S2 E1 Generosity in a season of scarcity with Anne Reitsema

In this episode of Active Generosity we hear from Anne Reitsema, CEO of Medair, an international humanitarian organisation that has provided emergency relief to over 53 million people in 43 crisis-affected countries.  

Anne shares her remarkable journey from growing up in South Africa as the child of missionaries to leading life-saving programmes in some of the world’s most challenging contexts. 

This episode explores: 

• how generosity transcends cultural boundaries and brings hope
• the impact of childhood experiences on Anne’s calling to humanitarian work
• Medair’s mandate to provide healthcare, nutrition, water and shelter in crisis zones
• what it means to live with a generous spirit - even in times of scarcity
• powerful stories of faith, including the feeding of the 5,000 and an eight-year-old donor’s inspiring gift
• the role of biblical stewardship and why generosity is central to thriving communities

“If I see scarcity, I struggle to be generous. But if I know His abundance, I can in faith lean into the generosity that He has called us to.” 

Anne’s favourite Bible verses on generosity:  

Anne highlighted Isaiah 58 as her go-to passage. It speaks about true fasting, caring for the hungry, the poor and those in need of shelter. It promises that when we ‘spend ourselves’ for others, we will be like a well-watered garden, repairers of broken walls and communities will flourish. She also noted the importance of Sabbath rest in that passage - giving from a place of fullness, not emptiness. 

See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage 

How you can pray for Anne: 

Anne asked for: 

• protection and wisdom for Medair’s teams working in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas provision and resources to continue life-saving work
• courage to operate from a spirit of abundance, not fear
• flourishing and joy as they live out generosity in challenging times 

Related links: 

Medair: https://www.medair.org 

The Interagency Standing Committee (IASC): https://interagencystandingcommittee.org 

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New podcast coming for 40acts, our generosity challenge for Lent - sign up now!  https://www.stewardship.org.uk/40acts 

This Lent, Stewardship will guide you through 40 days of reflections and challenges, created with Christian partners and voices from across the Church. Each day offers a simple opportunity to live out generosity in everyday life. 

New for this year: a weekly podcast miniseries to inspire and encourage you on your 40acts journey. Plus 40acts will be available in the Stewardship Giving App for the first time, helping you stay engaged and see how your generosity grows. 

Download the Stewardship Giving App: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/giving-account 

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Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa

Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/