Renewed Commitment to PD and Orphan Care Initiative

As the “H” initiative of our Daring Faith goals, we are helping to take the Good News to the last 3,000 unreached tribes. In an effort to make this happen, Saddleback has implemented a near-neighbor strategy in Rwanda, to connect with local churches and go beyond what Saddleback can do alone.

This entails Rwandan communities finding new neighbors who are approachable to work together to change lives. Currently, this strategy is being put into action through Purpose Driven Church training, and Saddleback’s Orphan Care Initiative.

A giant leap toward this objective took place on Nov 1st when PEACE leaders in Rwanda were commissioned to reach all UUPG around the world. This strategic transition of leadership brought about a renewed focus on church health, and on helping families become stronger.

“This is a historic moment in reaching our Daring Faith “H” initiative,” says Saddleback Pastor of Missions, Andrew Lossau. “We’ve had a leadership shift in Rwanda that has created a domino effect. It has led to a high emphasis on living out PD principles within communities, and a renewed commitment to getting to zero with the remaining orphanages.”

Elizabeth Styffe, Director of Saddleback’s Orphan Care Initiative, recently led a Saddleback team of women leaders on a PEACE trip to Rwanda. They focused on serving and equipping local churches to help end the orphan crisis. 

By providing a church-to-church global outreach, Saddleback is helping strengthen people in the local church by demonstrating that every member is a minister. This strategy mobilizes the local community, and empowers those who are closest to the culture.

According to Elizabeth, “ We’re not just working with the pastor, but we’re also helping the pastor mobilize the entire congregation to ‘go’. When you apply this process to missions, it changes the entire approach to reach the unreached.”

When it comes to missions, Saddleback focuses on three main areas: Church unity to increase critical mass, church health so that all churches are Purpose Driven, and community transformation to bring permanent change.

As Elizabeth explains, the Orphan Care Initiative has been an impetus in helping create community transformation. The story of adoption and finding new life crosses blood lines, and demonstrates that what we do physically, is what God did for us spiritually, she says.

“It’s a great message that reaches across cultures,” says Elizabeth. “It’s radical love, expressed through the hope of the church. When Christians show up, unreached people groups realize that Christians speak their language. We help solve their problems, and this makes the church very relevant.

Elizabeth says Psalms 68:5 has been a verse of inspiration: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”

In light of the ongoing accomplishments in Rwanda, the local government is asking the church to continue its efforts in training others how to do more to help bring healing to children.

Each month, global PEACE teams are sent out to partner with other churches and attack the five global giants. One way to be part of the process is for our church family to keep pouring into these initiatives.

“It’s important that we continue our efforts,” says Pastor Andrew. “From getting to zero orphanages and equipping social workers, to committing to projects in Rwanda and having more emphasis on church health—these are all issues very close to God’s heart.”

To learn more about opportunities to serve around the world, visit www.saddleback.com/missions or email peace@saddleback.com.