Caring for creation is life-giving, draws us closer to our Creator and helps us to practically and biblically love our neighbour.
The environment we live in has dramatic impact on our well-being. This is true for all the people and communities we want to see transformed, especially rural communities and the urban poor.
Interserve works with communities in tackling pollution, cleaning waterways and restoring healthy environments.
As we place all of our life and work in God’s service, we discover that God and his mission is a whole lot bigger than we may have imagined! Environmental mission looks to see God’s kingdom come and His will be done on Earth as in Heaven.
In a remote community in Central Asia, a newly founded goat farm provides a source of healthy food and livelihoods for families. It gives them the choice to remain in their home community rather than migrating to find work. The goat farm has already established a herd and planted crops to feed them. The goats share their home with some friendly chooks who provide eggs – a good source of protein. The Interservers working here are currently expanding the farm business, to include both a dairy and cheese-making facilities. The results are more work opportunities, a healthier diet and incarnational discipleship in the local community.
How can we increase the yield from this year’s potato harvest? What’s the best kind of pesticide to use? What other crops could we plant here? How do we recover after a drought? In subsistence farming communities, these questions may make the difference between hunger and a full belly. An Interserve family supports agriculturalists serving communities in Central Asia. Their knowledge and long-term local experience helps local farmers improve outcomes and solve problems. Communities can sustainably manage their own food supply into the future.
“Can we find out more about snakes?” That request from our physician consultant started me on an unexpected journey. After extensive research including interviewing over 34,000 people in the community, we now understand much more about human–snake conflict. Most importantly, we have learnt that snakebite requires a wholistic response.
My wife and I are from South Asia and have been Interserve Partners for more than 15 years. In the hustle of the city, can there be green homes? Yes! Beck, who is a creative and industrious homemaker, has established a rather interesting vegetable garden on our ninth-floor apartment terrace.
“We are learning that sometimes small, seemingly insignificant things can have a big impact … like our two small veggie patches. ”
We drive two hours outside a busy tourist town in South East Asia, climbing consistently since leaving the banks of one of the mighty rivers of this region, and stop in a village. We are surrounded by dense forests 1000m above sea level. Led by one of the village elders, we walk past the houses and further up the mountain into the forest.
What is the value of a species? As our partners in Australia help friends and neighbours recover from the devastating bushfires, and Australian partners overseas worry about friends and family, communities in affected areas have also been very concerned about wildlife.
Honey has been associated with God’s abundant provision for his people from the time of the Exodus to John the Baptist, who was known to eat locusts and wild honey. The Bible has many references to goodness and delight accompanying God’s delivery of this remarkable food.
“As a young veterinarian I wanted to use my skills and passion for animal health in God’s mission. As I shared my vision, I frequently received the response that “Animals don’t need the gospel, so why would a veterinarian be useful in mission?””
“Single use” was the word of the year in 2018, according to Collins Dictionary. In 2019 it was “climate strike”. Clearly the world is more and more anxious that our current lifestyle is leading the planet into crisis, and wants to make fundamental changes. Christians are also speaking up in word and action. Are we just following the crowd? Or are there fundamental reasons why Christians should be active in caring for the environment? And, given so many needs in the world and so few workers for the harvest field, should environmental care be part of mission?
“I’ve always loved the ocean. I became a Christian when I was about 15. It’s taken me almost 10 years to be able to understand and articulate how my love for God and my love for the environment go hand in hand.”
Three talks which explore what the Bible has to say about how faith, environment and mission are connected. Hear from thought-provoking and inspiring speakers Jonathan Cornford, Gillian Asquith and our very own National Director, Christine Gobius.
“Extremes of poverty and wealth; modern city lifestyle and nomadic herders; space and congestion; and it goes on. But the contrast that stands out and dominates is that of the weather, and this past year has been greater than normal in its extremes.”
Julia Jardine, from A Rocha Australia, chats with our former Creation Care Advocate, Katherine Shields.
“As I’ve prayed and reflected on Jeremiah 29, it has totally changed the way I relate to the place I live in. We’ve started to grow our own food and join with others in community allotments.”
“For Christians…living more sustainably has to be understood in terms of our relationship to the creator God, as well as to creation.”
A chance to listen to their talks from A Rocha Australia’s 2019 National Conference.
“…finding our own ways to engage in remembrance for lost species: liturgy, lament, repentance and activism.”
“He sounds like Yusef!” called a tall, immaculately dressed boy, as he threw his Coke bottle into the nearby pool. “He likes snakes; he likes all sorts of creepy animals.” I decided I need to meet Yusef …’
Contact us: Phone: 1800 067 100. Email: info@interserve.org.au
Interserve Australia Limited – ABN 86 632 173 114 Interserve Development Limited – ABN 12 041 298 204
Interserve Australia Limited and Interserve Development Limited are registered charities with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC).
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