Think Global, Do Justice Canopy International
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- Society & Culture
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The podcast and community for globally minded disciples seeking God's justice, mercy and shalom throughout the world.
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Eugene Cho - Advocating for the Hungry
We are privileged to be joined today by a Christian leader that really embodies the ethic that we are all striving for as we pursue justice, mercy and shalom in the nations. We're grateful to have Eugene Cho join Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke on the show today talking with us about the work of Bread for the World and what it looks like to advocate for the poor and hungry both in the US and throughout the world. Eugene shares a pastoral word for those of us engaged in global justice work and offers his own reflections of how he remains grounded in Christ in the midst of busy lives of pursuing justice.
Podcast Sponsor
Zoe Empowers is equipping orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good.
Visit Zoe Empowers Online
Resources and Links from the Show
Overrated by Eugene Cho
Thou Shalt Not Be A Jerk by Eugene Cho
Visit Bread for the World Online
Conversation Notes
Conversation Notes
5:20 - Finding your vocation through following the Holy Spirit and seeking first the Kingdom of God 9:30 - Living a Christian ethic and counteracting egoism, isolationism, scarcity and individualism 14:20 - "Right now, this is the worst global hunger crisis in the last fifty years" The gravity of worldwide hunger and where are we seeing the most acute hunger. 19:20 - The Five C's that drive hunger globally - COVID, Conflict, Climate Change, Cost, Corruption and how we respond with Compassion and Courage 28:30 - The difference between poverty and hunger within the US and poverty and hunger in the Global South 36:00 - What Eugene would do if he was a global dictator 41:35 - The importance of avoiding apathy and cynicism and embracing learning and praying when it comes to global issues. 52:15 - What is true advocacy and should Christians be involving themselves in politics 1:04:50 - Humanizing the struggle of families to make ends meet 1:09:20 - Staying grounded in the midst of undertaking really big global nonprofit work 1:15:55 - Reflecting on Overrated a decade later and pastoring the global nonprofit community -
Malaria, Haiti, Slavery and "Aid State" (March 3+1)
In this 3+1 episode, we're talking the good (malaria vaccines), the bad (slavery) and a whole lot of Haiti. We've got Mac Archer back on the show to share with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke what she's seeing on the ground in Haiti and what's getting missed in larger media outlets. We talk through the utility of violence by those running the country and look at some potentially similar dynamics in other countries. We also discuss forced labor in Asia, the rise of malaria vaccines in Africa and get a book recommendation for a book that just released in the last couple of months.
Conversation Notes
3:00 - Podcast shoutouts for community members that are reviewing, sharing and sponsoring the show 8:40 - A good news story! Vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa are leading to a decline in infant/child mortalities caused by Malaria 21:00 - Looking at the situation in Haiti from someone in the country and with an article by a Haitian leader. Are these really "gangs"? In what ways is it similar to other conflict areas? Is there accountability for foreign interference? 37:55 - The exploitation of North Korean enslaved laborers in China and the nature and challenges of reporting on issues within totalitarian nations 48:58 - Understanding the context of Haiti and other majority world countries through the economic and anthropological lens of Jake Johnston Resources and Links from the Show
Al-Jazeera : Could new vaccines end Malaria in Africa?
NACLA : Haiti as Empire's Laboratory
BBC : North Koreans working in China 'exploited like slaves'
Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti by Jake Johnston
Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License -
Preston Sprinkle and Brandon Stiver - Rethinking Orphan Care
Today, we're releasing our podcast collaboration with our friends at Theology in the Raw. Brandon had a chance to sit down with Preston Sprinkle and dive into all things global orphan care and discuss the realities of that children in orphanages face worldwide. Our conversation weaves between a theology of calling and mission and how American Christians intersect with orphans in the Global South. We discuss the reality of life within orphanages, why kids end up there and what risk factors and vulnerabilities arise when kids are raised in that environment. This is a good Ethical Orphan Care 101 type episode and we're grateful for the chance to collaborate with Theology in the Raw to raise awareness and education.
For additional follow-up check out Brandon's four part orphan care blog series on Theology in the Raw. Here's the link.
Resources and Links from the show
When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett
In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence by Phil Darke and Keith McFarland
Check out our friends at Cherish Uganda
Get help to transform your orphanage with Canopy International -
Peter Greer and Ryan Skoog - Leading From Your Knees
Global nonprofits are notorious doers, always thinking, planning and taking action. In all of our intentionality for programs and justice endeavors, are we being equally intentional to pray? Peter Greer is back on the show, along with new friend Ryan Skoog, to share about the new book that they wrote (along with Cameron Doolittle) called Lead with Prayer. This is a conversation for everyone, because without God's intervention, nothing would happen anyway. And here's the secret that our guests share with us, "even better than answered prayer, is the very presence of God." Let's think, let's do, but let's also pray.
Resources and Links from the show
Join us for the first ever CarePortal Conference
Lead With Prayer Website (Includes Free Prayer Tools)
Echo Prayer App
Conversation Notes
4:25 - Ryan’s background in entrepreneurship and fundraising 9:55 - Connection of themes between The Gift of Disillusionment and Lead with Prayer 13:10 - The impact of the global church on our lives and taking the Gospel locally and to the ends of the earth 17:00 - Why is prayer so overlooked within Christian nonprofits. Peter asks, “Do we think that we have more to do than Jesus?” 22:35 - Diving into the research of different leaders around the world and what their prayer lives look like 26:35 - Leaders have a friendship first approach to their prayer lives 30:03 - It requires intentionality to set up prayer rhythms both personally and as an organizational 37:50 - The importance of leaders to repent and avoid the common story of Christian leaders that fall from grace 44:20 - Stories of people’s prayer lives -
Chrina Henson - Pioneering Family Care in the Philippines
In honor of the World Without Orphans Global Forum and in honor of awesome work being done in the Philippines, we've got Chrina Cuna Henson joining the show. Chrina runs the Manila-based organization Generations-Home and talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about what it's like to promote foster care and adoption in the Philippines. We discuss the reality of violence against children and the pervasive online sexual exploitation of children in the country and learn how Generations-Home is promoting the care and protection of Filipino children.
Resources and Links from the Show
Join us for the first ever CarePortal Conference
Generations-Home Website
"Constance" by Mr. J Medeiros (Music Video)
Conversation Notes
2:30 What’s great about the World Without Orphans Global Forum 7:50 About Generations Home and their work in the Philippines 10:15 How God led Chrina from personal tragedy into running a nonprofit focused on orphans and vulnerable children 15:00 Overview of orphanhood and childhood vulnerability in the Philippines including online sexual exploitation of children 22:42 Starting a church based, family focused movement in an orphanage and exploitation heavy context 34:35 The art of being gracious with people that have good intentions that are just trying to do what they think is best 39:30 Foster care and adoption in the Philippines 46:10 Getting the local church involved with vulnerable children and families 50:35 Being an OVC organization that is based financially in Asia rather than the West 55:53 Embracing our own brokenness as we faithfully serve vulnerable communities -
El Salvador, Localization, UNRWA and Bono (February 3+1)
In this 3+1 episode, we're catching up on some global stories that you might have missed and have a recommendation of the pop variety. We're continuing last month's conversation on elections by looking at El Salvador, talking through localization efforts in global development, the scandal surrounding UNRWA-Hamas and then get Brandon's take on Bono's recent biography, Surrender. Dr. Greg Burch of Multnomah University joins Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke for the conversation.
Get support for your nonprofit team or project with our team of professionals at Canopy International
Resources and Links from the show
Foreign Policy : What Bukele's Rise Means for the Region
World Relief : Three Trends We're Seeing in Global Development in 2024
USAID : Communicating through a Localization Lens
The Media Line : Hamas Sacrifices Gaza Children, and UNRWA Complicit in Crimes
Bridgely
The Locust Effect by Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros
God of the Empty-Handed by Jayukumar Christian
Conversation Notes
2:12 - Discussion on Christian Higher ed 8:23 - Considering security, freedom, violence and democracy as El Salvador goes through changes and the leadership of Nayib Bukele 22:00 - Why even bother bringing politics into the podcast conversation? 26:10 - Trends in global development, localization and the place for outsiders 40:30 - Violence against children in Israel-Palestine and the Hamas-UNRWA reports 52:34 - Surrender by Bono and reflections on the celebrity activist
Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
Customer Reviews
Astute analysis of global development
As someone working in the realm of caring for orphaned and vulnerable children, this podcast has been a godsend. As the show has moved into discussing global development more broadly, the content has been no less engaging and insightful. If you enjoy learning about real issues facing global development through a Christian lens and don’t want to be bogged down with pat, political profferings, you have come to the right place. Keep up the great work team!
A Primer and a Companion
This podcast helped me understand the OVC sector as I started moving into it. I was introduced to the multifaceted nature of the struggles and successes facing individuals and organizations in helpful ways.
As I’ve continued in the sector, I regularly return to the podcast to hear what other’s are doing in their programs and how they are navigating complexity.
The podcast is a great primer and a terrific companion for anyone who wants to learn how to elevate the way the world cares for orphans and vulnerable children.
Definitely Worth a Listen!!
The Think Orphan Podcast is incredibly informative, conversational and thoughtful in the way they approached tough subjects. There was a wide variety of topics talked about by people who are well informed and have done a lot of work with orphans and vulnerable children. This is a great resource to learn more about organizations who are working to alleviate this problem and who will give helpful opinions and resources on how we can take tangible steps to help with this issue! Definitely is a humbling podcast and makes me recognize that the world is far bigger than just me :) thankful for this resource!