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 I had a very stimulating coincidence of events last Sunday.
I was googling for a link to join the Sunday service of River of Life Church in Harare and the following ‘open letter’/video popped up on my screen. I have huge respect for Scott Marques who, based in Zimbabwe, leads the Disciple Nations (dna) apostolic sphere of Newfrontiers. In this video he shares several important truths that are well worth hearing and applying, both about partnering in the gospel, in this case with the Confluence apostolic sphere, and also empowerment and business as important tools for Kingdom advance.
I then joined their Sunday morning service and the second video below was shown. Both demonstrate a heart of empowerment and kingdom advance that I applaud and, with Scott’s permission, share them here. Any commentary I may make would detract from the message of the videos so I just urge you to watch them and thank God for such vision to be outworked in what must be one of the most difficult economic environments in the world. But the hidden message is that Kingdom advance is possible in any and every situation, and this must include equipping people to live productive lives with dignity.
