Throughout this new journey, I have been the first to admit that I have lots to learn about missions, development, Latin American culture, women's ministry, and the list goes on. God has a great way of continually humbling me in all these areas.
This past month, I read some great books that I wanted to recommend for anyone else interested in similar topics and share a few quotes that inspired me. Thanks to all for your recommendations!
We have been so influenced by science and the comforts of life in the West that the miracles of Jesus often seem like a first century phenomenon rather than reality for today.
Missions is about giving people a living picture of who God is, what he cares about, and how he acts.
As we understand the people God has made in cultures all over the world, we're drawn to worship him.
2. Half the Sky- Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide)
Education and empowerment training can show girls that femininity does not entail docility, and can nurture assertiveness so that girls and women stand up for themselves.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) summed up the mounting research this way: “Women’s empowerment helps raise economic productivity and reduce infant mortality. It contributes to improved health and nutrition. It increases the chances of education for the next generation.”
3. When Helping Hurts- Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself)
Indeed, the very nature of the question—What gifts do you have?—affirms people’s dignity and contributes to the process of overcoming their poverty of being. And as they tell us of their gifts and abilities, we can start to see them as God does, helping us to overcome our sense of superiority; that is, our own poverty of being.
God has indeed placed
good gifts into every community. While sin has brought enormous brokenness,
Christ has been sustaining all of creation—including culture—since the dawn of
time and is in the process of reconciling all of it.
There should be a balance of internal and external ministry. When our churches become spiritual spas in which we retreat from the world, our salt loses its saltiness, and we are no longer able to impact the culture.
We tend to drift away from God's bold vision, replacing it with a safer, tamer vision of our own.
God can't give you the blessings he has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands.
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The most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
Carrying our this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 MSG
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