We who are part of the ministry for abused women here are trying to figure out how we can expand the ministry and one of the greatest needs is for some transitional housing for women who are moving out of the shelter who have gone through the entire program and who need a place to live as they reintegrate into the larger society. We looked at a house that is for sale by some friends we know from church. The house has not been lived in for quite some time and is located in an area that started out as a relatively nice development but which has become essentially a squatters village. Lot's of people who do not have title to the land have simply moved in and claimed the territory as their own.
So our friend felt it safer for their family to move to a different location. The house is very well made but has been looted over the years. A ton of work would be needed to make it livable once again. So we visited the home and after had some real questions about potential resale value in the future. So we decided to get an appraisal.
Here comes the main point. The person we contacted to make the assessment is a follower of Jesus and has worked with various ministries over the years. I have known this individual for some 7 years. She quoted us a price which was reasonable but wanted 100% payment up front. And she stated that was the norm. Well as it happens we, the Soderling family, had just contacted a professional assessment company in the city to provide us with an assessment of our own home. They requested 50% down! So what we had been led to believe by our friend wasn't actually the truth. I emailed this person back and explained all this and as I suspected she asks for full payment ahead of time because of her previous experience with other Christian ministries. In other words she didn't trust us, fellow believers, as much as a secular company trusted someone they didn't even know.
Another quick story also illustrates a huge part of the problem with the church here and with how it is perceived by those it seeks to reach with the gospel. A close friend of mine took his pastor to an electronics store to help him purchase a TV. It was to be paid for in installments. As this pastor was filling out the form it asked him what his profession was. He filled in Pastor at which time the salesperson took the form away and stated they didn't allow pastors to buy on credit!! One of the biggest hindrances to progress in poor countries is a low trust culture. It seems the church and that would include the missionaries I suppose, haven't been able to make of an impact on this challenging problem
