It Ain't That Simple Mate!

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Community and Agricultural Development partnerships.

In the first half of the podcast, we look at how community development is done and the kinds of issues our partners in this area are grappling with, such as water and sanitation. We look at the difference that community development makes, and why it is so difficult and time consuming to do well. We also explain why Bright Hope World doesn't do buildings and how we are responding to climate change issues.

In the second half of the podcast, we focus in on Foundations for Farming and agricultural development. We talk about the basic principles and strategies involved, as well as the impact and potential for sustainable agriculture and why this will be key strategic focus for us in the future.

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Evangelism and Church Planting partnerships.

In the first half of the podcast, we talk about what evangelism looks like among the poor in the developing world and what it means to be a believer in these environments. We look at the role of persecution and suffering and how these shape evangelism.

In the second half of the podcast, we look at practical strategies for communicating the Gospel, including small groups, bivocationalism and Disciple-Making Movements. We finish off by discussing the power of fearlessness!

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Education and Training partnerships.

In the first half of the podcast, we talk about some of the real issues around traditional schooling and the challenges one faces in trying to support schools in a developing context. We also chat about some of the emerging new ways of supporting education that address the challenges and are yielding great results.

In the second half of the podcast, we look at other ways of supporting families and communities, particularly through vocational training, which focuses on teaching skills that enable people to actually get jobs in their local economies.

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Microloans and Microenterprise partnerships.

In the first half of the podcast, we look at the nature of good microloans schemes and the four big factors that help microloans programmes succeed. We also chat about table banking - an interesting alternative to microloans programmes.

In the second half of the podcast, we consider how COVID has impacted microloans and microenterprise, and the benefits, dangers and challenges in pursuing business, including for those in ministry. This includes a discussion on bivocationalism which is a bit controversial!

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Orphans and Vulnerable Children partnerships.

In the first half of the podcast, we discuss the realities and challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children, and look at why poverty impacts them even more acutely than adults. We consider the realities children face living in poverty and how it impacts their development.

In the second half of the podcast, we discuss some good - and some not so good - responses to the challenges faced by these young people. We talk about how Bright Hope World supports orphans and vulnerable children and our view on orphanages and sponsorship programmes.

In this episode we look at Bright Hope World's Humanitarian and Relief partnerships.

We look at the ways Bright Hope World gets involved in relief and aid around the world and how easy it is to get this space wrong! Interested to know how to respond to natural disasters and conflict in a helpful way? Well, we have some ideas.

In the second half of the podcast, we take a look at the rise in the number of refugees in the world, what is causing this, and how we are responding.

In this episode we go to the Christian enclave of Yohannabad in Lahore, Pakistan.

Edward Qaser talks about growing up as a Christian in a Muslim country and the discrimination this entailed. He talks about the work his organisation EGM is doing among poor Christians, with a focus on helping bright young students get further education and jobs.

Edward also provides an update on COVID relief, and the challenges that many face in accessing support from the government and international community.

In this episode we return to Lebanon to connect with Bassam Haddad, who works with Syrian refugees in Beirut.

Bassam talks about life in Lebanon, which has become extremely difficult, and about the challenges of sharing his faith with Muslims. 

In this episode we talk with our partner Niranjan Adhikary who works near Kathmandu in Nepal.

Niranjan is particularly entrepreneurial and has a fascinating perspective on how to simulate and promote self-sustainability in difficult circumstances. He also discusses how Nepal is recovering from the disastrous 2015 earthquake.

In this episode we talk to a wonderful partner and friend working in the Middle East. We can't share his name or even his location but we discuss the amazing ministry he and his wife lead working with disabled young people.

In the interview we explore what it is like to be a person with disabilities in an honour/shame culture where a child being born with disabilities shames the family generally, and the mother and child especially. 

In this episode we hear from Izdihar Kassis who works with poor and refugee families near the Syrian border in Lebanon. Izdihar works particularly with new mothers and their babies, who are particularly vulnerable in such a hostile environment. In the podcast she shares about the struggles that refugees face and the extreme issues facing Lebanon.

In this episode we talk to Mike Mann from the Integrated Tribal Development Foundation (ITDF) in Thailand.

In this episode Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore interview a couple working among the poor in Cairo, Egypt.

For security reasons, we are not able to give their names or details.

The story starts with an amazing account of a young boy that sees his father gunned down in front of him, and swears revenge on those responsible. Where the story goes from there, and where he and his wife end up, is deeply encouraging and challenging.

Season 2 kicks off a new series of conversations with Bright Hope World partners around the world.

In this episode we talk to Zeeneta who works in northern India. She tells an amazing story of her family being hunted by relatives and facing incredible persecution, but showing incredible forgiveness and love towards those that sought to do them harm.

They're popular, they're challenging and enlightening...but are they a good idea? Short-term mission trips have become a key strategy for churches to engage in missions, and to engage thier people in missions. Yet sometimes we do not stop to ask ourselves why we're doing them and if we are doing them the right way.

Fraser Scott and Bright Hope World's Southeast Asia Partnership Facilitator Emma Stokes take a long hard look at short-term mission trips and ask why we're doing them, whether they are giving us the results we're wanting and - most importantly - who we're actually doing them for. They discuss some of the key considerations in doing such trips well, and some of the key pitfalls to avoid.

Resources discussed in the podcast include:

How long does it take to alleviate poverty and what kind of things should you focus on? Well, not surprisingly, the answer is not straightforward! It depends what stage of poverty you're actually talking about.

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore talk about the four stages of poverty, from relief after a disaster to intergenerational cultural reform. They discuss the timeframes that each stage involves and explore the things people wanting to get involved to help need to know.

The church in many parts of the Majority (or developing) World is growing strongly, while in New Zealand and other countries in the west, the statistics are often a little less encouraging. Why is this? Is it just cultural factors, or are there things the church in places outside of the west is doing that we need to learn from?

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore look at five key things we can learn from what the church is doing in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America that might help us to turn things around. 

Whether you are working in the farthest corners of the world, or among the poor where you live, there are certain challenges and realities you are going to face.

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore talk about five core issues that will always present themselves when engaging with the poor. Understanding these issues and how to combat them can help avoid doing more harm than good when we're trying to be of service to the poor.

As 2020 comes to a close, Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore consider how COVID-19 - which has pretty much defined the year - has impacted Bright Hope World's partners around the world.

They look at some of the challenges and pain that partners have faced, as well as some of the amazing things God has done through faithful people. They also ponder what the future is likely to look like when 'the dust settles' and how Bright Hope World might need to change to adjust to 'the new normal'.

Fraser Scott talks about the history of Bright Hope World with founder and Chairman Rob Purdue.

Rob talks about his background and the influences as a young man that led him towards starting Bright Hope World. He shares stories about the very first partners that he and his wife Heather met, and how the ministry expanded from its roots in Eastern Europe, immediately after the fall of communism, to South America and Africa.

Fraser Scott talks to John Vlaming (Bright Hope World's Agricultural Director) and Jerry Field (Bright Hope World's Zambia Partnership Facilitator) about the Foundations for Farming programme.

Foundations for Farming helps people in developing countries to use their land more effectively so they can provide for their families. It emphasises sustainability in farming, as well as addressing mindsets that can impact farming effectiveness. 

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore counter the last episode's list of the five worst ways to address poverty with a list of five really good ideas that are making a difference among the poor globally.

Microloans and table banking are looked at, as well as agricultural development, empowerment of women and a couple of other strategies that are paying big dividends in terms of communities and lives being transformed.

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore list out five really bad ideas to address poverty, mostly from mistakes they've made!

They consider some of the things that can drive us and that we might 'take with us' when we try to help the poor, and the damage these can do. Be prepared to feel a little bit uncomfortable!

How do you build relationship with the poor and partner with them as equals to help alleviate poverty?

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore consider how the challenges of crossing cultures and forming sustainable relationships focused on addressing poverty can work. How do you deal with power imbalances? How do you prevent money from destroying relationships? How do you correct for the inherent influence that we as westerners carry with us as we seek to serve the global poor?

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore look at what is it like to be among the poorest of the poor.

While not being economically poor themselves, Fraser and Kevin have worked among the poor for many years and share some of their observations as to what the experience of being poor is like, and some of the challenges the poor face that we might not be aware of.

Fraser Scott and Kevin Honore look at the nature of poverty - is it really just a lack of resources or is there more to it than that?

The discussion focuses on the relational nature of poverty and why that matters, particularly when westerners step into other cultures in which we see 'the poor'.

The very first episode of the new Bright Hope World podcast: "It Ain't That Simple Mate!".