Podcast

Among the poor and the vulnerable, children are the most vulnerable and needy. Several responses have been implemented to serve orphans and vulnerable children, including adoptions, orphanages, child sponsorship, and various children-focused programs. This session will review some of these, share some lessons learned, and highlight some best practices and principles from several African countries and the Caribbean. Examples of dignifying and non-dignifying interventions attempting to address this growing need will be shared.

Poverty is commonly associated with lack. Long term missions in Haiti has received significant contributions to address that lack during the last several decades - personnel, materials and more. What is the current status in this hurting country? Is this help continuing and in what ways? What is being done and can it be done differently? There are some initiatives in the country that are rising as examples of success. What are the key guiding principles in these new initiatives and how are they modeling and instilling fresh hope in this devastated country?

This workshop will explore concepts, principles and recommendations for the involvement of people of faith and the local church in HIV and AIDS ministry. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify characteristics, roles and functions of faith communities which are suited for HIV and AIDS ministry and programs.

• Explore personal and congregational barriers that hinder faith-based involvement in HIV and AIDS efforts.

• Develop a specific individual and corporate plan of action for addressing HIV and AIDS within their communities and congregations.

The panel will address the challenges and rewards of serving internationally as a single person. It will provide food for thought and prayer for those who are considering and preparing for cross-cultural service.

Missions is about who we are and what we're called to be. We often think of missions as primarily something we, or others, "do." Of course we engage in missions but when we look at the Bible we find that missions is at the heart of God's story of making all things new in Christ. We are called to take part in this story--not only tell it and study it but live it. When we see that missions in the Bible is not simply a handfull of texts but is at the very heart of God's unfolding plan then we can find our place in God's redemptive story. In this session we'll take a fresh look at what missions is all about in the Bible, and how God has gone about fulfiliing his promise to the nations in Christ and what that means for us today. Hopefully each of us will go away with a renewed vision for the missional life God has given us.