Dependency vs Local Dignity

Dependency is an interesting subject that I am sure is debated in the missiological society. Glenn Schwartz talks about four lessons on this subject. They are: everyone should give, build dignity and ownership, be reproducible, and avoid dependency on outside funding (Winter, 2014, p. 657-658). On one hand, we want to help the poor, yet on the other hand, we want to enable them to live an obedient life following Christ. We don’t want to create a welfare state that causes hopelessness and dependency on the “mother government” or a mission outreach program. Some might argue that the able-bodied poor have no choice but to remain impoverished due to outside forces. Others would say that opportunities can be made even in hostile environments unsuitable for entrepreneurship. I like Glenn’s point about the test, “Can the local church continue and reproduce itself even if the foreign funding goes away?” (Winter, 2014, p. 658). I have seen this in Africa. Many are looking for “sponsors”. We must be careful about this and be led by the Spirit on where we sow seeds.

The Western mission giving can be detrimental to natural church growth in the mission field when they become so dependent that they don’t feel a sense of ownership and responsibility. Like what Glenn said about the sad story in East Africa where the church was raising local funds, but after a large grant was offered, they stopped in favor of the “easy money” (Winter, 2014, p. 658).

Compassion-giving may be a way to source funds for a mission, but relying on it as the only source can be detrimental. What if the economy tanks and people have to hold on to just get by themselves? We need giving to be both compassionate and obedient to scripture. The Bible tells us to care for the poor and widows (James 1:27).

Financial giving is not the only way to support a mission. I know from my Heidi report that she saw that starving people who showed up at their mission wanted the food of the Word of God more than food itself. Oh, that we could be that hungry for more of Jesus! More than just materialistic needs, we all need to be spiritually fed. This should be the mission’s priority, and the humanitarian aspect should be second. Prayer and the missionaries’ presence among the people are essential for growing the church planting efforts. We need to raise self-supporting and self-propagating people movements rather than dependent movements.