It was early morning and I was huddled around a fire with ten boys, ages 8 to 13. They were preparing to work in the community market in a suburb of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Each Saturday the boys show up around 5 a.m. in preparation for a days work. The children, using wheelbarrows, follow clients around … Continue reading Toward Transformation: Bringing Together Mission, Justice & Development (Part 1)
Racial Koinonia
Most people who truly know me, would say that I am not a very outspoken person. I keep a lot of my thoughts to myself (or reserve them for my classes), but I have been wrestling for sometime with my memories. Memories of privilege. Memories of opportunity. Born in Inglewood, California, a few blocks from … Continue reading Racial Koinonia
An Incarnational Christmas
A few years ago while living in Costa Rica our family participated in neighborhood reenactments of the Christmas story called “Las Posadas.” Just prior to Christmas, families begin acting out the Christmas story in their neighborhoods. As if we were Joseph and Mary, we went door to door with fellow neighbors calling upon those in … Continue reading An Incarnational Christmas
Third Highest Peak in Oregon and Fighting Human Trafficking
Can I brag about my wife for a second? She's an amazing woman who is an incredibly self-less and caring person. Christina Grissen-Burch is about to stand on top of Oregon's third highest peak for someone she doesn't even know. Here's the details: August 28-30 she will be taking a three day fundraising climb up … Continue reading Third Highest Peak in Oregon and Fighting Human Trafficking
Child Evangelism – Toward a Participatory Approach
In a journal article entitled “Involving Children in Health and Social Research” the authors present an interesting question: Are children to be perceived as “human becomings or active beings” (Balen et al. 2006, 1)? It is argued that children should be recognized as social actors, rather than as “objects to be studied.” I would … Continue reading Child Evangelism – Toward a Participatory Approach
Powerpoint “Creating Community for Children at Risk” for Mission ConneXion
Hey all, thanks for visiting my seminar. Here is my presentation. Please take some time to browse. Under the menu section you will find a number of resources I have put together, including some articles I have written about ministry with at-risk youth and children. If you would like to purchase my book, click on … Continue reading Powerpoint “Creating Community for Children at Risk” for Mission ConneXion
Costa Rica Update
Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to Costa Rica with the Butteville Community Church group. March 24th - April 2nd. We had a group of 11 (including our family) and spent the week ministering at Colegio Monterrey (an associate ministry of the Latin America Mission). The week included attending class with the … Continue reading Costa Rica Update
Kenya trip – Nairobi & Kitale
I think my head is clear enough to try and detail a few experiences from Kenya. This was my first trip to Africa and was in particular a very exciting opportunity to hear how churches and seminaries are engaging with children ministries in the region. The first part of the trip was devoted to the … Continue reading Kenya trip – Nairobi & Kitale
180 degrees United Global Action with Street Children
Check out the new 180 degrees newsletter. It contains helpful information for those caring for street-living and working children around the world! Great stuff! 180_newsletter_jan_2011 (1) (click on newsletter)
Local Alliance for Holistic Child Development
Over this past year, ESEPA, Roblealto Child Care and VIVA of Latin America have been dialoguing about the need to train children at risk workers in quality child-care. On November 4th we all came together to sign an agreement to launch a new certificate program in Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (Holistic Child … Continue reading Local Alliance for Holistic Child Development
Development and Justice 