Donna Bloomfield shares insights about working with the poor

Poor
Donna has been a good friend of mine for well over 20 years. We worked together for a few years and I now chair the ministry she leads in Burundi, Hope for Tomorrow Global. Margins2Mic is an initiative of Andy McCullough's. Andy has been involved in reaching people in various 'unreached' nations for many years and is passionate about relating to people cross-culturally. In response to his invitation Donna shares about her history with 'The Forgotten People' in Burundi. She also gives some very helpful insights about how to view and relate with people who are 'disadvantaged'. Click on photo:
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Christmas – a season of giving

Uncategorized
God gave us his Son! What greater gift could there be? Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Cor 9:15) A suggested book for you to give  All About Heaven was written by David Oliver to answer his own questions following his son's death. Where did my son go? What is he doing? Although a church leader David realised he could not readily answer these questions nor find books or sermons that gave the understanding he sought. This book is the result of his own searches. David asks good questions and presents Biblically based answers as well as drawing on stories of those who have had Near Death Experiences. I have found this very accessible and helpful. You may like to give it as a present - or…
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Kingdom advance through partnership and empowerment

Poor, Zimbabwe
What is the solution to homelessness? Homes? What is the solution to poverty? Handouts of cash? While there is an element of necessity in both these actions they are not long-term 'solutions'. They treat the symptoms but not the underlying problem that led to this situation. In my last church we ran a project to help people who were on the way out of an addictive life-style to get their lives put back together in a supported house. Much good was done and I believe it really helped many people. But it still did not get them into a place of income generation which would lead to independence and the programme was later adjusted in various quite radical ways to help make these people 'job ready'. With this in mind…
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In conversation with Sam Amara

News
Sam leads the Riches of Grace Church in Lagos, Nigeria, and also heads up an educational initiative, Sure Foundation, to help children from poorer backgrounds to receive high quality education. I had the joyful opportunity to catch up with Sam when he visited the UK recently. Riches of Grace Church Sam’s vision is to build a strong Word and Spirit grace-filled church. Coming from a Pentecostal background he is aware of the legalism that can so easily invade the local church and also, in Nigeria, of the influence of so-called prosperity teaching. Part of the life of a healthy church is to influence the next generation to walk strongly in the truth of the gospel. So, with his wife, Lovette, Sam started a school several years ago which now educates…
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Malaysia and Burundi

Burundi, Drug addiction, Malaysia, News, Poor
Following my week in the Philippines I flew to Malaysia to meet up with Steve Oliver (South Africa and Dubai) and a team of thirteen from Burundi, Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom. This was a variation of the team that had met over a period of three years (2006/9) as the Newfrontiers strategic Task Team for Ministry with the Poor. That team produced the two books Embracing the Poor and The Poor deserve the Best as advertised in the side panel. Since the team was formally disbanded in 2009 we came together in Mumbai in August 2011 where we led a conference on ‘Embracing the Poor'. This was now our next meeting. Melaka For me this visit to Malaysia was a first. From our arrival in…
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Kenya Crisis Update and Appeal

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
The most severe crisis of drought and famine that has been faced by the Horn of Africa for over half a century has now been impacting several nations for over one year. Our involvement with churches in Kenya has enabled a crisis fund, currently standing at £230,000, to be channelled direct to places of the most severe need through this network of churches in the tribal semi-arid desert regions of Samburu and Turkana.  Particularly it has been possible to meet people's needs in their communities thus removing the added trauma of having to relocate to Relief Camps with all the attendant challenges and risks. Recently Edward Buria, who brings oversight to the Newfrontiers churches in Kenya, spoke to us on video. Through this you will see that rain has now…
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