Glocal Ventures

- by Dennis Jeffares, International Director of Glocal Ventures, Inc.

Our church (NorthWood) is currently in the 3rd week of  “The James Experiment” – a guided Bible study to explore faith more deeply.  As we reflect on the book of James we are reminded of many lessons learned over the last 14 years of service to the people of Vietnam.

1. The value of family and community
In our work in Vietnam, we have encountered many people who have endured trials far beyond anything we have encountered, but working together in tight knit families and communities, they have found ways to persevere.  The exposure that NorthWood families have had with our Vietnamese friends has strengthened our view of family and community.  Through our interaction with their communities, God has reminded us that he has created us to function as families and communities, not as mere individuals.  Practicing this life principle of valuing family and community in the context of a deep love of God equips us for all of life’s challenges.

2. The Value of humility
There is so much that God can teach us when we approach other cultures in humility.  Humility enables us to access the understanding that we need to successfully engage other cultures.  The more we engage, the more we appreciate the differences between our cultures, and in many cases, what we learn from other cultures actually strengthens our own communities.

3. True Religion
This year will be the 11th year NorthWood has been involved in orphan work in Vietnam.  We will send 8 teams to Vietnam this year, but our orphan trip is the one that draws the greatest number of volunteers.  There is something about this ministry that touches the lives of our people in a very special way.  James 1:27 tells us that looking after orphans and widows is the kind of religion that God accepts as pure and faultless.

4. Action and Faith work together
When NorthWood began working in Vietnam in 1996, our desire was to see communities transformed.  But as we lived out our faith through serving the people of Vietnam we discovered that our own community at NorthWood was being transformed.  James 1:22 tells us “Don’t merely listen to the word, do what it says”. When we follow Christ’s example of unconditional love, we don’t hesitate to walk across the street or fly across an ocean to help a neighbor in need.  Our work in Vietnam has provided us with countless opportunities to put our faith into action, and in the process, our faith is being made complete (James 2:22)