Hope In View helps groups form transformative communities through which Jesus’ followers and those around them begin to experience the spiritual, physical, economic, educational, social, and environmental transformation that Jesus intends in all areas of their lives.
Making effective followers of Jesus doesn’t usually happen through information transfer alone. To change our worldview and behavior usually requires lots of interaction around Jesus’ teachings with fellow followers who love us, with whom we can be honest, and who will hold us accountable. This kind of thing takes place best in small groups, with networks of leaders providing ongoing training and personal care to every person in each group.
Hope In View helps followers grasp and implement the economic teachings in the Bible, with a view toward the fact that it is not God’s will for poverty to grind down his beloved children. This has led to the development of self-help savings groups and other economic development projects. Biblical teachings on dependency have likewise helped churches to become self-sustaining without outside support. In addition, small groups have already created various ingenious local applications of this gospel of the kingdom which have improved life for their communities. And they’re just getting started….
OUR STRATEGY
Hope In View’s primary strategy is to develop visible models of transformative communities in every demographic group, from which others can get inspiration and know-how. Specific steps toward this include the following:
- Training and mentoring leaders at all levels to promote spirituality that produces health in all areas of life.
- Promoting self-help groups that can lift people out of poverty without outside subsidy.
- Temporarily sponsoring children in desperate need until such time as local churches and community groups can do this.
- Providing training for projects initiated by leaders and small groups in areas of family, health, finances, business development, and peace-making.
- Providing occasional short-term relief in collaboration with local churches or other groups when acute crises threaten the survival and future development of people with whom we have worked.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
1. Hope In View acts only by invitation from local churches or other groups, who own all of the projects.
2. Hope In View works primarily with groups rather than individuals, as real change takes place only when people work together, developing and contributing a diversity of perspectives and gifts. We have found this happens best in small group settings.
3. Hope In View has long-term relationships with Ethiopian leaders in Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and other settings who value its mentoring within their own cultural contexts.
4. Hope In View strongly advocates multi-level structured leadership networks, in which no leader cares for more than 12 people directly and in which every leader receives care and accountability from another leader.
5. Hope In View works hard to do long-term planning and develop local funding so that its work will continue after Hope In View ceases to exist.
6. Hope In View reinforces on every level the principle that every worker is accountable to God in every area of life.
