Recognizing and Reinforcing the Things We Already Have

Dawn Quote Image

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

— 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Episcopal Relief & Development is a collaborative venture – joining us together with our partners around the Anglican Communion and our neighbors living in marginalized communities around the world. Many of our neighbors face daily challenges of living in severe poverty, and these formidable challenges require many kinds of skills, experiences and a full range of assets to overcome. This passage from Corinthians speaks to the spiritual dimension of resource mobilization, which is the work I do. The process of program development ideally grows out of the best of everyone’s ideas and strengths, including and especially the participating communities, and identifies the diverse types of resources that can be used to create change. Resource mobilization is not just about money, which is too often thought of as the main driver of community development. Rather, the resource might be the newfound confidence of women in a savings group. It might be the energy and skills of newly trained health volunteers. It might be the inspiration of clergy speaking out against gender-based violence.

As we seek to support communities working to achieve their goals, our ministry is to first recognize and reinforce the talents and assets that community members and partners already have. Then we consider together how Episcopal Relief & Development can build on the gifts, services and activities underway, bestowed by the Spirit for the blessing of all. 

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dawn-murdock   

 Dawn Murdock is the Director, Resource Mobilization & Knowledge Management
 at Episcopal Relief & Development.

 

 

Image: Musicians playing music in rubble. 

During Lent we will periodically highlight passages from the 2016 Lenten Meditation booklet. You can download and read the Spanish version of this meditation here: http://bit.ly/1DRfPgF.