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Editor's note
Economically, North Americans are richer than most people in the global South. When we decide to share our wealth with those who have less, it frequently means sending money. That model of sharing, however, is one-way. It assumes that money is the best way to share and gives us control of the “sharing” relationship. This issue of Beyond Ourselves challenges that concept of sharing. Workers for Mennonite Mission Network around the world have discovered that many new believers, with less material wealth than we have, have many valuable, non-material gifts to share with us. We highlight gifts from three countries — Argentina, China and Bolivia — that teach us the power of prayer, a belief that God will provide for our daily needs, and different ways to view time and relationships, to mention a few. In addition, we note the gift of creative engagement we can learn from a post-Christendom country like England that may foreshadow what North American society will become. To learn more about the importance of sharing global gifts, read Sharing Gifts in the Global Family of Faith: One Church’s Experiment by Pakisa K. Tshimika and Tim Lind, Good Books, 2003. Be prepared to change your concept of sharing. In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
