Comments on: Should I donate to “Gift of the Givers” http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2010/04/14/should-i-donate-to-gift-of-the-givers/ Graeme Codrington's musings on a new kind of Christianity Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin Hill http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2010/04/14/should-i-donate-to-gift-of-the-givers/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Martin Hill Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:23:01 +0000 http://www.futurechurchnow.com/?p=158#comment-98 This is, as they say, a bit of a no brainer. If Christian's pray in their churches (which I sincerely hope they do) for those of any and every faith in the Middle East the next step is to support the work of relief and humanitarian aid. Giving through reputable organizations that have the sole interest of providing immediately to those in need has a Biblical precedent here. Didn't Jesus say something like, If you wish someone well and do nothing about it then what use is that (my paraphrase)! Christians in the U.K give through an organization called the D.E.C which is a conglomeration of aid agencies, Christian and secular. The purpose of this co-operative stance is to get the aid quickest to the places that most need it. I agree fully with the random thoughts of Steve Mayer. The Christendom mentality that occupies many of the EPC churches in particular demands that God be limited to their notion of 'kingdom'. When I read my Bible I see a God who is boundless in compassion, mercy, and love not only to those who profess Christian faith but to all people in creation. It would be wrong to support an organization that is overtly Islamic and engaged in the mission of Islam if you are non-Muslim. If a relief organization takes both the good will offering of Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or who ever and uses them for good without the intent of promoting any religious agenda then God bless their work of compassion, mercy, and love. Peace Graeme :<. This is, as they say, a bit of a no brainer. If Christian’s pray in their churches (which I sincerely hope they do) for those of any and every faith in the Middle East the next step is to support the work of relief and humanitarian aid. Giving through reputable organizations that have the sole interest of providing immediately to those in need has a Biblical precedent here. Didn’t Jesus say something like, If you wish someone well and do nothing about it then what use is that (my paraphrase)! Christians in the U.K give through an organization called the D.E.C which is a conglomeration of aid agencies, Christian and secular. The purpose of this co-operative stance is to get the aid quickest to the places that most need it. I agree fully with the random thoughts of Steve Mayer. The Christendom mentality that occupies many of the EPC churches in particular demands that God be limited to their notion of ‘kingdom’. When I read my Bible I see a God who is boundless in compassion, mercy, and love not only to those who profess Christian faith but to all people in creation. It would be wrong to support an organization that is overtly Islamic and engaged in the mission of Islam if you are non-Muslim. If a relief organization takes both the good will offering of Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or who ever and uses them for good without the intent of promoting any religious agenda then God bless their work of compassion, mercy, and love. Peace Graeme :<.

]]> By: Steve Meyer http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2010/04/14/should-i-donate-to-gift-of-the-givers/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Steve Meyer Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:53:02 +0000 http://www.futurechurchnow.com/?p=158#comment-96 Graeme, One of the pitfalls of the Church is that we tend to believe (if not in word, then certainly in deed) that God only works through Christians (or through the Church or through the people of God). Yet God is constantly up to new things, and works through all sorts of people and agencies. A primary difference for us as Christians, is that as we are engaged in doing God's work in the world, we know that we are part of something bigger. We know (or at least we should know) that we're doing something that is part of what God is up to in the world. Although I know nothing about Gift of the Givers (other than what you have written), it seems to me that this is God at work. And we who are Christians should get on board with what God is doing. One of the ways I challenge the people in my congregation is asking the question: Where do you see God at work? What is going on in our community/state/nation/world that is breaking God's heart? What is going on in our community/state/nation/world that makes God smile? Where can you jump on board with what God is already doing so that God's work and will may be accomplished? A few random thoughts Graeme. Thanks for your words. Steve Graeme,
One of the pitfalls of the Church is that we tend to believe (if not in word, then certainly in deed) that God only works through Christians (or through the Church or through the people of God). Yet God is constantly up to new things, and works through all sorts of people and agencies. A primary difference for us as Christians, is that as we are engaged in doing God’s work in the world, we know that we are part of something bigger. We know (or at least we should know) that we’re doing something that is part of what God is up to in the world.
Although I know nothing about Gift of the Givers (other than what you have written), it seems to me that this is God at work. And we who are Christians should get on board with what God is doing.
One of the ways I challenge the people in my congregation is asking the question: Where do you see God at work? What is going on in our community/state/nation/world that is breaking God’s heart? What is going on in our community/state/nation/world that makes God smile? Where can you jump on board with what God is already doing so that God’s work and will may be accomplished?
A few random thoughts Graeme. Thanks for your words.
Steve

]]> By: Graeme http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2010/04/14/should-i-donate-to-gift-of-the-givers/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Graeme Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:58:39 +0000 http://www.futurechurchnow.com/?p=158#comment-95 Hameed commented on the original site: I am from Sri Lanka and I had the good fortune of coordinating the post- Tsunami Relief work in Sri Lanka for the Gift of the Givers Foundation - South Africa. The Foundation funded the buiding of 50 Houses for the Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. Gift of the Givers Foundation was one of the very first NGO's to respond and they were in Sri Lanka in less than 24 hours of the disaster with emergency relief. This is not the first time they have been the first. The foundation count many firsts in many countries. It might be useful to the donors to know that we operated in Sri Lanka with minimum administartive costs and there were no expatriates stationed here. It might also be useful to note that their aim is to provide Humanitarian Aid regardless of race or religion. A good many people have become paranoid with the word muslim. One must note that there are a very few Muslim Humanitarian organisations - and Gift of the Givers is one of those few. Hameed commented on the original site:

I am from Sri Lanka and I had the good fortune of coordinating the post- Tsunami Relief work in Sri Lanka for the Gift of the Givers Foundation – South Africa.

The Foundation funded the buiding of 50 Houses for the Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.

Gift of the Givers Foundation was one of the very first NGO’s to respond and they were in Sri Lanka in less than 24 hours of the disaster with emergency relief.

This is not the first time they have been the first. The foundation count many firsts in many countries.

It might be useful to the donors to know that we operated in Sri Lanka with minimum administartive costs and there were no expatriates stationed here.

It might also be useful to note that their aim is to provide Humanitarian Aid regardless of race or religion.

A good many people have become paranoid with the word muslim. One must note that there are a very few Muslim Humanitarian organisations – and Gift of the Givers is one of those few.

]]> By: Graeme http://www.futurechurchnow.com/2010/04/14/should-i-donate-to-gift-of-the-givers/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Graeme Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:55:19 +0000 http://www.futurechurchnow.com/?p=158#comment-94 <a href="mailto:linda@obsidian.co.za" rel="nofollow">Linda Martindale</a> commented on the original site: I personally have no objection to donating to an organisation that is not Christian, if I have a concern about a particular issue that no Christian organisation that I am aware of is involved in. In my mind, it is not an issue whether they are Atheist or Muslim or ... if my concern is that people in the Middle East need practical help ... and Gift of the Givers are doing that without the sole purpose of converting people, I would have no problem. I would see it as similar to before Christians were really involved in the environment .. I would still have put money where my mouth was, if the environment was of deep concern to me, and supported a 'green' organisation even if it were New Age, IF it were achieving objectives that I was committed to. But now that I know of good Christian environmental organisations ... I would direct my funds there. What is the objective of my giving? Is it being met by the people I am channeling money to? These are the questions I would ask myself. Linda Martindale commented on the original site:

I personally have no objection to donating to an organisation that is not Christian, if I have a concern about a particular issue that no Christian organisation that I am aware of is involved in. In my mind, it is not an issue whether they are Atheist or Muslim or … if my concern is that people in the Middle East need practical help … and Gift of the Givers are doing that without the sole purpose of converting people, I would have no problem. I would see it as similar to before Christians were really involved in the environment .. I would still have put money where my mouth was, if the environment was of deep concern to me, and supported a ‘green’ organisation even if it were New Age, IF it were achieving objectives that I was committed to. But now that I know of good Christian environmental organisations … I would direct my funds there. What is the objective of my giving? Is it being met by the people I am channeling money to? These are the questions I would ask myself.

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