Only in the Netherlands or would you like to help worldwide?

Deacons Read furtherWhat are the duties of a deacon? are called to the service of mercy and justice in both the community and in the world, Karin van den Broeke quotes the church order. “I do not want and cannot play the two – church and world – against each other. What is true is that involvement needs a relational aspect. That is why it is understandable that a diaconal goal ‘around the corner’ appeals.” Van den Broeke mentions Schuldhulpmaatje and the food banks that succeed in combating poverty in our immediate environment. “And I think it is even better when we as church communities are such a community that we ourselves prove to be the safety net. As soon as you know the face of that child who has to go to school without bread, or of that Syrian boy who is doing his best but you feel lonely in the Netherlands, you naturally want to take action. It is nice when a church manages to be of significance in the immediate area.”

The further away the goal, the less recognizable and appealing it becomes? That is not necessary, Van den Broeke believes, although it requires an extra step. “The worldwide church network of which Kerk in Actie – and therefore every Protestant community – is part of, offers plenty of opportunities. Kerk in Actie has the role and responsibility to show how people live, through personal stories, from everywhere. what their needs are and what makes the difference. To be a link and create connection, for example, we do this with the concept of action countries where connection with a country plays a major role.”

Awareness

The fact that we are part of the global body of Christ and connected to so many people in this world is special, says Van den Broeke. “It can concern war situations, such as in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza. Then we have immediate contact and we can pass on the stories, start an action and provide support. It can also concern raising awareness on a theme such as climate. We focus Here in the Netherlands, we are strongly focused on reducing CO2 emissions and purchasing electric cars, but through our contacts with Indonesia we also know the other side of this story. Raw materials for batteries are extracted in this country, resulting in enormous environmental damage. ” She gives another example: in Ghana, a large number of children are handed over as slaves to the commercial world. “For us, it is so obvious that a child grows up in his own family that we often don’t think about things going terribly wrong in other places. These kinds of stories broaden my view. I need them to take action.”

Reciprocity

Let’s talk about the term development cooperation. It is often mentioned in the same breath as missions and world diaconate – zwo. We no longer use the term development cooperation, says Van den Broeke: “Because who develops who, and to what end? Do we decide that? I hope we are over that arrogance. The lifestyle on Papua, for example, is very inspiring for us. People live close to each other. with nature and do not take more than what they can give back. It also applies in a church sense: we are all for God right, Galatians 3 verse 28 – about being one in Christ – is a basic text for me. At the same time, there is great inequality of opportunity in this world. If you live on ‘the right side of the line’, then you have the responsibility and also the assignment to share what you have received. It is not without reason that the motto of Kerk in Actie is: believe in sharing. We now place emergency aid instead: mission, world diaconate and emergency aid. When a disaster happens, people must be helped. We also provide support with prevention and trauma processing afterwards.”

Heap

When you see the need in the world, Van den Broeke realizes that your courage can sometimes fail. “Being part of a global network of churches encourages and inspires me. I see the power of that global church. Organizations come and go, but churches are always there and penetrate the capillaries of society. Their contribution to society is anchored in hope. We look at situations with our eyes on a better future and that gives us courage and direction. We are not alone, we do not bear the burden alone. We feel called and carried by God, also because of it I also hope to share it with others. That is something different than just doing good. The fact that you are not alone helps you to persevere cheerfully.”

Read more in the diaconal dilemmas series:

Illustration: Tinekewerkt.nl