Robert D. Lupton wrote a book entitled ‘Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help’. In the book he has this intriguing quote:

“Giving to those in need what they could be gaining from their own initiative may well be the kindest way to destroy people. We mean well, our motives are good, but we have neglected to conduct care-full due diligence to determine emotional, economic, and cultural outcomes on the receiving end of our charity. Why do we miss this crucial aspect in evaluating our charitable work? Because, as compassionate people, we have been evaluating our charity by the rewards we receive through service, rather than the benefits received by the served. We have failed to adequately calculate the effects of our service on the lives of those reduced to objects of our pity and patronage.”

So, what do you think? How do we move from creating dependency on services to supporting initiative in the people you are helping? And how do we promote the vision of the organization in ways that dignify the people that we are committed to serve?

Kevin Coghill is a pastor and staff member at Royal City Mission in downtown Guelph. Their tagline is to ‘Make the Invisible Visible’.

When I was a youth pastor in Exeter, I would bring some of my youth and our musicians to help at Ark Aid Street Mission in downtown London. That was a place that had a great influence on my later decision to move to Windsor and start New Song Church. Ark Aid Mission outgrow the little storefront and moved into larger quarters in later years. One of its directors was the recently retired Doug Whitelaw and the one replacing him was Sarah Campbell.

After I moved to Windsor to begin New Song Church, I became acquainted with Mike Morency. He would leave his youth pastorate in Kitchener and move back to his hometown of Windsor and join as part of the pastoral team in our first few years as a new church.

Eventually he would return to University of Windsor and get his degree in social work. After working in the field, he returned to a faith-based organization named Matthew House, a residence that assists refugee claimants as they integrate into Canadian society. Mike then led them from a three-bedroom bungalow to a complex that can house many more.

Our very first podcast in season 1 was with Rodger Fordham, director of Feeding Windsor. What started with a handful of people at a downtown Presbyterian church then migrated over to New Song Church where I pastor, once the starting church closed for good. Together we have witnessed the growth of Feeding Windsor.

Links:

Part 1 of this interview:

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/meet-the-transformers-quest-conversation-part-1

Rodger Fordham - Feeding Windsor interview

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/windsors-little-church-with-a-big-kitchen

Royal City Mission, Guelph ON

https://www.royalcitymission.ca/

Ark Aid Mission, London ON

https://arkaidmission.com/

Matthew House, Windsor ON

http://matthewhousewindsor.org/

Feeding Windsor

http://www.feedingwindsor.ca/

We have been examining model of ministry in Canadian cities using the acronym QUEST. There are five models from our urban guiding group survey that start to give definition to God at work in our communities.

Q – Qualitative Neighbouring. These are people who choose a front porch instead of a pulpit and view being a neighbour as a primary vocation.

U – Urban Churches. These houses of worship seek to be an expression of God’s goodness in their city context. A love for God and city keeps them located where needed, and not necessarily where it will be easy.

E – Energizers. Who are the communicators, artists and influencers that bring God’s Spirit to the surrounding culture?

S – Street Ministry Workers. With a backpack and a cell phone, these are the mobile pastors and evangelists that will follow the scent to people in trouble and on the margins of society. Like St. Bernard dogs, they will go the distance to save someone that has fallen.

T – Transformers. Who are the people that organize relief and development for the most vulnerable citizens? As they feed, clothe, shelter, and bring hope to their city, community transformation inevitably happens.

Today we are going to meet the transformers. No, not Optimus Prime and company, but men and women that are just as heroic in their own real -world context.

Kevin Coghill is a pastor and staff member at Royal City Mission in downtown Guelph.

Links: