Think Global, Do Justice

For our July news and recommendation episode, we're joined by orphan care leader Kristen Lowry of Shelter Yetu to dive into a range of topics including the recent anti-virus update that sent the Blue Screen of Death around the world, the unintended results of making education free in Zambia, the legal trials of the Nobel Laureate father of micro-finance and dive into a book on being a whistleblower amidst corruption. There's a lot going on in the world, it's not only the American election we should care about, so jump into these other stories with us! Podcast Sponsor No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It's the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare. Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024 Resources and Links from the show BBC : How a single IT update caused global havoc BBC : Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammed The Guardian : Under threat of jail, microfinance pioneer vows to keep lending to poorest Bangladeshis It's Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower by Michaela Wrong   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Joining the podcast for episode 260 are global child welfare leaders Christopher Muwanguzi from child’s I Foundation, Elli Oswald from Faith to Action Initiative and Jared Scheppmann from Ekisa Ministries. Our guests speak with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about the status of moving people’s mindsets in the west to focus on the need for children to be in families, as opposed to orphanages. We zero in specifically on the country of Uganda and juxtapose the good work being done by organizations like child’s I and Ekisa with the common practice of needlessly placing kids in residential care. With the backdrop of larger cultural narratives and specific stories about orphanhood that are promoted in media. Podcast Sponsor No matter your role in caring for vulnerable children and families, you’ll find wisdom, grace, encouragement and community for the road ahead at CAFO2024 in Nashville. It’s the go-to spot for those working in Christian orphan care and global child welfare. Learn More and Register for CAFO 2024 Resources and Links from the show The World : American Missionary Accused of Abuse At His Organization, AidChild (First Article) Barna and Faith to Action : Study on Christian Giving to Orphanages Faith to Action : Family Care in the News Conversation Notes The deliberate work of Faith to Action and partner organizations to change the western media narrative around orphan care The environment within the UK in regards to Global South orphanages The country of Uganda has been up and down in supporting care reform, is it currently progressing or regressing The setbacks in promoting better care in the Global South when stories like Ghetto Kidz comes out on Britain’s Got Talent Comparing the perceived realities for children in orphanages versus the actual realities for such children The reality of abuse and corruption within orphanages covered in the media in Uganda The role of local governments to meet the needs of the community – capacity and enforcement Continuing gaps in coverage even in media that promotes care reform   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

There is no escaping the reality that much of what we're familiar with in global missions and development has some roots in colonialism. There is no better person to help us disentangle God's work from worldly power structures than Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst. Dr. Padilla DeBorst is the Richard C. Oudersluys Associate Professor of World Christianity at Western Seminary. She describes how integral mission addresses gaps in many traditional approaches to missions and what it looks like to live out a contextualized gospel in Latin America. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Register for OneAccord 2024 Today Resources and Links from the show Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst's Work Online Good News From Latin America Book Conversation Notes An introduction to integral mission and what deficiencies it was addressing in world missions Disentangling God's work in Latin America from European colonization How neocolonialism continues to affect Christian missions and development work Ethical practices in global partnerships for missions and development organizations Contrasting Jesus' proclamation of the Gospel against the backdrop of Roman imperial rule Exiting our echo chambers to hear from Christian leaders in other global contexts   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Today on the show we are weaving in and out of various topics, largely surrounding Africa and that touch areas of malnutrition (continent-wide) and trafficking (Congo) and even some really beautiful solutions for helping babies (Uganda). We have Dr. Lauren Pinkston of Kindred Exchange on the show with us to make sense of the news and provide critical insight. We dive into questions like if the resource curse is real, the long-term effects of colonialism and the challenges of addressing corrupt supply chains. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Visit The Accord Network Online Resources and Links from the show Fox News : UN report says 27% of children under 5 live in severe food poverty, many in Africa AP News : A growing community of breast milk donors in Uganda gives mothers hope CBS News : African nation threatens Apple with legal action over alleged "blood minerals" in its gadgets King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson Upwardly Dependent Podcast Faith to Action Webinar feat. Dr. Lauren Pinkston : Caring for Orphans Conversation Notes 2:20 - An update on the Upwardly Dependent podcast 6:45 - The high propensity of kids in Africa and around the world that are experiencing food poverty 18:45 - The establishment of a breastmilk cooperative organization in Uganda and how it is saving the lives of children 33:25 - The supply chain of blood metals in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Apple's role within it 40:00 - Supply chains that shift to go through countries that don't have the same ethics that come from a Christian worldview 47:25 - Phil's recommendation of Jonathan Haidt's new book, The Anxious Generation   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

In episode 257, Brandon welcomes author and nonprofit director Tiffany Bluhm back to the show. Tiffany is the Executive Director at Made for Pax, a Christian foundation which provides mentorship and vocational development for BIPOC leaders following Christ. The work is specifically employing contemplative formation for those that are engaging in peace and justice work, and that's what we talk about! Tiffany provides us with biblical insight and spiritual practices that can help us sustain the work of community development and justice leaders for the long haul. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Visit The Accord Network Online Resources and Links from the show Made for Pax Online Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss Leading from Your Knees with Peter Greer and Ryan Skoog Conversation Notes The link between contemplative formation and sustaining an action-oriented lifestyle Stories of civil rights leaders and how they remained rooted in the midst of justice The importance of intentional investment of BIPOC Christ followers Contextualization and diverse cultural expressions of Gospel embodiment The story of the Old Testament is uniquely tied to the migrant experience   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

In episode 256, Brandon and Phil get a crash course in global health from Yasmine Vaughan. Yasmine has her Master's in Public Health and serves as the Technical Advisor for Global Health and Missions with Helping Children Worldwide. Beyond sharing words and conditions that we can't even pronounce, Yasmine shares about the context in West Africa in which their work is centered and we learn the commonalities and differences in public health across different global contexts. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Visit The Accord Network Online Resources and Links from the show View and Join the Together for Global Health Coalition Watch Phil's Sermon on Family Strengthening Conversation Notes Zeroing in on the history and current day realities of Sierra Leone Navigating partnerships between western organizations and their corresponding organizations in the Global South Integrating current programs and initiatives into broader partnerships at the village level Working towards sustainability and reducing outside investment or management Together for Global Health Coalition Common health conditions and healthcare gaps in the Global South, including those that are oblivious to westerners The Global South increasing in conditions that had previously been more represented in the West Innovative ways that health practitioners in the Global South meet needs   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Joining the podcast for episode 255 are nonprofit leaders Dave LeVan and Jon Allen with Water For Good. Dave and Jon speak with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about the status of worldwide access to water and what it looks like to implement Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in the Global South. We talk through the tremendous needs as well as acknowledge some of the shortfalls of the WASH sector. Our conversation concludes around what it looks like to merge two good-sized global nonprofits as Water For Good and Lifewater International recently underwent that very process. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference is now open for changemakers seeking a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Visit The Accord Network Online Resources and Links from the show View Water For Good/Lifewater Merger Information Conversation Notes Taking in the big picture of water access globally and what the implications are on people's lives The similarities and the differences when implementing water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Global South What about all the broken wells in Africa? Is sustainability even possible? The reasons that led to the decision for the two organizations to merge into one The operations and logistics of merging and integrating two different teams along with their activities The post-merger opportunities that are presented to the newly formed Water For Good The importance of staying curious and not losing heart in the work of global justice   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

In this month's 3+1 episode, we're diving into conversation around the current refugee crisis being fueled by conflict and displacement worldwide, jump back into recent conversation on Haiti and the challenges that pregnant mothers are facing in the midst of tumult and also look at the controversy surrounding mass weddings in northern Nigeria that includes underage orphan girls. We've got Kelly Strong on the show with us today who is the CEO at Safe International and also an associate providing support to practitioners through the Canopy International coaching collaborative. Podcast Sponsor The Accord Network is a place to connect with like-minded organizations in pursuit of being the hands and feet of Christ around the world. Registration for the OneAccord Conference opens soon for a time of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation within the field of international relief and development. Visit The Accord Network Online Resources and Links from the show Check out the services and support offered by the team at Canopy International World Relief Blog : The Drivers of Mass Displacement: Ukraine and Beyond The Guardian : ‘It is simply best not to get pregnant’: women left terrified as Haiti’s maternity services collapse BBC News : Mass wedding for Nigeria orphans sparks outcry Book : Refugee - Rethinking Refugee Policy in a Changing World by Paul Collier and Alexander Betts 2017 Refugee Crisis Series : Welcoming the Stranger with Krish Kandiah Conversation Notes 3:50 What it looks like to change the name and rebrand an international charity 9:15 Checking in on the current state of "record breaking" forced displacement throughout the world and what to do when the world shows up on our doorstep 25:45 The reality of gang violence in Haiti that has collapsed medical clinics and hospitals that women have used to deliver their children 36:15 Evaluating a controversial story of mass wedding of orphan girls in Nigeria and what the implications are regarding child rights and international definitions 50:40 Brandon's recommendation of a page-turner book that covers modern refugee policy     Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

On the show today, we're joined by missionary Matt Rhodes who is the author of No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions. He talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about trends within missions that emphasize speed and big numbers, but often lack the depth of discipleship that characterized Jesus' ministry. Matt shares about the mission that he is engaged in a majority Muslim country Northern Africa and what he's learned from being on the field and what faithfulness (even success) can look like for those spreading the Good News abroad. Podcast Sponsor Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International. Visit Child Hope International Online Resources and Links from the show No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions on Amazon Conversation Notes The primary differences between how missions are approached currently as opposed to the days of William Carey and Hudson Taylor Current trends in missions work Approaching missions with professionalism and being enculturated Is professionalism opposed to being relational? The trajectory of the relatively recent phenomenon of short term missions and it's increasing share of the overall missionary force Not everyone that is a Christian is also an ambassador of Christ, or are they? The implications of the center of Christianity moving to the Global South Charting milestones for successful missions   Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

We are joined today by global nonprofit leader Gaston Warner who is the Global North CEO of Zoe Empowers. Gaston talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about their work among vulnerable families, especially child and youth headed households. Over the years, our show has talked a lot about the need for kids to be raised in families and communities and in this episode we learn about a comprehensive model that emphasizes the children's agency to overcome poverty. We talk empowerment, data, promising practices and it's an episode our orphan care diehards don't want to miss. Podcast Sponsor Zoe Empowers is equipping orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good. Visit Zoe Empowers Online Resources and Links from the show Data and Research from Zoe Empowers Conversation Notes Understanding the reality of child and youth headed households in the Global South The empowerment model started by a Rwandan practitioner - how it works and how it's applied across countries Intentionally limiting partnerships and what it looks like for both beneficiaries and donors Defining the buzzword "empowerment" within global development The importance of integrating child rights throughout programming   Theme music by Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License