Participation Is Good, Mobilisation Is Better | Wendy

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ ‘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.

Carbon Fast 2013

Posted on by 施達基金會

cedarcarbonfast2013

Lent is the 40 days of reflection and meditation before Easter to prepare ourselves for Resurrection Sunday. Modeling after Jesus’ experience during 40 days of fasting, praying and being tempted in the desert, Christians also engage in reflecting within our inner souls, crying out for God’s mercy and dwelling on the love of God through praying, fasting, self denial, repenting, self-control, etc., as well as experience the hardship of the poor in order to learn to deny one’s desires and live a life of simplicity and love.

Meditating throughout Lent encompasses our relationship with God, with others and with the God-created land we live on. In repentance, we await restoration through the power of Jesus’ resurrection, reconciling us with others and with the rest of creation.

Why Take Part?>  Human activity is the main root cause of environmental damage and global warming. Climate change causes drought and famine in Africa and floods in Asia for many years running, driving the poor whose lives depend on natural resources into deeper poverty. Our day to day lives may not be impacted severely by the changing climate yet, but what about people who struggle to feed their families or find a home that will not get washed away or cannot work because the fields have been destroyed by droughts and storms? It’s our job to bring hope. Join us in Carbon Fast this Lent to respond to this challenge, remembering how God has called us to respect and look after his good creation and to protect poor people whom we know are suffering the most.

Your Response> Join CEDAR’s Carbon Fast during Lent (from 13 February to 30 March 2013) to meditate on the Word of God, appreciate God’s creation, reflect on our relationship with the environment, understand the circumstances of those most affected by climate change, and take part in Carbon Fast to change our inherent life style and to care for the land and the poor.

Participation: http://bit.ly/cedar-carbonfast2013-participation

Registration: http://bit.ly/cedar-carbonfast2013-eForm