Supporting indigenous ministries is one of the most powerful mission’s strategies in use today. Most of my missionary experience has involved the “field” end of ministry. I have seen both the risks and the exciting potential of linking U.S. donors to indigenous ministries. During my tenure as director of Praise, we will make the field-end of our ministry more robust so as to assure that the funds donated through Praise result in strengthened national churches that are a transformational presence in their communities.
If you enjoy reading, I strongly recommend picking up “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (2009, Moody Publications). In the future, I will write more about how the principles outlined in this book are being incorporated in our Praise International ministry.
Dave