate 40% of water pumps are no longer in function and we need to improve that The need for collaboration and working with government partners Understanding research and development as practical problem solving Comparing the efficacy of LifePump with other water pumps or water solutions. The importance of both access to water and the durability of water pumps. Wrapping your donors into the work of innovation even as some solutions don’t pan out Additional innovations in hygiene and medical careTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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Episodes manquant?
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Recorded live from the CCDA Conference in Portland, Oregon, we are joined by three educators equipping students globally to think biblically and pursue justice. On the show today we have Dr. Karen Fancher and Dr. Greg Burch from the Multnomah Campus of William Jessup University alongside Ernesto Duke who is the President at Eternity Bible College. They join Brandon Stiver for a conversation around the trajectory of Christian higher education, balancing ethics and philosophy with skill set development and what it looks like to prioritize spiritual formation as we develop theory and practice.
Resources and Links from the show
Click here to learn more and enroll in the Protective Behaviours Course
Camino Quest Online
Global Development and Justice Master's Program (Jessup University)
Eternity Bible College Online
Blessed Are The Peacemakers with Dr. Karen Fancher
Conversation Notes
3:40 - The things that have been most remarkable about being at CCDA 9:20 - The complexity of teaching history where victors tell the stories 13:40 - Updates from OneAccord and the Lausanne Congress 17:20 - The model of making a biblically focused education available and affordable internationally 24:40 - The trajectory of higher education for global studies 30:00 - Balancing the development of skill sets with understanding the philosophy, ethic and theology underneath what we do 37:10 - The priority of slowing down and connecting with God before “doing” the work 40:40 - Pilgrimage as a spiritual practice to experience God -
There is no lack of complex challenges when delivering health care in the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS crisis. On the show today, we have Echo VanderWal who is the Co-Founder and Executive Director at The Luke Commission in Eswatini. Echo joins Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke for a conversation about calling, the pain and loss created by the AIDS Crisis, the irreplaceable impact of PEPFAR and what it looks like to provide holistic care in rural communities. With over 20 years in the country, Echo points us to what excellence looks like as follow Christ's example of humble service.
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Resources and Links from the show
The Global HIV/AIDS Conversation
The Luke Commission Online
Conversation Notes
4:00 - What do Jesus, Conor McGregor and Osama Bin Laden all have in common? 5:35 - The importance of having the support of your family when being called to serve God overseas 6:55 - Following Christ’s example of service in loving our global neighbors 7:50 - The reality of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa during the early 2000s inc consideration of the cost of transport, lack of medicine and poor treatment 11:35 - Pursuing professional investment in the national team that is delivering life-saving support in their own country 17:00 - The reality of inner pain and the orphaned spirit when family is lost 21:30 - Seeking care at scale within rural areas of Eswatini 23:35 - Eswatini has the rate of HIV/AIDS in the world - a resounding 26% and why we don’t want that number to go down 25:45 - The importance of international partners that provide anti-retrovirals 26:45 - How PEPFAR has positively impacted Eswatini, the work of the Luke Commission and what it looks like on the ground. 29:10 - The dire reality of potential extinction when HIV/AIDS first expanded in Eswatini 31:35 - The erosion of bipartisan support in US politics and how it is now undermining the delivery of life-saving HIV/AIDS support for millions of people 35:00 - The risks that face people if PEPFAR pulls out 38:30 - The importance of comprehensive healthcare and tracking trends to help an array of health issues that arise across a population 47:00 - Don't wait to take the first step when it comes to engaging or even moving overseas to pursue God's heart for justice in the nations -
All is futility! Even in Christian nonprofits? We're changing it up a little for episode 265 as Brandon does a solo dive into the book of Ecclesiastes to gather wisdom from Solomon that can inform what we do and more importantly how we do the work of global justice. In an age of Big Impact, this is a word for the nonprofit leader that cares about the ethic of our approach and the opportunity for a compounding influence in a world where it seems that nothing ever changes.
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Resources and Links from the show
Scriptures shared:
Ecclesiastes 1: 1-4; 8-11 Ecclesiastes 5: 8-10; 18 Ecclesiastes 9: 7-10Andy Crouch Tweet 1; Tweet 2
Conversation Notes
"All is futility!" - Solomon The work of oppressors and corrupt politicians ends in futility, but what about our work that counters their work? Brandon shares some of his own global nonprofit futility The grace of recognizing how the world works even in it's vanity "Eat, drink and experience good" Andy Crouch throws shade and "impact" and Brandon says "Amen" Does our work matter? Getting our priority (singular) in orderTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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The number of forcibly displaced people in the world are at an all-time high. On every populated continent, we are seeing conflicts and climates that lead to people fleeing their homes. Our guest today is Myal Greene, who is the CEO of World Relief and he says that the global displacement crisis is the most significant issue that we face in the world today. We look at the last eighty years of how God has used World Relief to meet needs of people from war-torn areas and look at some of the most gripping conflicts today (Ukraine, Sudan and others). Myal has worked with World Relief for nearly two decades both within the US and in Africa. He walks us through what Christians should be aware of when it comes to displacement and how we can be instruments of welcome and support to global neighbors next door and abroad.
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Resources and Links from the show
Good News About Injustice by Gary A. Haugen
Welcoming the Stranger by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang
Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers
Rich Christians Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider
Refuge by Alexander Betts and Paul Collier
Refugee Stats from the UNHCR
The Evangelical Immigration Table
World Relief Online
Conversation Notes
9:40 - In the west, we don’t have a full conception of the level wealth and privilege that we have 12:20 - Remembering the last eighty years of what God has done through World Relief 15:25 - Finding ways to work with the church and give sacrificially to help the hurting 16:45 - A story about the need for both eternal salvation and the restoration of the present 24:40 - The impact of the 2021 Haitian earthquake and the fall of Kabul as Myal stepped into his role of CEO at World Relief 31:35 - The current displacement crisis is the greatest issue of our time 34:15 - “A smaller set of nations in the world are experiencing far greater suffering while the rest of the world is making continued and sustained progress in poverty alleviation” 36:55 - Contrasting the Ukraine case study with most other areas of poverty and ensuing conflict 38:45 - "Vulnerability is the likeliness that you will experience suffering as a result of shock" 40:50 - World Relief sets their focus on the global displacement crisis 43:00 - The church can be God’s instrument of welcome to those that have been forcibly displaced 46:12 - The importance of understanding underlying issues when discussing the arrival of refugees in a host country 52:40 - Working with the church under a biblical vision of community engagement 56:00 - Being inspired by God’s Word as a starting point for a life of justiceTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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The Great Commission and making disciples is for all Christians, but do we really live that way? We've had a classic understanding of what missionaries ought to be doing, but is that exclusionary? In episode 263, we have Luke Perkins from Crossworld to help us sort it out. Luke served as a missionary professor in Haiti for several years and today is the President at Crossworld where they emphasize that all professions have a role in the work of the Great Commission and the imperative of making disciples throughout the globe.
Podcast Sponsor
No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It's the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare.
Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024
Resources and Links from the show
Crossworld Website
African Friends and Money Matters by David Maranz
Conversation Notes
5:25 - What would good helping even look like 8:10 - Starting from the beauty and goodness of God in pursuing mission 10:00 - Emphasizing all professions beyond the classic missions archetypes 17:11 - Defining what disciple-making is all about 18:20 - Understanding business as mission with the quadruple bottom line 29:35 - Distinguishing between disciple-making and church planting 32:20 - The North American church is not designed to make disciples 36:00 - The essence and the rhythms of making disciples 38:00 - Key questions to ask yourself for disciple making 41:00 - Discussing the current state of HaitiTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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We're heading to Kenya for episode 262 as we connect with Steve Kariithi who is the Kenya Program Director at Hope's Promise. Steve talks with Brandon Stiver about what it looks like to do kinship based family care in Kenyan communities. We cover the effects of changing child welfare policy on families and juxtapose that with actions of the government that adversely affect families living in informal settlements. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to work in a slum, this is a good conversation to jump into.
Podcast Sponsor
No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It's the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare.
Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024
Resources and Links from the show
What can we do about injustice? : Blog by Colleen Briggs
The Star Kenya : Families in pain as houses demolished in Mathare
YouTube : Residents of Mathare Lament
YouTube : Over 6,000 households forcefully evicted along Mathare River
Conversation Notes
Understanding what life is like for families living in slum areas and what causes slums to form on the margins of urban areas Bridging impact expectations of western donors when working in severely impoverished areas Meaningful interventions that support children to grow up in families The effects of 2022 legislation in Kenya that promoted child care reform and changes for organizations serving children The Kenyan government is destroying homes and displacing families in the Mathare informal settlement of NairobiTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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For our July news and recommendation episode, we're joined by orphan care leader Kristen Lowry of Shelter Yetu to dive into a range of topics including the recent anti-virus update that sent the Blue Screen of Death around the world, the unintended results of making education free in Zambia, the legal trials of the Nobel Laureate father of micro-finance and dive into a book on being a whistleblower amidst corruption. There's a lot going on in the world, it's not only the American election we should care about, so jump into these other stories with us!
Podcast Sponsor
No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It's the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare.
Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024
Resources and Links from the show
BBC : How a single IT update caused global havoc
BBC : Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammed
The Guardian : Under threat of jail, microfinance pioneer vows to keep lending to poorest Bangladeshis
It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower by Michaela Wrong
Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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Joining the podcast for episode 260 are global child welfare leaders Christopher Muwanguzi from child’s I Foundation, Elli Oswald from Faith to Action Initiative and Jared Scheppmann from Ekisa Ministries. Our guests speak with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about the status of moving people’s mindsets in the west to focus on the need for children to be in families, as opposed to orphanages. We zero in specifically on the country of Uganda and juxtapose the good work being done by organizations like child’s I and Ekisa with the common practice of needlessly placing kids in residential care. With the backdrop of larger cultural narratives and specific stories about orphanhood that are promoted in media.
Podcast Sponsor
No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It’s the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare.
Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024
Resources and Links from the show
The World : American Missionary Accused of Abuse At His Organization, AidChild (First Article)
Barna and Faith to Action : Study on Christian Giving to Orphanages
Faith to Action : Family Care in the News
Conversation Notes
The deliberate work of Faith to Action and partner organizations to change the western media narrative around orphan care The environment within the UK in regards to Global South orphanages The country of Uganda has been up and down in supporting care reform, is it currently progressing or regressing The setbacks in promoting better care in the Global South when stories like Ghetto Kidz comes out on Britain’s Got Talent Comparing the perceived realities for children in orphanages versus the actual realities for such children The reality of abuse and corruption within orphanages covered in the media in Uganda The role of local governments to meet the needs of the community – capacity and enforcement Continuing gaps in coverage even in media that promotes care reformTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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There is no escaping the reality that much of what we're familiar with in global missions and development has some roots in colonialism. There is no better person to help us disentangle God's work from worldly power structures than Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst. Dr. Padilla DeBorst is the Richard C. Oudersluys Associate Professor of World Christianity at Western Seminary. She describes how integral mission addresses gaps in many traditional approaches to missions and what it looks like to live out a contextualized gospel in Latin America.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
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Resources and Links from the show
Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst's Work Online
Good News From Latin America Book
Conversation Notes
An introduction to integral mission and what deficiencies it was addressing in world missions Disentangling God's work in Latin America from European colonization How neocolonialism continues to affect Christian missions and development work Ethical practices in global partnerships for missions and development organizations Contrasting Jesus' proclamation of the Gospel against the backdrop of Roman imperial rule Exiting our echo chambers to hear from Christian leaders in other global contextsTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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Today on the show we are weaving in and out of various topics, largely surrounding Africa and that touch areas of malnutrition (continent-wide) and trafficking (Congo) and even some really beautiful solutions for helping babies (Uganda). We have Dr. Lauren Pinkston of Kindred Exchange on the show with us to make sense of the news and provide critical insight. We dive into questions like if the resource curse is real, the long-term effects of colonialism and the challenges of addressing corrupt supply chains.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
Visit The Accord Network Online
Resources and Links from the show
Fox News : UN report says 27% of children under 5 live in severe food poverty, many in Africa
AP News : A growing community of breast milk donors in Uganda gives mothers hope
CBS News : African nation threatens Apple with legal action over alleged "blood minerals" in its gadgets
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
Upwardly Dependent Podcast
Faith to Action Webinar feat. Dr. Lauren Pinkston : Caring for Orphans
Conversation Notes
2:20 - An update on the Upwardly Dependent podcast 6:45 - The high propensity of kids in Africa and around the world that are experiencing food poverty 18:45 - The establishment of a breastmilk cooperative organization in Uganda and how it is saving the lives of children 33:25 - The supply chain of blood metals in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Apple's role within it 40:00 - Supply chains that shift to go through countries that don't have the same ethics that come from a Christian worldview 47:25 - Phil's recommendation of Jonathan Haidt's new book, The Anxious GenerationTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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In episode 257, Brandon welcomes author and nonprofit director Tiffany Bluhm back to the show. Tiffany is the Executive Director at Made for Pax, a Christian foundation which provides mentorship and vocational development for BIPOC leaders following Christ. The work is specifically employing contemplative formation for those that are engaging in peace and justice work, and that's what we talk about! Tiffany provides us with biblical insight and spiritual practices that can help us sustain the work of community development and justice leaders for the long haul.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
Visit The Accord Network Online
Resources and Links from the show
Made for Pax Online
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss
Leading from Your Knees with Peter Greer and Ryan Skoog
Conversation Notes
The link between contemplative formation and sustaining an action-oriented lifestyle Stories of civil rights leaders and how they remained rooted in the midst of justice The importance of intentional investment of BIPOC Christ followers Contextualization and diverse cultural expressions of Gospel embodiment The story of the Old Testament is uniquely tied to the migrant experienceTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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In episode 256, Brandon and Phil get a crash course in global health from Yasmine Vaughan. Yasmine has her Master's in Public Health and serves as the Technical Advisor for Global Health and Missions with Helping Children Worldwide. Beyond sharing words and conditions that we can't even pronounce, Yasmine shares about the context in West Africa in which their work is centered and we learn the commonalities and differences in public health across different global contexts.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
Visit The Accord Network Online
Resources and Links from the show
View and Join the Together for Global Health Coalition
Watch Phil's Sermon on Family Strengthening
Conversation Notes
Zeroing in on the history and current day realities of Sierra Leone Navigating partnerships between western organizations and their corresponding organizations in the Global South Integrating current programs and initiatives into broader partnerships at the village level Working towards sustainability and reducing outside investment or management Together for Global Health Coalition Common health conditions and healthcare gaps in the Global South, including those that are oblivious to westerners The Global South increasing in conditions that had previously been more represented in the West Innovative ways that health practitioners in the Global South meet needsTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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Joining the podcast for episode 255 are nonprofit leaders Dave LeVan and Jon Allen with Water For Good. Dave and Jon speak with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about the status of worldwide access to water and what it looks like to implement Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in the Global South. We talk through the tremendous needs as well as acknowledge some of the shortfalls of the WASH sector. Our conversation concludes around what it looks like to merge two good-sized global nonprofits as Water For Good and Lifewater International recently underwent that very process.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
Visit The Accord Network Online
Resources and Links from the show
View Water For Good/Lifewater Merger Information
Conversation Notes
Taking in the big picture of water access globally and what the implications are on people's lives The similarities and the differences when implementing water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Global South What about all the broken wells in Africa? Is sustainability even possible? The reasons that led to the decision for the two organizations to merge into one The operations and logistics of merging and integrating two different teams along with their activities The post-merger opportunities that are presented to the newly formed Water For Good The importance of staying curious and not losing heart in the work of global justiceTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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In this month's 3+1 episode, we're diving into conversation around the current refugee crisis being fueled by conflict and displacement worldwide, jump back into recent conversation on Haiti and the challenges that pregnant mothers are facing in the midst of tumult and also look at the controversy surrounding mass weddings in northern Nigeria that includes underage orphan girls. We've got Kelly Strong on the show with us today who is the CEO at Safe International and also an associate providing support to practitioners through the Canopy International coaching collaborative.
Podcast Sponsor
The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference opens soon for a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development.
Visit The Accord Network Online
Resources and Links from the show
Check out the services and support offered by the team at Canopy International
World Relief Blog : The Drivers of Mass Displacement: Ukraine and Beyond
The Guardian : ‘It is simply best not to get pregnant’: women left terrified as Haiti’s maternity services collapse
BBC News : Mass wedding for Nigeria orphans sparks outcry
Book : Refugee - Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World by Paul Collier and Alexander Betts
2017 Refugee Crisis Series : Welcoming the Stranger with Krish Kandiah
Conversation Notes
3:50 What it looks like to change the name and rebrand an international charity 9:15 Checking in on the current state of "record breaking" forced displacement throughout the world and what to do when the world shows up on our doorstep 25:45 The reality of gang violence in Haiti that has collapsed medical clinics and hospitals that women have used to deliver their children 36:15 Evaluating a controversial story of mass wedding of orphan girls in Nigeria and what the implications are regarding child rights and international definitions 50:40 Brandon's recommendation of a page-turner book that covers modern refugee policyTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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On the show today, we're joined by missionary Matt Rhodes who is the author of No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions. He talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about trends within missions that emphasize speed and big numbers, but often lack the depth of discipleship that characterized Jesus' ministry. Matt shares about the mission that he is engaged in a majority Muslim country Northern Africa and what he's learned from being on the field and what faithfulness (even success) can look like for those spreading the Good News abroad.
Podcast Sponsor
Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International.
Visit Child Hope International Online
Resources and Links from the show
No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions on Amazon
Conversation Notes
The primary differences between how missions are approached currently as opposed to the days of William Carey and Hudson Taylor Current trends in missions work Approaching missions with professionalism and being enculturated Is professionalism opposed to being relational? The trajectory of the relatively recent phenomenon of short term missions and it's increasing share of the overall missionary force Not everyone that is a Christian is also an ambassador of Christ, or are they? The implications of the center of Christianity moving to the Global South Charting milestones for successful missionsTheme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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We are joined today by global nonprofit leader Gaston Warner who is the Global North CEO of Zoe Empowers. Gaston talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about their work among vulnerable families, especially child and youth headed households. Over the years, our show has talked a lot about the need for kids to be raised in families and communities and in this episode we learn about a comprehensive model that emphasizes the children's agency to overcome poverty. We talk empowerment, data, promising practices and it's an episode our orphan care diehards don't want to miss.
Podcast Sponsor
Zoe Empowers is equipping orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good.
Visit Zoe Empowers Online
Resources and Links from the show
Data and Research from Zoe Empowers
Conversation Notes
Understanding the reality of child and youth headed households in the Global South The empowerment model started by a Rwandan practitioner - how it works and how it's applied across countries Intentionally limiting partnerships and what it looks like for both beneficiaries and donors Defining the buzzword "empowerment" within global development The importance of integrating child rights throughout programmingTheme music by Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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In this 3+1 episode, we're getting into recent news about ways that Russia is getting around economic sanctions to buoy their economy during their war of aggression as well a couple Asian countries where pollution and contamination is having widespread effects on people's health and wellbeing. We've got Amanda Erne joining us for the conversation. Amanda is on staff with World Concern, is an associate with Canopy International and has a wealth of understanding around climate and sustainable agriculture. We discuss if the term "climate change" is still of use in Christian circles or if it turns too many people off and then get into a documentary recommendation focusing on a Malawian farmer advocating for change.
Podcast Sponsor
Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International.
Visit Child Hope International Online
Conversation Notes
8:45 Alternate economies that Russia is setting up to get around sanctions 21:00 Widespread contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh 29:45 Are we overpoliticizing terms like climate change and shutting off Christians to real stewardship issues? 35:13 A vicious cycle of pollution, cancer and economic collapse in Lebanon 48:00 The Ants and The Grasshopper documentary focuses on the story of a farmer and an advocate in MalawiResources and Links from the show
Al-Jazeera : Parallel Economy - How Russia is Defying the West's Boycott
Mongabay : Beneath the surface, a toxic tide threatens Bangladesh’s water lifeline
The Guardian : ‘Where can you hide from pollution?’: cancer rises 30% in Beirut as diesel generators poison city
The Ants & The Grasshopper Documentary
Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
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"We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace." Dr. Karen Fancher from Multnomah University joins the show today to walk us through the profoundly Christian field of peacebuilding. In her conversation with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke, Dr. Fancher walks us through what it means to promote peace within the humanitarian space with direct application to situations in Palestine and Sudan as well as explores the biblical foundation for Christians to be actively engaged in bringing God's Kingdom of peace and justice.
Podcast Sponsor
Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International.
Visit Child Hope International Online
Resources and Links from the show
Visit Multnomah University Online and the Graduate Peacebuilding Certificate Program
Strategic Peacebuilding by Lisa Shirch
Combatants for Peace Online
Conversation Notes
6:20 How God intertwines our work and our passion into a life story 11:05 “Reconciliation takes place when we step across difference” 16:00 Honoring those that have been traumatized and not making assumptions as outsiders when trying to understand conflict in other countries 19:20 Understanding the biblical concept of shalom 24:15 Peace as a central theme for Jesus and his followers 29:10 The primacy of being citizens of the Kingdom of God in contested times and situations. Should we be pro-Israel or pro-Palestine? 34:00 Common drivers of violence and conflict - disparity, feelings of powerlessness, trauma and redemptive violence 43:05 Considering the history of conflict in Sudan and the impact of war trauma on the populations 51:10 The difference between peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding in the humanitarian space 56:55 Proximity, skills and posture that promote peace 1:03:10 The role that foreign bodies, international entities and INGOs should and should not play in conflict resolution 1:09:00 Organizations and stories of peace: "We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace." 1:14:10 Learning from the prejudices and hurts in our own heart towards other people and seeking to better understand the Kingdom of God - Montre plus
