God has given World Renew a vision for our world, a vision to experience and extend Christ’s compassion as we live together in hope as God’s community. The Assembly was a wonderful way to increase our commitment to the vision and take steps toward carrying out His will. We were blessed with generous donors to support the costs; a wonderful team of interns led by Ruth Ann Majawa to organize the details; and the participation of partners, staff and speakers to inspire us and speak into our strategic plan.
In many ways, the Assembly equipped us to accomplish God’s mission for World Renew and to join His communities around the world. It helped us strengthen partnerships that will create lasting change. Together we will continue to change the story of poverty to that of restored creation.
We will change the story of injustice to reconciling relationships (shalom) and the story of disaster to renewing hope. Dr. Ruth Haley Barton reminded us that changing the story and transforming communities cannot be done in our own strength, or with a false sense of our own intelligence. It must begin with God changing the story in each of us as individuals. One of the powerful truths she shared was that, “the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!” She showed us how our broken, sin-filled hearts can be renewed to discern God’s will. She gave us ideas and tools for more effectively cultivating a life of spiritual transformation in order to join the story of God’s work in communities without imposing another harmful story.
One of the speakers, C.B. Samuel, gave profound messages about our role in promoting justice. His exposition of the books of Amos and Zechariah clearly showed God’s intentions for communities as places where the Lord reigns. Our communities fully belong to Him, and can become places where people tell the truth, where justice becomes the culture more than traditional values to “save face / honor”, where all people have access to health services, where the streets will be safe for children, where people are brought back to their homelands, where there is economic justice, where there is no more violence, where creation flourishes and is at its best, where mourning will be turned into dancing, and where many people will commit their lives to God. Could World Renew and each ministry team say all the communities that have “graduated” or “advanced” are now places like this?
One of my biggest hopes and dreams for the Assembly was that every participant could experience a level of spiritual transformation and develop a deeper faith in God. I hoped that participants would give voice into our strategic plan for a deeper communal discernment into the will of God. As I review the notes from various workshops and sessions along with the notes that participants posted on purple wall charts, I see tremendous ways to contribute to our strategic plan and make it come alive. There was significant support for our three strategic directions that all point towards community transformation.
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Engage and equip our global network of churches, donors and Christian partner organizations in learning and action that contribute to the transformation of communities worldwide.
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Work proactively for justice in World Renew’s programming—with constituencies, partner organizations, local communities and within World Renew itself.
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Increase resilience in communities by enhancing their capacity to prepare for and respond to shocks, trends and seasonality such as disaster events and climate change.
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For a very productive meetings in April and May.
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Pray also for Carol Bremer-Bennett as she makes the transition from her work in Rehoboth Christian School to World Renew US Co-Director (read the announcement here is you missed it).
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Pray for safety and for effective disaster response programs to help people overcome loss and trauma. Pray for their ability to experience the depth of His love for them!
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Continue to pray for our strategic planning process. Pray that we may indeed “be transformed so that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect,” as Romans 12:2 encourages us to do.
Each one of us should be involved in renewing, reconciling and creating positive change in our world. Our actions can help people discover the saving power of Jesus Christ. He is our all in all, the Lord and King we serve.
Blessings!
Ida Kaastra Mutoigo
Co-director
World Renew Canada
