Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Oikonomia

Home
Business, Finance and Religion
When Generosity Transforms a Community

When Generosity Transforms a Community

Last updated on: March 31, 2016 at 10:42 am by Acton Institute

When Generosity Transforms a Community 2016-03-31T10:42:02-04:00 Acton Institute

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Joseph Sunde

hannington1-Copy Bishop Hannington longed to see an awakening toward generosity in his town of Bundibugyo, Uganda, where many viewed giving more as a matter of duty than heartfelt joy.

Yet what at first seemed like a significant challenge soon grew even steeper. After fleeing their town for two years due to the chaos of civil war, the community returned to Bundibugyo to find their homes completely destroyed.

“The houses had been torn down, the farms had nothing in them, churches had been demolished, schools had been devastated,” Hannington says. “So we started from scratch.”

With no money, shelter, aid, or resources, the people didn’t know what to do, and surely the temptation to look inward and “keep what’s theirs” or “protect their own” pulled stronger than ever. But then Hannington remembered: They did indeed have resources.

Rather than turn to the West or others outside their community for aid and assistance, Hannington encouraged his neighbors to look inside their own hearts and hands. God had already given them what they needed, and that, too, was meant to be poured out yet again.

Hear their remarkable story:

Hannington encouraged them to connect and apply their God-given gifts to the God-designed spheres of culture and creation that surrounded them:

I asked, “How soon can my people raise to the challenge of funding, not only their immediate needs, but their futures as well. I told the people at that time that God has given us everything we need to rebuild our community. And what he needed was for others to make themselves available to him and he was going to use us. And those of us who are mechanics, and those of us who are business people, they can use their gifts and trade they have to build their community.

Slowly and steadily, transformation happened. Churches and schools were rebuilt, generosity continued to spread, skills and resources were shared and invested, wealth was created, and the community began to revive.

It’s a powerful example of how transformational our stewardship can be when it’s rooted not in our narrow plans for self-interest and self-preservation, but in the divine generosity of a heavenly father who so loved the world that he gave.

If war and destruction could not stop the servanthood and generosity of Bundibugyo, what’s stopping us?

Previous Post

March 23, 2016

Economy of Wisdom: Four Questions of Christian Education

Next Post

April 7, 2016 The Disabled Deserve the Dignity of Work

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Charity Church Common Grace Culture Curriculum Economics Education Family Justice Order Theology Uncategorized Vocation Wisdom Wonder Work

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Hebrews, what was the veil in the temple?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The separation from God Christ's flesh The old covenant The law of Moses