Where Technology, Faith, and Humanitarian Relief Meet

Last updated on: October 13, 2015 at 6:00 am by D.G. Hollums

Where Technology, Faith, and Humanitarian Relief Meet 2015-10-13T00:36:08+00:00 D.G. Hollums

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Technology is a man-made learning curve. From the earliest tools to the power, innovation and knowledge found in our cell phones, we have invited technology into our lives. Like anything in this world, it can be used for any purpose. If the purpose is controversial, then mostly likely we will hear of the negative aspects of technology. When most people hear the term “drone,” they think of either a toy or warfare. In the West, most think of cell phones as devices for social media, texting, photos, games and, lastly, a phone.

Yet these technologies are transforming the developing world — saving lives not taking them, providing financial stability and enriching lives, not only making them more comfortable.

Drones are being used as early warning systems within remote villages that find themselves caught in the crossfire of civil wars. The Sentinel Project is protecting villages by flying drones equipped with heat-signature cameras to detect troop movements and provide alerts when villages might be threatened. They use cell phones and other technology to track their movements, keep in communication and save lives.

While 3-D printers are not only printing everyday items like key chains, they are also printing medical tools like umbilical cord clamps to reduce infant mortality rates in developing countries. These same printers are producing needed replacement parts for farming equipment.

In another case, one company called Outernet is creating small boxes called Lighthouses with a hard drive that connects to a satellite dish as a method for downloading information for free to anyone with a Wi-Fi signal. So, if an earthquake or tsunami destroys the communications infrastructure of a country,fleets of drones could be used to fly in supplies, 3-D printers, a single satellite dish and the small Lighthouse.Since Outernet data does not rely on terrestrial communication networks and a Lighthouse receiver can be set up in less than 30 minutes, spreading up-to-date information within a disaster area can happen cheaply and quickly. Outside organizations can send critical information to people on the ground and those on the ground who are able to send outgoing messages can have their messages amplified. Where to find shelter, food, supplies, and even a running list of where family members may find one another could be received without a communications infrastructure.

Outernet can also provide education in the form of books and videos — everything from elementary education to seminary-level theological books and classes taught through video. What once meant extreme sacrifice to smuggle a Bible into a country is now sent via satellite in minutes.

Technology is changing the face of our world, enriching lives, and saving lives in very unique ways.

Learn more about information and communication technologies for the developing world on Twitter when you follow @rethinkchurch, @UMCommunication and #ICT4D. Your actions close to home can have an impact across the globe. Read more about about technology is helping people to thrive at Rethink Church.

D.G. Hollums is Minister of Online Engagement with Rethink Church. This post is sponsored by Rethink Church.

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