Sunday, February 21, 2010

Feasibility and frustrations... Chris 21 Feb

21 Feb Chris in Chula Vista
Hey, friends!

Sorry it's taken a week to write this blog report on the Ensenada trip... 'cuz it took a week to process.

Mission healthcare work means alot of 'feasibility' assessment before jumping in and setting things up... going to a site, meeting with the on-the-ground leader and seeing IF some type of healthcare ministry could open up in a church or location, and that it would have the potential to thrive.

First off, the BIG question is if the whole ministry is about a leader who finds people to 'do stuff for him', or is it a decentralized community of believers walking together and sharing life.

More often than not in Latino churches, it's one strong leader at the top of a pyramid.

So, at that point, the feasibility study usually means digging into the ethos of the leader... what are his/her fundamental end-points for what they are doing? Is it to build a big, central 'ministry', or is it to go out and care for the poor and go out and plant churches? Is it to create 'leadership visability', or is it a community serving Jesus together by reaching out to the needy? Is it something a group of people are willing to invest in, or is it just another avenue to create a 'gimme gimme' flow of resources from America to the leader?

So, unfortunately, the Ensenada 'church-based health care ministry' looks like a complete no-go at this point...

Well, Jesus said to carefully study the strength of the foundation before one builds... and avoid building on shifting sand...

Unfortunately, the disappointment hangs for a long time...

your brother, Chris

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