James 1:27 has long been a central biblical text from which our podcast community has drawn from. But to what extent have we delved into the depths of the Jewish context in which James wrote? To help us go deeper on this text and the social implications of true religion, we've invited Dr. Andrea Siegel to the show. Dr. Siegel has years of experience in humanitarian work, Hebrew studies and counseling and brings that to the text as the curriculum writer on Helping Children Worldwide's most recent orphan care resource. If you want to hear some things about James 1:27 that you've never heard before, this is a podcast to check out.

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Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Alliance for Children Everywhere is on mission to bring vulnerable children into secure families, schools, and communities.

Visit Alliance for Children Everywhere Online

Resources and Links from the show

One Twenty-Seven by Dr. Andrea Siegel and Helping Children Worldwide

Conversation Notes

• The Old Testament backdrop of caring for orphans and widows
• The collective nature of James 1:27 and what it means to be guarantors of one another in caring for the vulnerable in society
• The connection with Exodus 22:21-23 and parsing out singular and plural pronouns for collective responsibility
• Not forgetting what we look like in the mirror and how that keeps us aware of our Genesis-selves
• A number of different Hebrew words and applications that enrich the understanding of the passage

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

War. Famine. Poverty. Violence. Natural Disasters. Working in humanitarian spaces puts us up close and personal with some of the worst kinds of evil and suffering. In the face of it all, we follow a God who is both all good and all powerful. How do those two realities compute? It's a quandary that has been around a long time and we've invited Southeastern University's Dr. Chris Palmer onto the show to help us think biblically and theologically when we're faced with the problem of evil. From the killing fields in Polpot's Cambodia to earthquakes in the Middle East, we wrestle the reality of pain while clinging to God's goodness and embracing the mystery.

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Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Join Camino Quest for a spiritual pilgrimage with other pilgrims on the ancient and amazing Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Visit Camino Quest Online

Resources and Links from the show

Dr. Palmer's Bio at Southeastern University Online

Conversation Notes

• Chris being confronted with the evil of the killing fields in Cambodia
• How do we describe and define what evil is substantively
• Juxtaposing suffering that takes place in the natural world with the suffering caused by human agency
• The differing theodicies in seeking to understand God's justice
• The imperative of prayer to have our hearts conformed to God's heart

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

The most effective approaches to doing justice will acknowledge nuance and there is wisdom in maintaining tensions in the work God has called us to. Central to the work of global development is how we work among at risk children and youth and there are a lot of principles to balance in that space. In this solo episode of the podcast, Brandon Stiver breaks down a number of paradigms that children's rights advocates and practitioners operate within as we hope to find the right balance that will allow children to flourish and be fully who God created them to be.

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Alliance for Children Everywhere is on mission to bring vulnerable children into secure families, schools, and communities.

Visit Alliance for Children Everywhere Online

Resources and Links from the show

Childhood in a Global Perspective by Karen Wells

Freeing Congregational Mission by B. Hunter Farrell and S. Balajiedlang Khyllep

Conversation Notes

• Understanding the paradigms of child saving and child's rights
• Child sponsorship as a child saving approach to raising funds
• The irony of supporting child rights while also promoting war that takes life
• Maintaining the balance between child protection and family preservation
• The role of child participation in decision making and advocacy

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

There is no doubt that the international development sector has changed drastically and permanently over the last couple of months. Starting with the closure of the vast majority of USAID programming, other donor countries have also withdrawn support from the global poor. Joining the show to guide us through what it looks like for Christians to stay engaged and advocate in this spaces is the Managing Director at Bread for the World, Heather Taylor. She walks us through specific policies that are being advocated for and how Christian practitioners and organizations are collaborating and linking arms during these unprecedented times.

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Join Camino Quest for a spiritual pilgrimage with other pilgrims on the ancient and amazing Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Visit Camino Quest Online

Resources and Links from the show

Link to Bread for the World's Website

Advocate on Behalf of the Global Poor and Urge Congress to Restore Life-Saving Aid

Conversation Notes

• The effectiveness of SNAP and Medicaid in the United States
• The human fallout from the closure of the majority of USAID programming
• What wrapping remaining USAID functions into the State Department would look like
• How changes are affecting Christians called into the global development field to serve the global poor and those hurting
• The importance of persistence in advocacy when it appears that government isn't listening

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Developing local solutions to complex issues is foundational to global change. When it comes to food insecurity and health services, we recognize the need for local solutions at scale. Joining the show today from Rwanda is Isabelle Kamariza who is the Founder and President at Solid'Africa. She comes on the show to share with us who Solid'Africa works alongside the Rwandan government to improve nutritional outcomes for hospital patients, students and others in the community. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and learn what it looks like actually achieve sustainability when doing work in challenging contexts.

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Join Camino Quest for a spiritual pilgrimage with other pilgrims on the ancient and amazing Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Visit Camino Quest Online

Resources and Links from the show

Solid'Africa Online

Rwanda Inc. by Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond

Conversation Notes

• Isabelle's journey from feeding the homeless in Belgium to feeding the masses in Rwanda
• The influence of Matthew 25 and how it compels us into action
• The power of prayer in starting a ministry to the sick
• The intersection of healthcare and nutrition insecurity in Rwanda
• Going from farm to fork (and eventually on to fertilizer!) in making sustainable change
• The role of social enterprise in building sustainability
• The value of government regulation and partnership in establishing a nonprofit in Rwanda (it's harder than starting a business!)
• Social change through community education
• The Rwandan trajectory from tragedy to case study in development

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

It's March and the madness extends far beyond college basketball. In this episode, we look at the ramifications of losing Ukrainian child data through recent federal budget cuts and why upholding these children's humans right should matter to American Christians. Then we look at a new city development in Kenya that has some unique aspects that give both promise and pause. Lastly, Brandon Stiver shares a book recommendation on cross-cultural leadership that can help equip us for the ministries that God has led us into.

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Join Camino Quest for a spiritual pilgrimage with other pilgrims on the ancient and amazing Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Visit Camino Quest Online

Resources and Links from the show

NPR : Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Program that Tracked Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia

Associated Press : A startup city in Kenya tries to tackle Africa's problem of urbanizing while poor

Amazon : Leading Across Cultures - Effective Ministry and Mission in the Global Church by James E. Plueddamann

Conversation Notes

• 1:36 - The loss of data on Ukrainian children that have been forcibly removed from their country and taken to Russia. What human rights are being violated and what role do recent changes by the US put these children at greater risk.
• 14:50 - Steve Kariithi joins the show from Nairobi to discuss Tatu City - a privately funded city with thousands of people and a lot of appeal. We discuss the pro's and con's of this approach to urban development
• 29:50 - Brandon shares a recommendation for those that are working and leading in cross-cultural environments.

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

We talk a lot about global action on behalf of the vulnerable, but what about global engagement that looks like deepening our discipleship and spiritual formation? We've welcomed Randy Gonzales from Camino Quest on the show today to share with us how pilgrims travel (or even travail) the Camino de Santiago in Spain and what it looks like to connect with God through Christian pilgrimage. In a world that seems a bit wild, this is a reminder of the opportunities that God provides for us to slow down, connect and get in touch with what He's doing in our lives.

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Alliance for Children Everywhere is on mission to bring vulnerable children into secure families, schools, and communities.

Visit Alliance for Children Everywhere Online

Resources and Links from the show

Camino Quest Online

Conversation Notes

• Randy's journey from MK to not wanting to be a missionary, to becoming a missionary!
• Defining pilgrimage to a Christian population that hasn't historically been involved in pilgrimages
• The value of leaving your context and traveling to another part of the globe to carry to take a pilgrimage
• The three traditional Christian pilgrimages
• The story of St. James and his legacy on the Iberian peninsula
• What happens on a pilgrimage and the spiritual value of the journey
• Balancing lives of action with slowing down and going deep internally
• The logistics of going on pilgrimage and how to prepare for such a journey

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

In 2025, there are still people in the world, even entire people groups, that have never heard the Good News. What's more is that access to distant places and global migration has never been higher. Is it possible to finish the Great Commission in our life time? We've got questions on how to reach more with the Gospel in word and deed and joining us for the conversation is Lisa Pak who is a leader with Finishing the Task that is focused on mobilizing the whole church to fulfill all of Christ's commands. Lisa shares with us what it's like to grow up and worship in a diaspora church, how global coordination and new technologies can help us reach more people and what it means to be a church that is not easily shaken.

Podcast Sponsors

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice program at Jessup University prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, community development, and peacebuilding.

Learn More About The MAGDJ Online Program

Alliance for Children Everywhere is on mission to bring vulnerable children into secure families, schools, and communities.

Visit Alliance for Children Everywhere Online

Resources and Links from the show

Finishing the Task Online

Conversation Notes

• 6:30 - Lisa shares all the influences that led her into global missions
• 10:10 - Caring for all people everywhere ties all the way back creation covenant and stewardship entrusted to all people
• 13:00 - Who is really Western? Lisa speaks to the reality of second and third generation immigrants
• 19:30 - The link between countries that are economically developed and the spreading of the gospel.
• 31:25 - Taking a pulse and understanding the stats around who is unreached
• 34:00 - Opportunities that show up on our doorstep and seeking the unreached in our own neighborhoods
• 41:25 - “Prayer is the most underutilized tool in the Kingdom of God”
• 47:20 - Understanding diasporas and what it’s like worshiping and growing up in a diaspora community
• 53:25 - Following God’s heart and being a church that will not be a shaken

Support the Show Through Venmo - @canopyintl

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License