$ v/s local currency

Restoring the early Church model is the prime purpose of this blog where the Holistic Church approach (fellowship of the believers, Biblical mandate, and ministering to the needy) stands out distinctively.  It is observed that the Churches give up social intervention (ministering to the needy) because there isn’t promising flow of ‘foreign’ funds. 

Most of the churches or Christian organization when contemplating funds for their social activities immediately approach government bodies who authorize legal flow of foreign funds into the country. The churches put in a lot of hard work to seek these funds. It’s not a bad idea in itself but the ministry to the needy and poor is definitely not confined only to foreign funding ($). Mobilizing the local resources which Jesus modeled and emphasized are usually overlooked, which I will be talking about shortly. Craig Greenfield the founder of “Alongsiders International” comments "So many foreign-planted churches never multiply. These churches are just not replicable. Often, they are not even sustainable.". The reason is simple churches bring lots of funds inside to quick fix the broken situation and later it becomes the norm. I wish to derive few principles that we read in the Bible that gives us a perspective of generating and utilizing local resources:

  Getting the perspective right:

 If our intention to establish social intervention program only to build our financial security then we will be identified with Judas sooner or later. The Bible records about Judas this way, "Now he did not say this because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief; and having the bag (the money box, the purse of the Twelve), he took for himself what was put into it [pilfering the collections]"John 12:6 AMPC.  Judas had a ministry with Jesus Christ which was well established but when he sought to build another ministry - taking care of the poor with Jesus’ offering for his personal benefit - his ministry, in fact his existence started to crumble leading to his downfall.  Later it's revealed that he didn't even care about the poor, he cared about the money hence being called a thief. Judas missed his faith in Christ (the very source of his resource) when he weighed Him against money. At the end he lost the money, ministry and most important of all his relationship with the Lord – the very essence of his calling. Get your intention right before you are identified with Judas. As it is said your intent precedes content.

 Jesus encouraged an extreme reliance on local resources:

Let’s infer what Jesus modeled when it comes to finding resource.  In my long experience working with churches and Christian organization I have noticed the creating of social program in most cases is to get the ministry to be noticed, bring it to limelight and pave a platform to raise more money. “Calling the twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town …’” Mark 6:7–10. Jesus commands that they depend on local resources while they are in the mission. The disciples witnessed it, which they report to Jesus after their return. After all the learning the disciples find the urgent need to feed 5,000 people! That would take some feeding program. Yet to learn their lessons well the disciples suggest that Jesus should send the crowds away. The need is simply too great! When Jesus rejects this idea, they consider using their money to bring in food from the outside. Again, Jesus refuses. He knows that this approach might solve the immediate problem but He had a bigger picture in mind. He was helping them to learn lessons about sustainability and trust for the future. Finally, a little boy was willing to share his bread and fish. Local resources are found. They lift these up to God … And the rest is a miracle in the happening.

Development Project model:

At the outset it is important to take note of the early Church model where the social intervention program was institutionalized to avoid services happening as onetime event. In Acts (6:3) We learn seven reputed people who were anointed and filled with wisdom were appointed to structure the social project for the Church. Let’s take a look at a development project and ask ourselves: Is this replicable? Let’s say you are living in a place with a lot of malnutrition and hunger. People are struggling and kids are missing meals. They are hungry. So, you think, I’d better start a feeding program. People need food. I can raise money to buy food. Problem solved! Just as in the church planting example above, you will certainly have solved the immediate need. Hungry people will no longer be hungry—as long as you are around to raise money to buy them food. This may actually be the only response possible in an emergency situation. But what happens when the next crisis comes along? The local people have “learnt” from your model and they know just what to do. They need to raise funds from outside to solve their problems. Unfortunately, they don’t have the contacts or resources like you did. An opportunity for growth and true transformation was gravely missed. But what if instead of a feeding program, your smart development worker developed some way to encourage those with food to share with those lacking food? A plan to create a self-help model, build their skills competencies add structure. This is exactly what is required to build stability and sustainability and more importantly help move from RELIEF to REHABILITATION. 

Jesus showed us the way.

By centering local resources and looking to God for miracles, we can ask and positively answer the question—Is this replicable?

Blessings