22Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 7 – Identifying specific Goals and Activities + Kenya crisis update

Equipping, Good Practice, Kenya, Planning, Poor, Relief and Development
[caption id="attachment_1794" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Continuing to consider the Logframe as a planning tool we shall now look at the left hand column of the Logical Framework Matrix: Goals Purpose Outcomes Activities Goals In the development world the Goal may arise out of a national or sectoral policy e.g. HIV in sub Saharan Africa. However, it need not be this far-reaching. A city may have the goal ‘to halve the number of those who have multiple deprivation in the city within five years'. So the church's ministry should fit into this Goal. Purpose The Purpose, which contributes to the fulfilment of the Goal, could then be focussed, say, on those who are homeless, one category of those who are multiply deprived. This is the case in Brighton.…
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16Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Kenya Drought – Update from Edward Buria

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
No sooner had I posted the last blog (or so it seemed) than I received an update from Edward himself. Please read this to help your praying for the situation. Another drought..........Another crisis My big question The last one month and two weeks of February 2011 have been a very difficult and trying time as we find ourselves in the midst of another severe drought / famine. I have found myself asking God why another drought that has led to another crisis in our Nation as millions find themselves with no food, water and vegetation for their animals? God speaks In the midst of my questions that seemed to have no immediate answers, God clearly and powerfully spoke to me through dear friends from far lands and my own teams.…
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07Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Serious Crisis in Kenya

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
Starvation and Dehydration I am breaking into my series on Planning for Ministry since the situation in Kenya is dire and I want to share with you the text messages I have been receiving from Edward Buria, who leads the Newfrontiers churches in Kenya, during this very severe drought. Water is in very short supply and it has become necessary for Edward and his team to transport it from Meru (4 hours from their centre in Samburu). Obviously this has severe limitations. They are now seeing people die of dehydration and starvation. What you can do Please pray for: 1. Rain 2. Wisdom for Edward, his team and the pastors who are seeing their people suffer and die Please consider giving finance by cheque or online Edited sms messages are:…
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24Nov 2010 by Nigel Ring

When Helping Hurts – Part 3 – Practical Strategies for helping without hurting

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Equipping, Good Practice, International, News, Poor, Relief and Development, To the Nations
Concluding the review of this excellent book we shall now look at one very practical application. Short term mission teams. Like the story of the elephant and the mouse dancing together at a celebration - both benefit and enjoy it until the mouse is squashed - such can also be the effect of a short-term mission team. Who is really benefitting? Perhaps neither. The team have a ‘life changing experience' - but may learn the wrong things. The hosts can feel crushed. At the root of the problem is lack of sensitivity to others' cultures eg "Mine is the plumbline so any deviation is ‘wrong'". Consider time. In the ‘west' time = productivity; the emphasis is on good stewardship and using every minute productively. In the majority world there is…
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19Nov 2010 by Nigel Ring

Ministry Report – Feeding Programme in Mumbai

Christian ministry, Good Practice, India, Ministry Report, News, Poor, Relief and Development
Recently I was visiting India and was very impressed by what I heard of a beautiful ministry of compassion. I asked Lynn Fernandes to write it up for my blog: Around December 2007, a few of us from Living Word Church, Mumbai, India, felt sovereignly lead by God from a verse in Is 58:7 " ...is it not to share your food with the hungry, to provide the wonderer with shelter, to cloth the naked, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood." In short, to do something for the poor. There were so many poor people around us. Where were we to start and how were we to go about doing what we felt lead to? Feeding of the Poor We started off one Wednesday in…
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29Sep 2010 by Nigel Ring

LoveZim Prayer Day

Agriculture, News, Poor, Zimbabwe
A Global Day of Prayer I believe that September 26th will prove to have been a significant day in the life and rebuilding of Zimbabwe. Thousands gathered in Zimbabwe in many locations across the nation to pray and commit themselves to becoming involved in the church-initiated programme ‘Trumpet Call' to feed the nation through Foundations for Farming over the next year. There was prayer and repentance among the church leaders from across the streams and denominations. In Bulawayo over 400 pastors stood together on the platform to identify with this initiative. Around the world there was an outpouring of prayer as well. Reports have already been received from nations in many time zones - Canada, South Africa, Australia, France, the UK, Mauritius and USA. In our own church, one of…
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