speaker: elizabeth styffe

question: what does it look like for a church to get involved? what does innovative and sustainability have to do with this?
answer: if you’re like me, your vision is way too small. my method use to be, “pay, pray and stay away.”  now, i’m more willing to pray about what God wants me to do.

first, you have to work with the local church. that way, it’s not church based but church initiating. you have to ask: at the end of the day, who is the hero? the truth is we leave. working with the local church and providing them the ability to engage in the community and empower them means the sustainability is there.

it’s a whole process of taking away the idea that it’s about money. you have to empower not just the pastor but the entire church. the greatest untapped resource is the person in the pew. don’t ever do what someone in the local church can do – don’t cut off their hands and feet.

speaker: @jscottbrown

question: could you speak on the role of the importance of relationship with local governments?
answer: every country wants their children to stay – it’s about digging in and providing opportunities and hope that the government can’t provide. as an agency, people come through the country and you fall in love with the people and the culture. this provides a platform to help the older orphans who would normally end up on the street.

question: as you begin the in-country programs, what are some things you know you have to do right?
answer: i think the things you look at is sustainability and knowing that you can’t just start a project and believe it will run for a few years then you can back out. the local church is the key to sustainability. we hope to make opportunities available for the local church to engage in their community.

speaker: @cristinsmith
world vision

question: define transformational development
answer: the process of bringing about positive change in the physical, social, and spiritual realm. when we look at redeeming and restoring children back in their community, we also look at the redemption of the culture.

question: tell me a little about the five fingers of development
answer: water, food, health, education and development – summing up how we communicate Christ’s message without addressing these every day needs? making sure we can communicate and incarnating the gospel in a very tangible way is important to us.

question: if world vision shows up in a community, what questions are you asking?
answer: we’re normally invited in and there’s an immediate posture of learning from the community. asking questions like what are the causes of poverty? we also work with area leaders to create an area development plan in order to instill an educational component and other improvements over the next fifteen years. then we can move them from an impoverished community to a thriving community.

question: what should we do as we approach transformational development?
answer: looking at orphan care through empowerment – really seeing it from a global perspective. it’s not just the american church, it’s the global church. once we grasp this posture, we’re able to redistribute resources – allowing women to keep their children through sponsorship.

question: what are some lessons you learned working through churches?
answer: one of the best places to start is with a vision of the local church. it’s not just about meeting the short-term need of relieving a community, but it’s a long term commitment. together, you’re able to fulfill the great commission. aim for the dignified exchange.