Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

Empowering People for Freedom, Wholeness, and Justice (continued)

All aspects of human need are of concern to the development worker. As the development worker’s love for people takes shape in concrete actions, it should be their intent that people “may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5.16). • Development workers should be maturing disciples of Christ who are actively engaged in ongoing spiritual growth. Who we are is more important than what we do. Only as development workers are actively seeking to live in Christ’s love and listen to his Spirit, will they effectively communicate his love to those they work with. • Development workers must receive care for their own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and development. Development workers face unique pressures in dealing with human need. They often feel particular stress from standing in between, and identifying with, both the interests of the particular people they serve and the organization they represent (See Hiebert 1989, 83). Physical, emotional or spiritual burn-out is an ever present possibility. Therefore, it is important that development workers give adequate time and attention to maintaining their own health so that they can continue to effectively minister to the needs of others. • Development workers need to be specifically equipped in evangelism and an understanding of missions. Christian development workers usually understand that development and evangelism should work in partnership, but are often undertrained in evangelism (See Hoke and Voorhies 1989). Development workers also need to receive general training in missions and management in addition to being trained for their specific task of development (See Pickett and Hawthorne 1992, D218-19) since many of their daily tasks require an understanding of these disciplines.