The Thinkorphan Podcast

We are joined today by global nonprofit leader Gaston Warner who is the Global North CEO of Zoe Empowers. Gaston talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about their work among vulnerable families, especially child and youth headed households. Over the years, our show has talked a lot about the need for kids to be raised in families and communities and in this episode we learn about a comprehensive model that emphasizes the children's agency to overcome poverty. We talk empowerment, data, promising practices and it's an episode our orphan care diehards don't want to miss. Podcast Sponsor Zoe Empowers is equipping orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good. Visit Zoe Empowers Online Resources and Links from the show Data and Research from Zoe Empowers Conversation Notes Understanding the reality of child and youth headed households in the Global South The empowerment model started by a Rwandan practitioner - how it works and how it's applied across

In this 3+1 episode, we're getting into recent news about ways that Russia is getting around economic sanctions to buoy their economy during their war of aggression as well a couple Asian countries where pollution and contamination is having widespread effects on people's health and wellbeing. We've got Amanda Erne joining us for the conversation. Amanda is on staff with World Concern, is an associate with Canopy International and has a wealth of understanding around climate and sustainable agriculture. We discuss if the term "climate change" is still of use in Christian circles or if it turns too many people off and then get into a documentary recommendation focusing on a Malawian farmer advocating for change. Podcast Sponsor Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope Inte

"We stand together at the foot of the cross and we will work for peace." Dr. Karen Fancher from Multnomah University joins the show today to walk us through the profoundly Christian field of peacebuilding. In her conversation with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke, Dr. Fancher walks us through what it means to promote peace within the humanitarian space with direct application to situations in Palestine and Sudan as well as explores the biblical foundation for Christians to be actively engaged in bringing God's Kingdom of peace and justice. Podcast Sponsor Child Hope International reunites families in Haiti by providing pathways for children in orphanages to return home with the necessary support to thrive. If you need help transitioning your orphanage or are looking for an organization to support in Haiti, reach out to Child Hope International. Visit Child Hope International Online Resources and Links from the show Visit Multnomah University Online and the Graduate Peacebuilding Certificate Program

We are privileged to be joined today by a Christian leader that really embodies the ethic that we are all striving for as we pursue justice, mercy and shalom in the nations. We're grateful to have Eugene Cho join Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke on the show today talking with us about the work of Bread for the World and what it looks like to advocate for the poor and hungry both in the US and throughout the world. Eugene shares a pastoral word for those of us engaged in global justice work and offers his own reflections of how he remains grounded in Christ in the midst of busy lives of pursuing justice. Podcast Sponsor Zoe Empowers is equipping orphaned children and youth-led families with solutions to overcome extreme poverty—for good. Visit Zoe Empowers Online Resources and Links from the Show Overrated by Eugene Cho Thou Shalt Not Be A Jerk by Eugene Cho Visit Bread for the World Online Conversation Notes Conversation Notes 5:20 - Finding your vocation through following the Holy Spirit and s

In this 3+1 episode, we're talking the good (malaria vaccines), the bad (slavery) and a whole lot of Haiti. We've got Mac Archer back on the show to share with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke what she's seeing on the ground in Haiti and what's getting missed in larger media outlets. We talk through the utility of violence by those running the country and look at some potentially similar dynamics in other countries. We also discuss forced labor in Asia, the rise of malaria vaccines in Africa and get a book recommendation for a book that just released in the last couple of months. Conversation Notes 3:00 - Podcast shoutouts for community members that are reviewing, sharing and sponsoring the show 8:40 - A good news story! Vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa are leading to a decline in infant/child mortalities caused by Malaria 21:00 - Looking at the situation in Haiti from someone in the country and with an article by a Haitian leader. Are these really "gangs"? In what ways is it similar to other conflict areas?

Today, we're releasing our podcast collaboration with our friends at Theology in the Raw. Brandon had a chance to sit down with Preston Sprinkle and dive into all things global orphan care and discuss the realities of that children in orphanages face worldwide. Our conversation weaves between a theology of calling and mission and how American Christians intersect with orphans in the Global South. We discuss the reality of life within orphanages, why kids end up there and what risk factors and vulnerabilities arise when kids are raised in that environment. This is a good Ethical Orphan Care 101 type episode and we're grateful for the chance to collaborate with Theology in the Raw to raise awareness and education. For additional follow-up check out Brandon's four part orphan care blog series on Theology in the Raw. Here's the link. Resources and Links from the show When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence by Phil Darke and Keith McFarland Check out our f

Global nonprofits are notorious doers, always thinking, planning and taking action. In all of our intentionality for programs and justice endeavors, are we being equally intentional to pray? Peter Greer is back on the show, along with new friend Ryan Skoog, to share about the new book that they wrote (along with Cameron Doolittle) called Lead with Prayer. This is a conversation for everyone, because without God's intervention, nothing would happen anyway. And here's the secret that our guests share with us, "even better than answered prayer, is the very presence of God." Let's think, let's do, but let's also pray. Resources and Links from the show Join us for the first ever CarePortal Conference Lead With Prayer Website (Includes Free Prayer Tools) Echo Prayer App Conversation Notes 4:25 - Ryan’s background in entrepreneurship and fundraising 9:55 - Connection of themes between The Gift of Disillusionment and Lead with Prayer 13:10 - The impact of the global church on our lives and taking the Gosp

In honor of the World Without Orphans Global Forum and in honor of awesome work being done in the Philippines, we've got Chrina Cuna Henson joining the show. Chrina runs the Manila-based organization Generations-Home and talks with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke about what it's like to promote foster care and adoption in the Philippines. We discuss the reality of violence against children and the pervasive online sexual exploitation of children in the country and learn how Generations-Home is promoting the care and protection of Filipino children. Resources and Links from the Show Join us for the first ever CarePortal Conference Generations-Home Website "Constance" by Mr. J Medeiros (Music Video) Conversation Notes 2:30 What’s great about the World Without Orphans Global Forum 7:50 About Generations Home and their work in the Philippines 10:15 How God led Chrina from personal tragedy into running a nonprofit focused on orphans and vulnerable children 15:00 Overview of orphanhood and childhood vuln

In this 3+1 episode, we're catching up on some global stories that you might have missed and have a recommendation of the pop variety. We're continuing last month's conversation on elections by looking at El Salvador, talking through localization efforts in global development, the scandal surrounding UNRWA-Hamas and then get Brandon's take on Bono's recent biography, Surrender. Dr. Greg Burch of Multnomah University joins Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke for the conversation. Get support for your nonprofit team or project with our team of professionals at Canopy International Resources and Links from the show Foreign Policy : What Bukele's Rise Means for the Region World Relief : Three Trends We're Seeing in Global Development in 2024 USAID : Communicating through a Localization Lens The Media Line : Hamas Sacrifices Gaza Children, and UNRWA Complicit in Crimes Bridgely The Locust Effect by Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros God of the Empty-Handed by Jayukumar Christian Conversation Notes 2:

What does it look like to meet the needs of very vulnerable people in the face of glaring global disparity? What does it look like to bring God's Kingdom through improving access to healthcare in the Global South? These are the questions we're looking at today as we dive into conversation with CEO of CURE International, Justin Narducci. Justin and his team CURE are distinctly rooted in Luke 9:2 where Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. For them that means running hospitals in eight countries, providing over 330,000 surgeries and sharing the gospel with 1.5 million people. We get to learn from their experience in this episode of the podcast. Resources and Links from the show Cure International Website Get Support for Yourself or Your Team with Canopy International Conversation Notes 1:40 - Update on Brandon’s work with CarePortal 4:05 - Think Global becoming Think Global, Do Justice 9:50 - The work of Cure Intl. and how God led Justin into the global nonprofi

You cannot have a conversation around global issues without considering the state of the earth itself. We are talking today with educator, author and climate advocate Dr. Forrest Inslee to learn, "what on earth is happening with the earth?" Dr. Inslee brings a distinctly Christian viewpoint to the conversation as we consider the damage being done to the environment and how Christians that are engaging vulnerable communities around the world have a role to play in supporting not just people, but all of God's creation. Resources and Links from the show Earthkeepers Podcast Re-imagining Short Term Missions Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land by Norman Wirzba Conversation Notes 7:10 - Remembering that God loves all ethnicities and nationalities the same and Jesus making us into family 10:15 - Blood relation, family and adoption in Turkey 15:15 - A snapshot of climate change, e

In our first ever 3+1 episode, we're catching up on some global stories that you might have missed. We're talking about the war going on in Sudan, elections throughout the world, USAID waste and then learn of a great recommendation from our guest on developing monitoring and evaluation. Conversation Notes 2:10 - Introduction to the 3+1 format and those that are in the conversation today 6:35 - The war in Sudan, the current situation, the history, the displacement, the genocide 11:35 - The economy of attention, why do we hear about certain problems or conflicts and not others 20:40 - Countries representing half of the world’s population are heading to the polls this year.  25:10 - Legitimacy of the elections in question and walking the line between perception and reality 30:02 - What is the role of the church in civic participation? 36:10 - USAID’s biggest contract in history goes a bit sour 44:50 - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning resource for development professionals. Super hel

Author and development educator, Dr. Michael Pucci joins the show to talk with us about the spiritual and relational dynamics of poverty and helps us understand the biblical view of the global family of God. We also dive into a fascinating conversation on the multi-billion dollar aid industry (which is nuanced by the amount of remittances sent to the Global South). Dr. Pucci is based in Kigali where he runs Transformational Initiatives and invests in women's economic empowerment alongside other transformational development initiatives. Resources and Links Owning Poverty by Michael Pucci, PhD 2023 Global Philanthropy Tracker Full Report Join our NEW Patreon Community Conversation Notes What does it mean to coach towards transformation (6:30) Applying James 1:27 to understand the powerlessness of individuals and how family is the model for Christians to interact with others (9:30) Is it okay to show preference toward certain people within a Christian’s life? (11:35) Understanding the condition of p

This podcast is something like day one, while at the same time seven years strong. In this trailer episode for Think Global, Brandon Stiver speaks to the heart of the podcast and the season that God is calling our community into. You’ll hear about some of the updates to the podcast as well as more ways to connect with us. Brandon also introduces Canopy International, a global community for convening, connecting and collaborating. Please support the show (seriously, we don’t have backers anymore!) Here’s our freshly set-up Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/canopyinternational/ Please rate and review the show as we seek to reach more globally-minded disciples that are looking for community and meaningful content.   Theme Music : Standing in the Rain by Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License.

Phil and Brandon share how God has been working through the podcast throughout 2023 as well as throughout the history since Phil started the show nearly seven years ago. As we close out the year, we share the direction that God is leading us to take the podcast in 2024 and beyond. This is a heartfelt, earnest community conversation on the podcast today. We're adjusting the scope, changing the name and stepping into the next phase of this podcast community. We're grateful to have you in this community and are looking forward to going deeper with you as he calls all of us to better serve vulnerable and marginalized communities.  Support the podcast by joining our NEW Patreon community : Link 

In episode 237, we have a special on the ground episode to share how one organization's journey and commitment to family based care plays out through all the people in their organization. We're featuring voices through Selamta Family Project in Addis Ababa and invite you to join us in this conversation to celebrate the family care movement taking place in Ethiopia. Show Notes Julia shares how she became involved in the sector (3:30)  Selamta's programs and striving for forever families (5:00)  Trust-based relational culture (10:00) Transforming children's welfare in Ethiopia (12:00) Tamrat shares about Selamta's model (18:30) The reality of aging out (21:32) Collaboration and partnership on the ground (23:30) Connecting with love and care (25:00) Providing consistent care (27:00) What family can provide (35:00) The difference that family makes (41:00) Hearing from older youth (48:00) Resources and Links from the show Selamta Family Project On the Ground in Lesotho- The Power of Family Reun

This week we have dedicated academic and researcher Dr. Lauren Pinkson. Lauren is the host of the Upwardly Dependent podcast and comes with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in human trafficking prevention and community development through social enterprise. She has a passion for exploring creative solutions to bridging cultures and investing in communities. Join us as we challenge preconceptions surrounding human trafficking, shifting perspectives in bridging cultures, and delving into the intersection of podcasting within this sector. Podcast Sponsor Sojourn Studio Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time! Resources and Links from the show Slavery Footprint Freedom Business Alliance Kindred Exchange Upwardly Dependent Human Trafficking 101 Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary L. McBride You Should be Gr

Mackynzie 'Mac' Archer comes with a deep love for the Haitian people and vulnerable populations. She is an anthropologist, researcher, consultant, and advocate. In this episode we dive into some of her findings in short-term missions, the orphanage system in Haiti, and her most recent doctoral research on the emotional labor of care-affected children. Podcast Sponsor Sojourn Studio Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time! Resources and Links from the show Most Children In Haitian Orphanages Aren’t Orphans — But US Missionaries Take Them Away From Their Families Disquieting Gifts: Humanitarianism in New Delhi Travesty in Haiti: A true account of Christian missions, orphanages, fraud, food aid, and drug trafficking The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Conve

In this Conversation episode, we're joined by nonprofit leaders Leslie Beasley (Miracle Foundation), Dave LeVan (Lifewater International), and Paige Shope (Yoked Partners). We'll delve into how non-profit organizations are increasingly adopting for-profit strategies, blurring the lines between the two sectors. Our discussion will venture into valuable leadership insights from experienced leaders, strategies to creating an effective team and organizational culture, and how to lead in uncertain times. Podcast Sponsor Sojourn Studio Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time! Resources and Links from the show Missions Based Management by Peter Brinkerhoff Think Orphan Episode 219: The Uncharitable Truth about Nonprofits with Lindsey Hadley Engine of Impact: Essentials of Strategic Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector The A

In this conversation episode, we bring together leaders within different denominations to talk about care reform and the role the American church can play. Joining ust today are from Kristen Lowry from Shelter Yetu and Send Relief (Southern Baptist Convention), Laura Horvath from Helping Children Worldwide and the United Methodist Church, and Pastor Jacob Lierz from LifeMission Church. We discuss what motivates American churches to engage in global orphan care? How do we encourage them to move towards better practice? Can the church lead the movement for care reform? Podcast Sponsor Sojourn Studio Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time! Resources and Links from the show 1MILLIONHOME Church Resources Love Wisely course Short-Term Missions Manual by Faith to Action Barna Research Study Send Relief consultant advoc