10Nov 2010 by Nigel Ring

When Helping Hurts – Part 2 – General Principles for helping without hurting.

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Equipping, Good Practice, News, Poor, Relief and Development, To the Nations, Training
Continuing this somewhat protracted commentary on the strongly recommended book, When Helping Hurts, we will now see what the authors say about Principles that need to be followed to avoid causing damage to those who are in need. Relief, Rehabilitation and Development First, it is important to distinguish between Relief, Rehabilitation and Development. In true crisis (e.g. tsunami) people cannot help themselves and need Relief. After the crisis there is Rehabilitation when people can start to help themselves but need others alongside Development is about empowering, the point at which great discretion is needed - ‘handouts' can be very damaging, especially if the reason for needing help is of a person's own making e.g. through irresponsible living such as alcohol abuse. Cultural sensitivity At all times we must be careful…
Read More
05Nov 2010 by Nigel Ring

‘When helping hurts’ pt 1 – Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Equipping, Finance, Good Practice, International, News, Poor
Foundational Concepts for helping without hurting. In this excellent book - a ‘must read' for all who are involved in helping people who are poor or disadvantaged - the authors look critically at both the issues of poverty and how it is defined, and at the typical response of very well meaning individuals and agents of society that may in fact be doing more harm than good. This is a book that will challenge the accuracy of notions you may currently hold - ‘is my desire to do good actually doing harm?' It applies both to ministry within your community and to international development ie how to relate across cultures. Each chapter begins with questions for you to answer which reveal your present stance and ends with questions to review.…
Read More
21Aug 2010 by Nigel Ring

God’s Stump – book about cross cultural issues

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Equipping, News, Poor
I find that holidays are times for reading. There are a couple I want to recommend. This is the first. Are you willing to be challenged about cross cultural issues? For ten years Nigel and Lisa Measures have been leading a cross-cultural and multiracial church, Khanyisa Community Church, in a township outside Cape Town, an area which, in the days of apartheid, was a hot bed of political and physical strife. But they have lived there for even longer and are thus well qualified as white people from a British culture to address some of the deep-rooted issues which should challenge all of us about the gospel and its application. How should it be outworked out among rich and poor, black and white, multi-racially? What are our inner attitudes when we…
Read More
19Jul 2010 by Nigel Ring

Ministry Report 5 – Crisis Pregnancy and Post Abortion

Christian ministry, Good Practice, Health, Ministry Report, Poor
From time to time it is my pleasure to use my blog to draw people's attention to ministries which I consider demonstrate 'Good Practice' among those who are in some way disadvantaged. This report has been written by the team leaders of Alternatives Pregnancy Counselling Centre in Brighton, UK. This ministry demonstrates great love, compassion and excellence. Called to Care Sarah Pooley and Claire Godley Often when we think of caring for the poor, practical ministries to people living in poverty in places like Africa and Asia come to mind. It’s easy to forget that there are people who are ‘poor in spirit’ and struggling with huge emotional issues in every street in the UK. One such group are women facing an unplanned pregnancy. In 2009 women living in England and…
Read More
17Jun 2010 by Nigel Ring

Country report – Kenya pt 2. The forgotten tribes

Christian ministry, Cross-culture, Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
Manyangalo In 1924 people from 8 tribes were brought together in the centre of a 160,000 acre (250 sq miles) game reserve. They had been brought there to care for the area and tend the animals. Over the next 80 years the land changed ownership several times, the most recent being in 2004. The new owner no longer wanted these people (now numbering several thousand) on his land and began to take steps to remove them. But they had no other home - several generations had been born and raised there! Lawyer saved At about this time Martin Mithega, a senior lawyer in Meru, became a Christian in Edward Buria’s church. Having previously had no time for the poor (as they could not pay substantial fees) he now felt he…
Read More
09Apr 2010 by Nigel Ring

Report on Zimbabwe pt 2 – Rural Poverty

Agriculture, Cross-culture, International, News, Poor, To the Nations, Zimbabwe
Following my time in the Harare area a 4 hour drive to Bulawayo took me to the farm of Peter Cunningham, successful ostrich farmer and visionary, who seeks to help empower the poor by ‘out-sourcing’ the husbandry of young ostriches to village people and then buying them back for processing. I was also amazed to hear of some of the ways in which he and his workers have been literally protected by angels from some opposition in recent years. What a mighty God we serve! Kezi On the Sunday I visited Crossroads church in Kezi, a vibrant energetic church meeting in a tent (recently decimated by storms) and ably led by Stephen Manhanga. Over a hundred people attended (some having been unable to do so as they had to stay…
Read More