A paperless ministry

I've got this friend here in Cebu who is around 26 years old. He and his wife run a birthing ministry here and they work with a lot of very poor mothers. They are great people and David has helped us with our computer networks and other IT stuff for the past year. It is really interesting to talk with him about ministry promotion. He runs a largely paperless operation. Their newlsetters are all electronic and are distributed through e-mail or via their web site. They don't send out mail to their supporters, but communicate entirely through e-mail. They do webcasting and podcasting and vodcasting to get out the images and needs of their ministry and to do the updates for their sponsorship program . Their donors give on-line, and receive their receipts that way. Most of their donors are their age, and are used to getting all of their information, whether it be news, opinions or even ministry information from internet sources. Growing up in the information explosion age, this is the only way they really know to communicate find out the things that they want to know.

I have a brother who is an editor of a community newspaper. He estimates that in the next decade or so newspapers will disappear. Already they are experience dwindling readership and distribution, as more and more people get their news from other sources. Perhaps other institutions that we, the older generation, have grown up with will disappear. Like missionary prayer letters or ministry brochures of the paper variety.

We are looking at these issues as an organization. We have donors of all ages, many of whom have not totally embraced the computer age. So we must continue to produce the materials that they require to keep up on CSC and to know of our needs and opportunities. But we must also be sensitive those who want to learn and give on-line. We are trying to develop our web site. We are going to offer electronic options for our Foster Friends updates and our news and prayer letters.

So goes the leadership of a ministry in the 21st Century. Things change. It is exciting to be a part of an organization that has maintained its values and focus over the years, while trying to keep current and being willing to change.

A job well done

The other night I had a flat tire. My spare was also flat. And my jack parts were not all in the trunk. (Those who know me well will not be surprised to read this.) I had to call up Undoy, the house father from the teen home to come and bail me out. He brought two of the teens, Julieto and Ronilo.

After bringing my spare to be filled with air, Undoy and the boys went to work. It turned out that their jack wasn't working properly, so it became a pretty difficult task to get the flat tire off. The guys had to use both jacks, and two of them had to crawl under my car. The cranking of the jack was very slow. At several points I asked if I should call someone else to come who had proper equipment. Undoy answered, "just let me try one more thing."

Finally the job was done. After thanking the guy I got back into my car and watched Ondoy and his two boys walk back to their jeep, shaking the dirt off their jeans and laughing and patting each other on the back. They were happy with a job well done, and glad that we hadn't had to call for backup. They were proud that they had been able to figure out how to get the job done. And it was fun to do the job together as a team.

It always warms my heart when I see the relationships that develop between our kids and houseparents. The young people look up to Ondoy and Edith, his wife, and learn about life and how to handle adult situations from them. They learn about work and how to handle challenges.

The other night, as I was driving home, I thought about CSC, and how the job that we have to do is challenging and often frustrating, but one that needs doing. Its one that requires teamwork.
And it is a job that provides lots of satisfaction. I think that CSC, like the tire project, is a job that is done well.