Holistic Approach

One thing that we've chatted much about is that the gospel has something to say to the 'here' as well as the 'to come.' It has something to say to our relationship with God, as well as our relationships with each other . . . So, we can't ignore a persons physical or community challenges and just focus on a relationship with God (or vice versa).

Here are some comments from earlier reflections:

1) The Lausanne Covenant (1974) affirms “that evangelism and socio-political involvement are both part of our Christian duty, for both are necessary expressions of our doctrines of God and man, our love for our neighbour and our obedience to Jesus Christ”.

2) Jesus’ mission focused on word, sign and deed (Luke 4). He says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 17:18 and 20:21).

3) We think that the best holistic mission is done hand in hand with area churches, where local needs are understood and there are people on the ground to help guide spiritual development.

4) There are basic needs that many people don’t have. We simply can't ignore this:

• 1.3 billion live in abject poverty, living on less than 1 dollar a day

• 3 billion live on less than 2 dollars a day (this is half the world population).

• Of these in poverty, children fare the worst. Children who are malnourished in the 1st two years of life suffer irreversible brain damage due to lack of protein.

• 30,000 children die every day due to poverty: that’s one child every 3 seconds.

• 2.2 million children die every year because they are not immunized.

• 15 million children are currently orphaned due to AIDS