Fulfilling Your Purpose: Finding Passion and Meaning in Mission-Driven Careers
Release Date: 01/16/2024
The Better Samaritan Podcast
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What’s on the horizon for foreign aid and humanitarian response strategies, especially in light of ongoing funding cuts to foreign aid around the world?
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Veteran humanitarian leader Roger Sandberg joins us to discuss how NGOs can lead effectively in the midst of funding cuts and uncertainty. As political shifts tighten budgets, the gap between global needs and available resources continues to widen. Roger shares practical strategies for assessing risk, strengthening communication within teams, and re-imagining sources of funding.
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What happens when humanitarian work collides with political upheaval and shifting policies?
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How do federal and foreign aid cuts impact anti-trafficking work, both directly and indirectly?
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What happens when churches, governments, and communities work together across differences in opinion for the common good? In this episode, Dr. Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, joins us to talk about how different parts of the evangelical church are responding to shifts in humanitarian aid and funding, and why these varied responses matter.
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What happens when humanitarian aid gets pulled, but the needs don’t stop? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Beth Stuebing, a missionary surgeon in Malawi with the Christian Health Service Corps. She shares what it’s like on the front lines of healthcare when funding disappears—and why faith-based organizations working on the ground can’t do it alone.
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What happens when college students decide to take action on global issues?
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This episode, we talk with Jenny Dyer, founder of the 2030 Collaborative, about her involvement raising awareness for HIV/AIDS - from working with Bono and the ONE Campaign to championing global health in Washington and beyond.
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(Note: this episode is the second in our "Vocation" series.)
Have you ever wondered how your job could not just pay the bills but also feed your soul? Today’s conversation is for anyone who longs to make a tangible difference in the lives of others but wonders how to get started–or continue.
Kent once again welcomes Peter Greer of Hope International, and they discuss the joys and challenges of embracing a vocation with purpose. They also talk about ways to prepare for a job interview, how to find the right people to partner with, and how to stay focused when the needs in communities around the globe are overwhelming.
Managing a large and diverse team can sometimes feel like steering a ship through a storm, but in this episode, Peter gives a masterclass in leadership and innovation. He touches on management issues and problem-solving within a large non-profit organization, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal strengths with professional roles and fostering a culture of curiosity.
Thanks for joining us as we reflect on gratitude for our work and the community it creates. Together, let’s keep learning to “do good, better”--faithfully.
Bio:
Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Under Peter’s leadership, HOPE has expanded from working in two to over twenty countries and served over 2.5 million families. Before joining HOPE, Peter worked in Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. He has co-authored 15 books, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, The Gift of Disillusionment, and The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good. His new book, Lead with Prayer, will be available nationwide on January 16, 2024.
Resources:
The first episode in the “Vocation” series: Navigating a Fulfilling Career in Humanitarian Spaces
Another conversation with Peter: How to Sustain Hope and Resist Disillusionment when Doing Good
HDI’s MA in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership degree
Spiritual First Aid Certification Course
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This episode was produced by WildfireCreative
Theme Song: “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance
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(Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll host Evangelicals, and sometimes we won't. Learning how to do better involves listening to many perspectives with different insights and understanding. Sometimes, it will make us uncomfortable; sometimes, we'll agree, and sometimes, we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction– especially in our blind spots.)
The Better Samaritan podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers an M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website.
Jamie Aten, Ph.D, and Kent Annan, M.Div., co-direct the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and are the Co-Founders of Spiritual First Aid.
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