14Jun 2011 by Nigel Ring

Development from a Christian perspective – Pt 4 Further characteristics of development agencies

Development, Equipping, Good Practice, Poor, Relief and Development
In the last blog I looked at the first three of five characteristics which I consider to be particularly applicable to a secular agency namely: 1. Expertise 2. Resources 3. Size 4. Quick fix 5. Staff mobility We will now look at the fourth and fifth characteristics. Quick fix An aid agency may be particularly good at providing a ‘quick fix' solution to a problem. However, sustainability and on-going maintenance may be weak, particularly if inadequate attention has been paid to community participation in defining the problem and determining a solution. Failure to involve the community adequately in the process may result in a lack of ownership by that community and thus also a lack of motivation to maintain the activity or project (e.g. maintaining a bore hole and pump)…
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08Jun 2011 by Nigel Ring

Development from a Christian perspective – Pt 3 – Characteristics of development agencies

Development, Equipping, Poor, Relief and Development
News First, the International eNews of Newfrontiers has just been published. Do you receive it? It is a newsletter which ‘visits’ four nations each month to bring updates of what is going on in and through Newfrontiers churches. To view it or receive this regularly click here. Now, lets return to the series on Christian Development. Having briefly seen the benefits which the gospel brings to Christian development I would like to look at some of the characteristics of the secular NGO or aid agency and of the church. Obviously I have to make some sweeping statements in such a short treatment of the topic and there are many exceptions to the examples I quote, but here goes! Some of the distinctive characteristics are typically: The Agency Expertise Resources Size…
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30May 2011 by Nigel Ring

Kenya update – and some good news

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
Water in Samburu The rains have failed in April so the crisis continues. Yet there has come some recent hope of sustainable solutions for the future. Read this sms message just received from Edward Buria: ‘We are so overwhelmed by discovering water in our Wamba centre and we are now sinking a 3 million (£30,000) bore hole that will supply water to thousands ... also other good news is the Lengusaka sand dam project. We have done a lot of progress on that and hope to have all these projects commissioned before end of year'. The Wamba Centre Wamba is a key town in Samburu 4 hours north of Meru and in recent years Edward Buria and the Newfrontiers churches have established a major centre there to provide a base…
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31Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Kenya drought – Interview with Edward Buria

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
The drought and resulting severe shortage of food and water in Kenya continues to be extremely serious. Edward Buria and his team are going several times each week to Samburu with water and to bring encouragement to those who are suffering. Recently I was able to interview Edward about the situation. I hope that this video will help you pray more effectively. Perhaps you would consider showing it in your church? Kenya Drought Crisis 2011 from Newfrontiers on Vimeo. If you wish to make a donation to the Appeal fund you can do this on line or by sending a cheque payable to Newfrontiers and designated 'Kenya Crisis Fund' to: The Finance Team ‘Newfrontiers’ The Matrix Complex 91 Peterborough Road London SW6 3BU Please let us know if you are…
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11Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Kenya Crisis – update

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
The Crisis Fund has now topped £40,000! Thank you so much. Yesterday and today these encouraging text messages were received from Edward Buria. March 10th My heart leaps with unspeakable joy as I see the joy displayed by our friends from receiving water. We brought around 5000 litres. I admire the order as they all know that they will go home with around 10 litres of water and 2kg of sugar. It is awesome and so fulfilling. March 11th Hi Nigel. We returned back to Meru late last night with such a great feeling of touching and giving hope to a people 4goten and trapped by many things that are against them. We have 2 more trips next week in different places in Samburu. Then from next week we will begin to issue families…
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22Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 7 – Identifying specific Goals and Activities + Kenya crisis update

Equipping, Good Practice, Kenya, Planning, Poor, Relief and Development
[caption id="attachment_1794" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Continuing to consider the Logframe as a planning tool we shall now look at the left hand column of the Logical Framework Matrix: Goals Purpose Outcomes Activities Goals In the development world the Goal may arise out of a national or sectoral policy e.g. HIV in sub Saharan Africa. However, it need not be this far-reaching. A city may have the goal ‘to halve the number of those who have multiple deprivation in the city within five years'. So the church's ministry should fit into this Goal. Purpose The Purpose, which contributes to the fulfilment of the Goal, could then be focussed, say, on those who are homeless, one category of those who are multiply deprived. This is the case in Brighton.…
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