Participation Is Good, Mobilisation Is Better | Wendy

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[ ‘SHARE’ Jan-Feb 2014 – Who Is Willing to Be Their Neighbour? ] TAKING ACTION

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Author> Wendy FUNG

Thank God for leading me to a number of CEDAR’s events in the past two years. In January 2013, I joined the exposure trip to Ethiopia where I learned and witnessed God’s power; the trip also helped me understand CEDAR’s operation. The impact of CEDAR Carbon Fast during Lent on me is the most apparent; I was invited to be a member of ‘Carbon Fast Army’, assist posting photos on Facebook about Carbon Fast. With the aid of Scriptures prepared by CEDAR, I have gained better understand of the purposes of our daily Fast actions and God’s will at creation. Some of the Fast actions such as waste sorting and bringing my own water bottle/cutlery have become my daily habits.

On a missions trip to Madagascar in 2012, the missionary not only took home leftovers from the table, she also reused plastic boxes after cleansing as the refuse collection system there is inadequate and people just dumped all wastes into big garbage bins on road-sides. Besides doing evangelisation and church planting, I saw the missionary’s effort not to produce waste and perceived her integral love towards the land and inhabitants thereon.

The Philippines was hit by severe Tropical Storm Haiyan that killed thousands and affected over nine million people. It is irrefutable that human activities aggravate extreme climate changes and the frequent natural disasters make the poor’s lives harder, even taking away many precious lives. Isn’t it ironic that we seek to take the gospel to the ends of the world, whilst our lifestyles bring about changes that would reduce the chance of the poor hearing the gospel?  I used to question the effect in turning off one lamp on carbon emissions reduction!  But if all Christians change our current lifestyles and practise the bible’s teaching, I believe that by the Holy Spirit we can change the world. Living an Integral Mission may sound grand and hard to start, but we may live it out a bit in a day. Let us start today and with God’s help exert influence on people around us doing small things in loving our world. (Watch a clip by Tearfund UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vph2oLKb1qM)

In January 2013, Wendy joined CEDAR’s exposure trip to Ethiopia; taking part in Carbon Fast and as a member of ‘Carbon Fast Army’ practising and mobilising low carbon living for better environmental protection in February and March; Wendy further joined CEDAR Barefoot Walk in November showing support for impoverished children.

Integral Alliance

Posted on by 施達基金會

[Annual Report 2011-2012] Networking

Haiti Earthquake

Review of 2011 to 2012

In past ten years, different Christian relief and development organisations around the world started to build up the network among them in order to respond to the increasing disasters and poverty issues more effectively. Under this context Integral Alliance (IA) was formed. In 2011, IA has had a three-year strategic working plan from 2012 to 2015, to provide quicker and proper relief response and post-disaster rehabilitation to any disaster around world through improving the communication system and setting up the relief operating guidelines among alliance’s member agencies.

In May 2012, IA updated the communication systems. Member agencies can now get more updated information and give response to different disasters through the internet platform. In June 2012, member agencies for first time used the new internet platform and communication system to discuss and coordinate the humanitarian relief on Sudan’s conflict.

18 global Christian relief and development organisations join Integral Alliance

Jackson’s Sharing

‘The official launch of the Integral Alliance Disaster Response in May 2012 set a new milestone of a joint international effort among 18 international Christian relief and development agencies of Integral Alliance.  The new process coordinates and facilitates members to quickly disseminate the latest information about disasters and proposals of relief operations to other members for speedy and well-coordinated responses, maximizing resources and minimizing on redundancy. With different specialties and geographical focus, the process secures prayer and tangible assistance from members and their network which may not have the information or channels to do so. This partnership and servant heart among member agencies make Integral Alliance something special.  It is more than being merely functional. There is a spiritual bond and a sense of fellowship that attests to the reality of Emmanuel—God with us.’