Comments on: Why Don’t our Missions Programs Work? http://www.dpiministries.org/2010/01/why-dont-our-missions-programs-work/ Seeking the Heart of the Father Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:22:22 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Matthew Moore http://www.dpiministries.org/2010/01/why-dont-our-missions-programs-work/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Matthew Moore Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:02:08 +0000 http://www.dpiministries.org/?p=689#comment-90 Thanks Melissa, and yes I completely agree on both points. It was recently in the news about how the US government subsidies to American rice farmers drove many Haitian farmers out of business, and the same can be said for cotton farmers around the world. As a citizen, being informed is often difficult but very important. And, I am with you on your second point as well. Did you read the comments from an NGO worker in Haiti recently about the well-meaning couple who showed up because "God told them to go help"? They didn't even have a ride from the airport, adding to the already overwhelmed resources. Working through local people who understand the ins and outs of the country and culture, especially if you can do it through the local church helps tremendously. Thanks for your input! Thanks Melissa, and yes I completely agree on both points. It was recently in the news about how the US government subsidies to American rice farmers drove many Haitian farmers out of business, and the same can be said for cotton farmers around the world. As a citizen, being informed is often difficult but very important.

And, I am with you on your second point as well. Did you read the comments from an NGO worker in Haiti recently about the well-meaning couple who showed up because “God told them to go help”? They didn’t even have a ride from the airport, adding to the already overwhelmed resources.

Working through local people who understand the ins and outs of the country and culture, especially if you can do it through the local church helps tremendously.

Thanks for your input!

]]> By: Melissa http://www.dpiministries.org/2010/01/why-dont-our-missions-programs-work/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Melissa Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:25:51 +0000 http://www.dpiministries.org/?p=689#comment-89 Matt, Thank you so much for your last few post, I've really appreciated them. One other thing to look at when addressing poverty and the response of the church in missions is the policy that our own government (and many of the other "Western" governments) sets up in regards to the poorer nations. There are quite a few decisions made about how our government will interact with other governments that few people ever read about. And these policies are often what allows nations to continue to live in poverty, not having the options which you mentioned in your last article, and making it that much more difficult when NGOs, INGOs and faith based mission organizations do go into an area. One last thought about missions...I spent a number of years working in a couple different mission organizations before I realized that I needed quite a bit more training in the areas of development and social justice. Many times, as Christians, we think we can simply go into a location and God will give us all the wisdom we need. While He definitely can do and sometimes does this, we also need to take responsibility and gain the necessary tools to have a bit more understanding before doing things like building wells or schools. Not that we need a degree but definitely training. Just one more thought to think about:) Again, thank you for sharing! Matt,
Thank you so much for your last few post, I’ve really appreciated them. One other thing to look at when addressing poverty and the response of the church in missions is the policy that our own government (and many of the other “Western” governments) sets up in regards to the poorer nations. There are quite a few decisions made about how our government will interact with other governments that few people ever read about. And these policies are often what allows nations to continue to live in poverty, not having the options which you mentioned in your last article, and making it that much more difficult when NGOs, INGOs and faith based mission organizations do go into an area.
One last thought about missions…I spent a number of years working in a couple different mission organizations before I realized that I needed quite a bit more training in the areas of development and social justice. Many times, as Christians, we think we can simply go into a location and God will give us all the wisdom we need. While He definitely can do and sometimes does this, we also need to take responsibility and gain the necessary tools to have a bit more understanding before doing things like building wells or schools. Not that we need a degree but definitely training. Just one more thought to think about:)
Again, thank you for sharing!

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