Helping Without Hurting

 Dr. Dorlus

 

“I think there are churches, missions committees, and people in leadership wresting with ‘How do we do things differently?  How do we go into a third world context and simply not foster some of the negative stuff we see going on?’” pointed out Senior Pastor George Davis of Hershey Free Church.  “We don’t know how to do that.  I think the Haiti Summit is a great opportunity for people to explore that and to see a working model without necessarily getting involved in Haiti.” The Haiti Summit will meet September 24-26, 2014 at Constance Free Church in Andover, Minnesota.

The book When Helping Hurts has garnered a lot of attention, and people see the problem of ministry that fosters dependence.  The question is how do we do it differently? 

“One of the keys to doing it differently is building relationships with the people you are working with and listening to them rather than simply doing it for them.  Those are the recurring themes in the consortium.”

Dave Hyatt, Pastor for Global and Local Outreach at Hershey Free Church highlighted why people should attend the Haiti Summit.  “If people are considering involvement in Haiti, or anywhere honestly, to hear from national partners is really, really critical.  Typically missions and ministry is from the West to the rest or things we can do to Haitians or for Haitians.  This is really considering a vibrant partnership where we hear from them.   We do things together.  We learn from some of the mistakes that have been made in Haiti and also celebrate some of the successes.”

Dave added, “The vision of the consortium ‘to see an indigenous, disciplemaking and multiplying church within walking distance of every Haitian, which demonstrates and engages in proclaiming the transforming power of the Gospel’ is going to take a lot of resources, a lot of people pulling together.”

2013 Haiti Summit Panel Discussion

 

The Haiti Consortium is involved with Global Fingerprints that helps keep families together, Haitian Perle coffee production to fund missionaries from Haiti to Senegal, Leadership Development, Community Health Evangelism, Community Agriculture Evangelism, Community Education Evangelism, and a study of the Haitian worldview.

Dave pointed out, “There are a myriad of needs.  One of the big things about getting involved is that it is not a defined ‘Here’s what we need and here’s how you can be involved.’  It is really asset based.  We say, ‘What does your church do well?  What are the particular needs of your congregation?  How could involvement in Haiti help you?’  It is a two way street.  It is a conversation.  Ministry there isn’t just what you can come in and offer, but we want to see those who come and the churches that are involved be part of the discipleship process in the lives of their congregation.”

To learn more about the Haiti Summit and how you can be involved, go to http://go.efca.org/opportunities/conferences/haiti-summit-2014 . 



 worship time

 

Meeting to form Haiti Consortium