Voice Box

HIV/AIDS is killing street kids and orphans in the former Soviet Union

In some parts of Russia, the HIV/AIDS infection rate has increased 700% since 2006.  This out of control spread of a deadly disease is connected directly to IV drug use and sex trafficking.  What is the solution?  Is there a solution?  UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said, "Children and adolescents living on the margins of society need access to health and social welfare services, not a harsh dose of disapproval.'  Michael Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS said, "the spread of HIV/AIDS in eastern Europe and Central Asia could not be broken without "empowering and protecting" children and adolescents."  Read more about this story here.  And find out how Doma International is connecting with vulnerable women and orphaned children at home and abroad here.

Lord, Have Mercy! Gospodi Pomilui!

Two suicide bombers took the lives of nearly 40 people this morning in Moscow's busy metro.  Lord, have mercy!  Gospodi Pomilui!

friday listening party: Robbie Seay Band's Lament and John Mark McMillan's Resurrection

Lament and Resurrection... two expressions that we often either avoid, ignore, or simply miss... two expressions vital to the missional life, as we share hope and help with those in need around the world.  Without lament, we are selfishly silent in the face of the realities of disease and despair, poverty and oppression.  Without resurrection, all the hope and help in the world is just an anesthetic that wears off to reveal deeply infected wounds.  Lament and resurrection are on my mind this week as Julie and I continue the Doma (ad)venture, and as I've been listening to some new music released on Tuesday.

Check out Robbie Seay Band's Lament...

Check out John Mark McMillan's Resurrection...

my wife is hanging out today with recovering prostitutes

Last week, Julie attended for the first time, CATCH, a local program led by a local judge for recovering prostitutes.  She's going again today.  Read about last week's experience here.

friday listening party: Matt Maher sings for the widow and the orphan

You know Matt Maher as the songwriter of 'Your Grace is Enough' and 'I Will Rise.'  But do you know that his newest album, Alive Again, is, in my opinion, one of the most creative and theological profound worship albums of late.  He does not give into cliche, yet he stays grounded in the ancient weight of his faith.  There are several highlights on his album, 'Alive Again', 'Remembrance', and 'Christ is Risen'.  But since this blog consistently focuses on the needs of the poor and the vulnerable.  I want to share with you today his song, 'No Greater Love'.  Enjoy.

if I don't get some shelter... I'm gonna fade away...

My wife got up this morning at 3am to drive to Nashville for the first annual conference of the Christian Trafficking Shelter Association.  We all need shelter.  It is one of the basic human needs.  Maslow places it in his second tier of needs - the needs for safety.  The Psalmist knows that God is our shelter.  There are so many - here in the US and around the world - exposed to the elements, vulnerable to storms, war, fire, rape, and murder (as the Rolling Stones say).  I pray that we know how to turn to God for our shelter and to 'build' shelters for the vulnerable people on this planet.  As I'm thinking about this and thinking about my wife in Nashville, I've got two songs stuck in my head.  Enjoy Ray LaMontagne singing 'Shelter' and Rolling Stones singing 'Gimme Shelter.'

access is our greatest asset

Last weekend, a Christian orphanage in an Islamic nation was raided and the foreign staff was ordered to leave the country.  Plenty of other great organizations have experienced similar heart-breaking setbacks, as have we.  These kinds of obstacles, changes, and challenges are not uncommon when trying to do good in certain parts of the world.

It reminds me of something I've said often in the last several years: Access Is Our Greatest Asset.  When trying to operate in cross-cultural settings and provide hope and help to our neighbors from different people groups, nations, tribes, and languages, without the access to be in relationship to them, all the money and well-designed programs and flashy marketing materials in the world mean nothing.

There are no guarantees, and if you engage in cross-cultural activity, leisure, business, or charity, there are risks involved.  But by following these six principles, we can hope to guard our greatest asset: access!

1. Cultivate Cultural Intelligence.  David Livermore has written about this in his book, Serving With Eyes Wide Open.  We have focused on IQ, the intelligence quotient.  Recently, we have turned our attention to EQ, the emotional quotient.  The time is now to focus on CQ, the cultural quotient.
2. Develop and Empower Indigenous Leadership.  Mission is not a one-way street - and shouldn't be!  Mission is exchange.  The best way to manage this delicate balance is to have indigenous women and men in leadership.
3. Be Innocent and Wise.  Jesus gave his disciples this advise when he sent them out.  When building foundations and completing projects, we need to remember that it is not by power and might that these things are accomplished, but by God's Spirit.
4. Be Holistic.  By addressing the heart, soul, mind, and strength in those we connect with and in helping them to connect with our Triune God, we prevent lopsided efforts that topple easily.
5. Use Best Practices.  There is no lack of zeal in the non-profit and international mission worlds.  But without knowledge and expertise, this zeal can implode and undermine good intentions.  When possible, draw from an interdisciplinary team of economic, theological, pastoral, educational, medical, sociological, legal, financial, technological, and management experts to develop and operate cross-cultural mission ventures.
6. Patience is a Virtue.  We've got to be in this thing for the long-run.  Life is a marathon - and life together in mission all the more.  Remember that perseverance and endurance over level paths will help us complete the mission.

Remember, access is our greatest asset.

Tylenol at CVS & meds for Ethiopian children

I received this note from a friend this week...

You may not know this about me, but I do not think globally. I tend to gravitate toward causes that are in my city. But, when I received your invitation to consider giving to the medical needs of the upcoming Doma trip to Ethiopia, I didn't immediately discard it. I read the description more than once, actually. On Saturday of last week, our son had a fever of 102 degrees. The doctor's office told us that we were doing everything right and to alternate Tylenol and Motrin. If he still had the fever on Thursday, then the doctor would see us on Friday. When we ran out of medicine, we didn't think twice about running to CVS to pick up two new bottles, which cost over $10.

It made me realize how lucky we are that we could do that and how helpless parents in Ethiopia must feel when they cannot make their own children feel better. Our eyes and hearts were opened by something that we had not previously considered, and we took a moment to humbly remember how blessed we truly are by contributing to the Doma medical mission to Ethiopia.

Please consider giving toward the medicine and supplies necessary for Doma's April trip to Ethiopia.

Glenn Beck thinks I'm a Nazi

Glenn Beck recently advised his listeners to leave their churches if they hear the words 'social justice' and 'economic justice'.  Beck claims that these are code words for Nazi or communist activity.  I don't know that I've ever used the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' from the pulpit, but that's not because I don't believe that the Gospel preaches that Christ makes ALL things new and that God is reconciling ALL things to himself through Christ.  Mr Beck - I believe in justice in all spheres of life and I believe that God is a just God.  I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.  A pastor from Denver has posted a thoughtful and thorough response to Mr. Beck here.

book review: Make Poverty Personal by Ash Barker

Make Poverty Personal by Ash Barker is an absolutely critical read.  This became real to me when it was sitting on my desk and somebody walked in, saw it, and said, ‘That’s your problem.  You think about the poor too much.’  First, I didn’t know I had a problem.  And second, I feel compelled to live like Jesus did – at the intersection of community and compassion.  By following the arc of the Biblical narrative, from Exodus to Eschaton, Barker leads a sweeping expedition that will inspire and challenge.  In addition to the sound Biblical exposition, Barker’s personal experience and deep conviction appear on every page.  He is not an academic speaking from a distance; but he and his family have served the poor with their very lives.  He is not only responding to urgent and overwhelming needs; he’s thinking about what the Bible really has to say.