Last week, I wrote about DML's emphasis on agriculture this year, and how many programs teaching people how to farm have been cut due to the elimination of USAID. Of course, it is not just agriculture; thousands of other programs that have helped the alien, widow, the orphan, and the poor have been cut across the board.
Many Christians say it's time we stop relying on the government and that the church must step up. Unfortunately, that might not be easy. Richard Stearns of World Vision recently wrote, "Christians in the US give about one-tenth of one percent (0.001) of their incomes to help people in other countries. To replace the $40 billion dollars that was spent on humanitarian aid through USAID, Christians would have to quadruple their giving." Other sources state that 90% of the money that is received by the local church stays in the local church. Stearns went on to say that "governments can do things at a scale that individuals and churches simply can't...it's naive to think that private giving can replace what is lost." (From his post on LinkedIn.)
Regardless of how you feel about the cuts, a gap now exists.
Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Knowing where to send support is also a challenge if God is calling you to respond in this way. While some of USAID's activities related to relief efforts (e.g., responding to a crisis), a significant amount also went to development.
The book, When Helping Hurts, says this:
“We…believe that individuals and churches that have been blessed with financial resources…should dramatically increase their financial giving to churches and ministries that pursue gospel-focused, asset-based, participatory development. The churches and ministries that are engaged in development work have a very difficult time raising the funds needed to pay for this highly relational, time-intensive approach.” — When Helping Hurts
Gospel-focused, asset-based, participatory development. I think those are key words to think about as we consider where to send financial support:
- Gospel-focused - the whole Gospel, fulfilling all of the parts of the Great Commission, which includes "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded." This takes time and intentionality and is at the heart of making disciples, who can then make disciples, who can then make disciples.
- Asset-based - looking at communities from an asset perspective rather than need-based. What is God already doing in this place? Who are the people who live here who are already leaders? God is sovereign, and there is no place that we need to bring Him. But we must ask how we can join Him in whatever He is already doing.
- Participatory development - So much development has failed due to a needs-based approach, as people have "parachuted" into doing something that made them feel good, but it didn't meet the needs of the people who live in that place. Without local ownership, the initiative will die almost as soon as you leave. Having local participation in the work is critical.
