A method that is common and respected in the Philippines is Rapid Rural Assessment (or appraisal). It is used primarily for community development. It does not actually have to be "rural," that is just its traditional setting. Additionally, it can be modified to where the researcher is not merely an outside. Rather the "researcher" is …
Tag: Philippines
Medical Mission Events in the Philippines, Part III
This is some material from my dissertation, STRATEGIC USE OF MEDICAL MISSION EVENTS IN LONG-TERM LOCAL CHURCH OUTREACH: A CONSULTANT-STYLE FRAMEWORK FOR MEDICAL MISSION PRACTITIONERS IN THE ILOCOS REGION, PHILIPPINES. I will give a bit of a top-level look in this post, and some propositional work in Part IV. The characteristics of "REAL" Medical Missions: Right …
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Medical Mission Events in the Philippines, Part II
Why NOT to Do Medical Missions To fully go into all the reasons not to do medical missions would take too long. So here is a short version. NOTE: I think there are reasons why medical missions should be done, and can be done successfully... but one must honestly face problems. 1. Strategic Problems. Medical …
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Self-Reflection, Part II
OKAY... CONFESSION TIME. I have a job in a missions organization (administrator of a Christian Counseling and Training Center). I also have had a role as missions director in more than one local church. I found myself drifting away from doing good work as missions director. Why? Because the churches had relatively little interest in …
Screaming Hornets and Letters from Home
We just got a box of goods from our home church. It had a couple of books, some vitamins, Old Bay Seasoning, clarinet reeds, a table cloth, some letters from children and friends at our home church, and a couple of bottles of Screaming Hornets Hot Sauce. The box reminded me of a few things …
Challenges of Church-Based COMDEV in the Philippines (Part 2)
<Continued> B. Challenges Associated with the Philippines 1. Cultural Factors -"Utang na loob". This term literally means "inside debt". This is an implied obligation one experiences after receiving a gift or help. Since community development is about interdependency, "utang na loob" tends to prevent this interdependency. Instead, it tends to promote dependency ("rice Christian" effect) …
Continue reading Challenges of Church-Based COMDEV in the Philippines (Part 2)
Challenges of Church-Based COMDEV in the Philippines (Part I)
This is a brief summary of issues brought up from interviews with community development specialists and church leaders in the Philippines in 2007. I have seen nothing to suggest that things have changed. Community Development, I believe, is a critical component for the church and church members in being salt and light to the world. …
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Missional Churches and Missionary Churches
Missional churches are churches that are driven to support world-wide missions through resources and manpower. Missionary churches are churches started by missionaries. Are they the same thing? Protestant churches have only been in the Philippines (where I live) for a little over 100 years. A large number of Protestant churches are 1st generation missionary churches. …
Amish Missions?
<This is not about those Christians who seek to minister to the Amish. Frankly, I have absolutely no opinion about them. This is about missions done by Amish Christians to non-Christians.> One of the frustrations I (personally) have in evangelism is the lack of separation between sharing God’s message and sharing one’s denominational message. Not …
Another Kind of “Power Encounter”
Missionary Tom comes in and wants to start up a new ministry. Where does he go to get manned with the most competent, driven people? To other local ministries, of course. Tom has more money and so can lure the best people away from other local ministries. Maybe Tom’s group is effective, maybe it isn’t. …