In this 3+1 episode, we're getting into recent news about ways that Russia is getting around economic sanctions to buoy their economy during their war of aggression as well a couple Asian countries where pollution and contamination is having widespread effects on people's health and wellbeing. We've got Amanda Erne joining us for the conversation. Amanda is on staff with World Concern, is an associate with Canopy International and has a wealth of understanding around climate and sustainable agriculture. We discuss if the term "climate change" is still of use in Christian circles or if it turns too many people off and then get into a documentary recommendation focusing on a Malawian farmer advocating for change.

Podcast Sponsor

Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International.

Visit Child Hope International Online

Conversation Notes

• 8:45 Alternate economies that Russia is setting up to get around sanctions
• 21:00 Widespread contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh
• 29:45 Are we overpoliticizing terms like climate change and shutting off Christians to real stewardship issues?
• 35:13 A vicious cycle of pollution, cancer and economic collapse in Lebanon
• 48:00 The Ants and The Grasshopper documentary focuses on the story of a farmer and an advocate in Malawi

Resources and Links from the show

Al-Jazeera : Parallel Economy - How Russia is Defying the West's Boycott

Mongabay : Beneath the surface, a toxic tide threatens Bangladesh’s water lifeline

The Guardian : ‘Where can you hide from pollution?’: cancer rises 30% in Beirut as diesel generators poison city

The Ants & The Grasshopper Documentary

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

"We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace." Dr. Karen Fancher from Multnomah University joins the show today to walk us through the profoundly Christian field of peacebuilding. In her conversation with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke, Dr. Fancher walks us through what it means to promote peace within the humanitarian space with direct application to situations in Palestine and Sudan as well as explores the biblical foundation for Christians to be actively engaged in bringing God's Kingdom of peace and justice.

Podcast Sponsor

Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International.

Visit Child Hope International Online

Resources and Links from the show

Visit Multnomah University Online and the Graduate Peacebuilding Certificate Program

Strategic Peacebuilding by Lisa Shirch

Combatants for Peace Online

Conversation Notes

• 6:20 How God intertwines our work and our passion into a life story
• 11:05 “Reconciliation takes place when we step across difference”
• 16:00 Honoring those that have been traumatized and not making assumptions as outsiders when trying to understand conflict in other countries
• 19:20 Understanding the biblical concept of shalom
• 24:15 Peace as a central theme for Jesus and his followers
• 29:10 The primacy of being citizens of the Kingdom of God in contested times and situations. Should we be pro-Israel or pro-Palestine?
• 34:00 Common drivers of violence and conflict - disparity, feelings of powerlessness, trauma and redemptive violence
• 43:05 Considering the history of conflict in Sudan and the impact of war trauma on the populations
• 51:10 The difference between peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding in the humanitarian space
• 56:55 Proximity, skills and posture that promote peace
• 1:03:10 The role that foreign bodies, international entities and INGOs should and should not play in conflict resolution
• 1:09:00 Organizations and stories of peace: "We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace."
• 1:14:10 Learning from the prejudices and hurts in our own heart towards other people and seeking to better understand the Kingdom of God

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