All Nations Halifax CRCNovember 17, 2014

Thank you for your donations of $77,496.00 since 1997.

World Renew

“Compelled by God’s deep passion for

justice & mercy, we join communities

around the world to renew hope,

reconcile lives, and restore creation.”

Perspectives on “poverty” over time:1. The absence of things.2. The absence of ideas and knowledge.3. The absence of access to power, resources and choices.4. Entanglement.5. Lack of access to social power and freedom.6. Oppression, diminished personal and social well-being.7. Fundamentally: it’s spiritual.(So World Renew works with communities in all these areas.

FOUR KEY SCRIPTURAL MESSAGES UNDERLYING WORLD RENEW’S WORK:

Image of GodCommunity

Broken relationshipsChrist’s reconciling work

“GOD MADE US EQUAL” video:

FOOD

How does World Renew help?

1. Disaster response2. Rehabilitation

3. Transformational community development

Why does World Renew help? (I)

We are created equal, but the world is not an equal place. So you/we can

walk along side communities in pain to show and share the love of Christ.

Why does World Renew help? (II)a. God loves us. Jesus’ greatest commandments are that

we love God and each other (Matt. 22: 37-40).b. Humankind was created out of God’s love and in God’s

image, so we are to respect the dignity of every person (Gen. 1: 26).

c. God has a special concern for poor and vulnerable people (Ex. 2: 23-25).

d. God provides out of His abundance (Phil. 4: 19)e. All creation is reconciled with God through Jesus

Christ, and we are to be agents of reconciliation (Rev. 21: 3)

Why does World Renew help? (III)

f. God loves justice and requires us to do justice and love kindness (Micah 6:8)g. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me” (Matt. 25: 35-40)h. We hear God’s voice in Scripture and respond with the faithful use of our own voices (Prov. 31)i. God has a role for government to play in the protection and development of people (Deut. 4: 5-8)

Disaster Response: World Renew Expands Iraq Response

Disaster Response: Displaced in Iraq

Disaster Response: Ebola response in West Africa

Rehabilitation of fishing after Haiyan/Yolanda: The Philippines

Rehabilitation of agriculture after Haiyan/Yolanda: The Philippines

Development: Collaboration Heals Trauma: Cambodia and PTSD

Development: In Every Way, A New Person

(Tanzania, self-help and VSL….and strengthening faith!)

Development: Overcoming Stigma: growing enough food, and strengthening

marriages, Uganda

A Life-giving field in Uganda!

“Give a man a fish…… It’s not good enough until the fishers have control of the pond, and

can even influence what‘s upstream. Otherwise they can fish all they want, but the big boat will

snag all the fish!”

Land ownership: controlling the pond

No problem can be really solved from the outside!

How would you define DEVELOPMENT?

DEVELOPMENT is:1. empowerment: by God’s grace, people can change and

improve their world.2. community as resource: community is not seen as a

problem to be solved, but an asset.3. shared vision.4. leadership from within the community.5. ownership: development ultimately comes from within.6. sustainable: when the helpers leave, the system MUST carry on.7. kingdom vision.

So what is our relationship with our Southern neighbours?:

FOR DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR, WHAT WE WANT IS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

SYSTEM THAT INTEGRATES THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE OF OUTSIDERS WITH THE ASSETS AND CAPACITIES OF INSIDERS TO DEVELOP

LOCAL STRATEGIES FOR PURSUING POSITIVE CHANGE, ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

Now what?Pray and Think

Act-Ministry Partner Program (MPP)

-Choose to hold offerings for World Renew in accordance with the Synodical guidelines

-Global Volunteer Program (GVP)-Sponsor a refugee family

-Serve with a Purpose (SWAP)-Volunteer for disaster response (DRS)

-Join the “Free a Family” team

“Not all of us can do big things, but we can do small things with

great love. “Mother Teresa.