Making a Start : Being More Thoughtful and Theologically Reflective

So here goes. I need to reflect more.  There are a number of reasons for trying to be more thoughtful and theological reflective (and here’s my first reflection!)…  

1. I want to learn and live joyfully, close to Jesus. 

2. It is an area for my development and spiritual formation at William Booth College. I am not naturally a reflector so this is going to be a challenge!

3. I have realized from working on a very challenging international working group that I need to take more time to do some theology in order to give the ministry and mission here some strong context and purpose. Essentially, I want to connect my faith to my actions.

4. I want to know more about myself

5. I want to make better decisions in my role through having an informed faith.

6. I need to be more biblically and theologically literate, particularly in my area of mission

7. I want to see if there is any change in my views over the coming months. ( It was Thomas Merton who was supposed to have said ‘If the you of five years ago would not consider the you of today a heretic, you are not growing spiritually.’

So here goes, here’s my starting point. Here are the foundations of my faith and views at the moment:

• I am not an inspirational preacher, I never will be. I am not an academic, I never will be. I am not a theologian, I never will be. I am just an ordinary Christian with a heart for the poor and the marginalized trying to live faithfully and love better.
•  I very much see myself agreeing with Rev Roger Wolsey and lean towards viewing the bible through a hermeneutic of compassion, love and justice.
• l really like the strapline that Tearfund use for its work – ‘to draw people, through love, to faith in Christ’. Well I think that is what I am trying to do! Rightly or wrongly, that is the extent of my evangelical zeal and approach.
• Incidentally, I find liberal and progressive theology much more in line with my thinking than the evangelicals.
• I have made many many mistakes in my life but I believe every day God is transforming my life and as a result I want to play a part in the transformation change of others, both individuals and communities.  . (’ My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure.’ (Zimbabwian pastor)).
• I believe in the power of the gospel to transform lives and as a result I believe that the church exists to make a difference. I want my church to make a difference!
• I believe (and I understand that this might be a wee bit controversial) that social justice is now the Church’s most effective point of contact with the world. It’s the best starting point now and that’s one of the reasons I belong to The Salvation Army because it is committed to fighting for social justice, despite struggling with some of its doctrinal stances (more about that later).
• Transformation is the work of a community.  We do as much as we can in community with others. I am not going to do anything here in Kenya on my own that will make any lasting difference; it can only be done in community.  (‘The gospel message is a way of living with Christ and each other than enables the ministry of word, deed and sign’ Bryant Myers)
• I am open to learning from other faiths, who are part of our community and can offer valuable insights and different perspectives. 

I could write more but those are the foundations of my faith and over the next few weeks I intend to explore whether they are strong enough to build on. Comments from and discussion with architects, consultant and developers along the journey would be most helpful and welcome!

A Salvation Army Water Project - Photo Blog!

 The different aspects of a SA Community Water Project

During 2013, TSA KE undertook a different kind of water project - a Sand Dam.  Funded by the UKT and in particular our friends from Worthing, the pictures take you through the different stages of this project in Tawa, Machokos Division. The pictures speak for themselves. 

Asante sana to all who helped.

COMMUNITY

TEAMWORK

CONSTRUCTION

A MESSAGE OF HOPE

COMPLETED

OPENING (with Alan and Eric)

 

HEALTH TEACHING

WATER

AGRICULTURE

STORING WATER - SUSTAINABILITY!

Delivering Kindness

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James

There’s been a noticeable shift in language between our time in Zambia and Kenya. In Chikankata we often talked about making ends meets, donations and survival. In the increasingly professionalized environment of community development and social work, sustainability, environmental impact, outputs and impact measurement are the key issues and concepts.  Of course, this change is welcome, important and essential but this Christmas I have been reminded that for all the very important need to change the way we view and assess things, underpinning all we do is kindness. I don't think we should lose sight of that.

Kindness seems not to be a fashionable word at the moment. You will rarely see it mentioned in project proposals, spoken about in project meetings / boards or mentioned in organizational reports but it is often at the centre of The Salvation Army’s community work and funding.

This is what got me thinking. We were fortunate to have a couple of days holiday together as a family. Indeed, it is the only days we have had on our own on holiday as a family this year. As we ventured up a very treacherous road towards the retreat centre, we were battling to avoid getting completely stuck in the mud and wondering whether we would actually make it, we met a car coming the other way. The driver said to us ‘ you can’t go down here, I have spent the whole morning trying to get through on this road. Follow me, I will show you a better way where the road is good’.  After a whole morning battling with the road conditions, this man was willing not only to warn me but to show me an alternative route. I was literally blown away by such kindness. We have also received a number of cards and gifts from people, which has meant that we can enjoy a special Christmas time with our small family. This Christmas I have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me and the work we do.

When I reflect back on this last couple of weeks, I can see so many acts of kindness all around me. Quite frankly I am glad that there is a spirit of kindness which is still evident in the much maligned country of Kenya.  I also continue to be blown away by God’s provision through the kindness of His people from many different and often unexpected places. 

Over Christmas, our Projects Office members have been busy, delivering that kindness to children in Nairobi from people all around the world:

• we supported a Christmas party for the children of Kibera nursery (a project we fund through the kindness of a business in Norway), which is situated in one of the largest and poorest slums in the world. 

 

•  we are provided a meal for the street children of Nairobi, funded by the kindness of people in the UK and Kenya and made possible by the kindness of a group of young Kenyan Salvationist who want to make a difference

• we are took the children of Kabete Children’s Home out for a special Christmas day out to the cinema, KFC and soft play, buying present and providing a special meal for them on Christmas day, thanks to the kindness of people from the UK and the USA

I am also spent time reflecting on many similar acts of kindness that I witnessed throughout 2013.  I know it is vitally important to become far more professional in our project and social work but I hope we never forget that a lot of the work undertaken by The Salvation Army in Kenya, and indeed around the world, is made possible through simple acts of kindness.

My Neighbours!

The bible says ‘Love your Neighbour’, So in the last year, we have really tried to love our neighbours, all 72 of them! You see we live right next door to The Salvation Army’s Kabete Children’s Home, which caters for 72 children aged 3 to 18 years.  Like many countries around the world, The SA is committed to supporting children to reside within a family environment in their community. The SA does a great deal of family support and preventative work in Kenya in order to ensure this happens in a great many cases. However with high mortality, largely due to HIV/AIDS, road traffic accidents and poor medical care there are times when this is not possible. That’s where Kabete comes in. But they struggle!

Many Salvation Army institutions around the world like Chikankata (Zambia) where I was before and Kabete Children’s Home (Kenya) live on a hand to mouth basis. They are often short of money, lack basic facilities like water, have huge debts, and generally struggle. However, the personal pressures of this situation often lead people into much higher levels of commitment and trust. I experienced that at Chik and live it with my neighbours. But I also see that Jesus still does miracles today through ordinary people. I have seen that at first hand  at the hospital and the children -  many who go on to lead inspiring lives and hold down professional jobs. Helped and supported by ordinary people.

Bill Hybels, writing in his book Courageous Leadership about setting up the Willowcreek church testifies;

“Nothing deepens trust in the goodness, grace and miracle working power of God like financial pressures that we have faced every week”

This has been my experience and I know the experience of other who run places just like Kabete and Chikankata.

I also wanted to write that I have really kind friends. For instance they have given to the Playground project our children having been raising the money for.

The Salvation Army is a great international organisation and we continue to give thanks to people like those in Sweden who paid for this Christmas trip. We also give thanks to God for His continued provision through his people.

 People around the world really do care about the poor and poverty. The media warps the view of the world. For every war, there are churches and aid agencies helping people who are displaced. Where there is hunger, there are people who handing out food. Where there are sick, there are hospitals and clinics. Where there is Orphans, there are children’s homes and OVC programmes . Where there a people who are poorer, there are richer people giving a lot of money and supporting their brothers and sisters.

But it is important to remember that responding to poverty is not just a justice, fairness and giving issue.  It is also about love! Promoting justice and fairness and giving resources changes things for others, for sure, but love changes things for the giver or the campaigner and makes the experience so much rich. It bring people together in their relationships and brings us closer to God.

‘If I give all I possess to the poor…..but have not love I gain nothing’ (Paul)

Politically Correct Too!

I have been challenged by Commissioner Adams recent article "Politically Correct". How inspiring! (see http://insight.salvationarmy.org.uk/politically-correct )

The Commissioner, in my humble opinion, comes out fighting with regards the current and complex situation regarding the overly bureaucratic and sometimes compassionless funding situation for people who are homeless.  The call to justice is refreshing and challenging and has attracted a great deal of positive comments.  I stand behind the Commissioners views and indeed many of the subsequent comments demonstrate that we are so relieved and inspired to hear a leader speak out on an issue close to many our hearts.  Thank you Commissioner Adams for leading by example.

But I also had another thought.  When I headed up a department at our UK headquarters, we were building new hostels (or Lifehouses) for people who are homeless.  Nice, beautiful and modern accommodation. Places that represent care, dignity and hope.  Yet, you would rarely find a Salvationist in them - that would be a real message of care, dignity and hope.  We protest (rightly!) about the current situation and the political agendas but how many of us are actually involved or engaged in our homeless ministry.  The problem is not just the government – the problem is also me.  Until I moved to Kenya last year, I lived for two years near to a great hostel which was situated in Braintree. Did I ever go near it? No I did not! There’s the problem. 

Come on Salvation Army – we can do better. If we want the some of the beds from our local Lifehouses not to be subject to the clearly ridiculous government funding rules, how many of us would be prepared to give more to our church, of which the homeless ministry is part.  How many of us would be willing to roll up our sleeves and “do something”, in order to free up professional staff time to support some of the people Commissioner Adams speaks up for. How many of us even know the staff who work in our homeless centres? So do we have any right to criticize the government when most Salvationists are not really supporting the homeless ministry? Sure some are, most aren’t. Ask you local SA Centre Manager to get the local picture.

Gary Hagen, President of the International Justice Mission stresses this point when he writes this about justice… “When governments and those whom God has placed in positions of power fail to protect those who are weak, God looks to his people to be his voice of judgment and his hands of rescue”. So we can make our proclamations and I, for one, am proud that the Commissioner has spoken up for the oppressed but do we express our indignation from the sidelines or we can team up together as an Army to use the resources, skills and relationships we have to serve those who need us most. We need to be that voice, we also need to the hands of rescue. What a double whammy message that would send to the govt. Just saying!