A REMINDER TO PBCI FIELD WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS If we go to a community with a so-called Christian love and tries to do everything for the community, without cultural sensitivity, without respect to the peoples dignity, as if God was absent in that community before our ministry arrived, then our ministrys concept of Christian love must be evaluated with the love of Christ. Philippians 1:9-11 is a good prayer and set of lenses for evaluation if our peace and reconciliation advocacy is indeed motivated by the love of Christ. :: The love of Christ abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight... We start with fact-finding and data-gathering. We analyze our data in the context of the communitys worldview, value system, and behavior patterns. Our depth of insight is sustained by spiritual consciousness and awareness. :: The love of Christ is able to discern what is best... We discern best when we listen. We listen to the facts. We listen to the peoples worldview. We listen to the peoples values. We listen to their actions. We listen to their emotions. We listen to their stories as they journey as a community and as a people. We listen to their aspirations. We listen to their definition of what is best for them. :: The love of Christ is pure and blameless... We do community work not for the sake of our organizations reputation or records of accomplishments (mostly used for fund-raising purposes), but for the justice-oriented peace and development of the people and their environment. We do not use the community for the preservation of our organization. We are called faith-based organization precisely because we depend on God, by faith, for our organizations funding. When God stops providing funds and resources for our organization, perhaps its time to consider that our organizations purpose may have been accomplished. Lets not make an idol of our organization. :: The love of Christ is filled with the fruit of righteousness... Righteousness is being right before God and being right before the people with whom we serve and whom we serve. Righteousness follows ethical principles such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. (Galatians 5:22-23) :: The love of Christ is done for the glory and praise of God. Our peace and reconciliation ministry is an offering to glorify and to praise God -- not our organization, not our religious denomination -- but God alone. Rev. L. Daniel Pantoja President & CEO PeaceBuilders Community, Inc.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 01:46:39 +0000
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