31Jul 2020 by Nigel Ring

Hand out or Hand up? A Zimbabwean model we can all learn from….

Poor, Relief and Development, Zimbabwe
Of all the nations in the world Zimbabwe is among the most vulnerable in the present covid crisis. Yet, as Scott Marques shares here, they are setting a scene for positive support and intervention with long-term equipping and sustainability as their goal to help those most in need of help to climb out of abject poverty. This is a great example of what can be achieved with vision and compassion, and collaboration between apostolic spheres within the Newfrontiers family, and provides a model that others in any nation may be able to emulate. The importance of not just 'hand out' but 'hand up' is so important in any context, not just Africa. That is the way for people to be empowered out of poverty. Scott writes: 'We currently have some big…
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07Jul 2020 by Nigel Ring

UK churches respond to issues of Social Justice

Poor
It is always a joy and a key date in my diary to spend a day each year with the Jubilee+ team and about 25 activists who are seeking to bring the love and compassion of Jesus to issues of social justice in the UK. This year it had to take the form of a 2-hour Zoom call. Responding to the prophetic Martin Charlesworth opened the day reminding us of the prophetic warning in recent years through Ginny Burgin of a more difficult socio-economic situation we would be facing. This has shaped the thinking and activities of Jubilee+ ever since. For instance, it resulted in the booklet ‘A deepening crisis’ which was released only last November as published on my blog last week. The covid-19 crisis appears to be one…
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02Jul 2020 by Nigel Ring

A time for preparation and action

Poor
Now is the time to prepare "The poverty around us can already feel overwhelming, so the thought of a deepening crisis might tempt us to despair. But as Christians, we are called not to look at the need around us, but to fix our eyes on Jesus – the one who began his ministry on Earth with the emphatic statement that he had come to bring good news to the poor. "God speaks through his prophets not so that his people will fear the future, but so that we can prepare for it. Prophetic insight without preparation is pointless. Joseph turned his prophetic insight into planning to cope with the coming crisis. If everything is pointing towards tougher times for the most vulnerable, we don’t need to wait to see…
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17Jun 2020 by Nigel Ring

Kingdom advance through partnership and empowerment

Poor, Zimbabwe
What is the solution to homelessness? Homes? What is the solution to poverty? Handouts of cash? While there is an element of necessity in both these actions they are not long-term 'solutions'. They treat the symptoms but not the underlying problem that led to this situation. In my last church we ran a project to help people who were on the way out of an addictive life-style to get their lives put back together in a supported house. Much good was done and I believe it really helped many people. But it still did not get them into a place of income generation which would lead to independence and the programme was later adjusted in various quite radical ways to help make these people 'job ready'. With this in mind…
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02Jun 2020 by Nigel Ring

Covid-19: Guidelines for handling illness in poorer nations

Health, Poor
Two months ago I published links to excellent health guidelines in anticipation of covid-19 impacting many poorer nations, such as advice on regular hand-washing. But the virus has now arrived. With the help of others, Susie Howe, who wrote those guidelines and is highly qualified both as a former nursing sister at one of the London teaching hospitals and also with extensive experience of working in Africa, has produced further culturally relevant-material to guide people in handling situations where illness has occurred. Use of the Guidelines The guidelines can be used in many ways. You are free to reproduce them and adapt them to your own local situation. Maybe you could create handouts to distribute in your local community. Or try running some training sessions, as long as your authorities…
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23Apr 2020 by Nigel Ring

Remember those in the majority world

Poor
Project Gateway Those who have been part of the Newfrontiers Family for many years will be familiar with Project Gateway. From a recent email I have received I have learned that they are still very active in South Africa, and in this crisis they are regularly providing food to needy families including Child Headed Households, typically where parents and grandparents have died from HIV/Aids, as shown on their website.   The wider sceneBut Project Gateway and their response to the crisis is just one of countless initiatives to meet a need at this time. It is clear that the next few weeks will be very challenging for millions of people in the majority (developing) world. Personally I have on-going contact with Burundi, Guinea, Kenya and India to name a few;…
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