What Would You Have Said?

“Ten years ago I used to attend [a large well known church] and I tried to tell them that they had to do something about the environmental crisis. They wouldn’t listen – and now it’s too late. It’s fine that you guys (Care of Creation) are finally trying to ‘mobilize churches’ but there’s no point. It’s too late…”

I wonder what you would have said?

The conversation took place a couple of weeks ago at the Care of Creation booth at “Green Day”, an Earthday event in Madison. I had already had dozens of conversations that had ranged from curiosity (“Really? A Christian organization here???”) to congratulations (“Thanks for being here…”). But this guy was different. To start with, he towered over me, and I’m not short. And he was so emotional he almost couldn’t speak.

When he did, his words came pouring out. He is an environmental scientist, and he is convinced that the human race has allowed things to go beyond the point of no return. We can’t fix it any longer. All we can do is to prepare for the consequences of environmental catastrophe. He was as close to a person in despair as anyone I’ve seen.

What would you have said to him? He might be wrong about the severity of the problem. I hope he is, though he has a certain amount of professional credibility. What he is not wrong about is his expectation that the church should have something to say about what is happening to God’s creation. Here is a person who loves God’s world, who looked to God’s people for answers and who found the door closed. We talked for awhile, and he walked away – a little less upset, but far from convinced that the church has anything to offer him or humanity as we navigate the crisis engulfing creation. I doubt if I will ever have another chance to talk with him. But there are so many others like him in our universities and even in our neighborhoods. It’s as if they are collectively saying, “You people say you love God – why don’t you care about what’s happening to his world?”

That is why we at Care of Creation are doing what we’re doing. And as we enter our fourth year, the idea is beginning to catch on. Here are a few of the comments we’ve had through our website recently:

“Congratulations on your pioneering work. The Church is proud of you. I trust that the current troubles in Kenya hasn’t unduly affected your labours there. We’re praying for that country, which seems like a key Christian presence in Africa.”
“I am so glad to have found your site. I am a believer and have been desperately searching for environmentally friendly sites that are Christ based and not “New Age”. Thank you so much for all that you do.”
“You, your staff in Madison, as well as Craig, Tracy, Francis and all the others in Kenya are in our prayers and thoughts as well. We are encouraged by these newsletters. Keep them coming.”

If you are one of those who has expressed this kind encouragement to us, thank you!

And a special thanks to those of you who have encouraged us with financial gifts. We are far from fully funded, and every gift, small or large, makes a difference – but God has provided for our needs and we believe he will continue to do so.

So what has been happening in our ministry over the last several weeks?

Let’s begin with Madison, and the release of the new edition of Our Father’s World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation. Officially released on May 1, it was being publicized around the country well before that in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations. We were interviewed by radio stations in Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and a Moody Radio network that covers much of the south. We even had a brief conversation with a Christian station in London, England. The book is available through Amazon, and we will shortly begin selling it through our own website again.

Along with the book release, the Our Father’s World Seminar was presented in Madison early in April. “Among those attending were Tom Rowley, new Director of A Rocha USA, Ed Johnson, CEO of Au Sable Institute, and Yvonne Mildred, International Projects Coordinator for SIM. Yvonne’s comment later: “This was the most important weekend of my entire year here in the US.” Contact us if you would like to see about bringing a seminar to your area.

Fred and Stacey Gluck are preparing, even as I type, to pack their bags (and everything else) to move to Madison from Vermont in order to increase the capacity of our Administrative Office team. Please pray for them, and not just for safe travel. They are coming at their own expense and will be ‘tentmaking’ in the great tradition of St. Paul – we all thank you for your prayers as they embark on this great adventure.
Meanwhile, overseas…

Jan Korbel is coming to the end of her language refresher course in Tanzania. She recently wrote to us: I think I am getting more out of the side benefits of being here than anything else. For example, I have absolutely loved having an actual Maasai for a teacher, I am sure he is kin to Dr Dolittle as he really can understand animal. I have made many friends here that will be sad to leave. Also the grounds workers love to laugh at my Swahili so as least I am entertaining. And of course I can bargain in the market! If a girl can’t shop, what can she do? Thank you for praying for Jan during this time; after an earlier bout with typhoid, she seems to be doing well and is looking forward to joining the Kenya team in about two weeks.

Craig and Tracy Sorley are keeping themselves busy, as always. They have just brought Care of Creation-Kenya through its first audit; Craig and Francis are busy with spring tree planting (pray that the rains will cooperate), continuing demonstrations of the Farming God’s Way program, and preparations for a major conference in Ethiopia at the end of May. A local sister, Dorcas, has joined the team as Administrator, and represents a major step forward and a big answer to prayer. And here’s a special prayer request from Tracy: Her first year of homeschooling has gone well, but a number of changes, including the departure from Kenya of a family they have been homeschooling with, mean that they are reviewing other options for schooling next year. Please pray for them in the decision making process – and that God will provide financially for the boy’s education.

I (Ed) will be spending about 10 days in Kenya shortly – May 15 to 26. Among other things, we will be using this time for some important vision casting, planning and prayer regarding the team in Kenya. There are so many things to do, and the needs are even greater in the aftermath of the political violence earlier this year. We need God’s wisdom – and your prayers – to determine what we should be doing, and when, and how.

And in England, Jason Goodden, has been laying the groundwork for establishing a Care of Creation -UK office in close partnership with A Rocha – UK. There’s more to this story that we’ll tell you later. Suffice it to say that we are excited about the opportunity to share our unique ‘mobilizing the Church’ approach with our brothers and sisters across the Atlantic, as well as to extend a partnership with A Rocha that has roots in Kenya and potential in the US as well. Look for more cooperative ventures between evangelical environmental and mission organizations as we move forward.

Thank you for your partnership with us! We appreciate your prayers, your gifts and your encouragement! If you are a member of our regular financial support team, you know how much you mean to us. We could not do any of this without you. If you’re not – this is a great time to join!

In Him

Ed Brown, for the Care of Creation Family