The Cry for Simplicity — Vol. 25 No. 4
Articles In This Issue
25 Volumes
Scroll below to see a timeline of The Cry through the years. Reflection by Clint Baldwin, WMF International Executive Director Friends, 25 years! The Cry has been sharing the work of the Lord as embarked upon by Word Made Flesh for 25 years! As C.S. Lewis writes it in his The Last Battle of The Chronicles…
Rescue Me From Me
Rescue me Lord God, from all I think I really need. Rescue me Lord God, please uncover this hidden greed. Oh! Rescue me Lord God! Rescue me from me. Is it You Jesus that I’m trying to achieve? Crush this box Jesus and teach me to receive Rescue me Lord God and take my eyes…
Simplicity of a Child’s Desire
This past March Steve and I were overjoyed to welcome a baby boy Nathaniel into our lives as our foster son – and hopefully our adopted son in a few of months. It has been an adjustment to be a family of three, but overall Nathaniel has been a huge blessing in our lives. Steve…
Learn More: On Simplicity, Vol. 25 No. 4
As we reflect on this lifestyle celebration, we invite you to explore some of our top picks from media and resources that deal with the topic of simplicity. READ E. Stanley Jones is considered one of the most important missionaries of the 20th century. Known for his extensive work in India and relationship to Gandhi,…
Simplicity & Peace
In 1 Timothy 6, we see a link between peace and simplicity: “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (I Tim. 6:6-7). Indeed, “peace” is commonly highlighted as a characteristic elemental to Christ followers and the life of faith. …
A Complex Simplicity
Simplicity. It should be fairly simple to write about, but I have found it anything but. I wish I had some great wisdom to share, but instead I come to you with a few questions that I don’t quite have the answers to myself. My hope is that through my ramblings and questions, you may…
Making Room
As we navigate community with those on the margins, we experience all of the complexities of life–the highs and lows, joy and grief. Our community in Kigali recently walked through grief and hardship together as we held a memorial service at our ministry center for a member of one of our savings groups who passed…
From the Executive Director (Winter 2020)
E. Stanley Jones was a well-known 20th Century American missionary evangelist to India. In 1938, Time Magazine referred to Jones as “the world’s greatest Christian missionary.”1 Among so many things that could be said, Jones befriended Gandhi, was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, was awarded India’s Gandhi Peace Prize, started the Christian…
From the Editor — Winter 2020
Even as I undertake the complicated process of putting an issue of The Cry together, reflecting on this year and all its complexities, I am struck with my need to remember the simplicity of Christ and His peace. A God-Man clothed in humility and authenticity, a carpenter, whose ministry juxtaposed that of the Pharisees. There…
From the Editor — Spring 2020
Half a year is now fading away, and many around the world are slowly emerging from quarantines and stay-at-home orders to find societies in upheaval, both because of the pandemic and now because of protests against racial injustice. 2020, if no other year before it has done it for us, has taught us what could…
From the Executive Director (Spring 2020)
Dear friends, I know that you will be so blessed reading all of the reflections and stories in this issue of The Cry. As one of our WMF Lifestyle Celebrations, WMF notes that we “celebrate humility before God and humanity?” What does this mean? Are we somehow equating experiencing difficulty with goodness of character? Though…
Humility and Harmony
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.”—Romans 12:16 “Only humility will lead us to unity, and unity to peace.” —Mother Teresa Motherhood in a way forces you into a posture of humility. You have to put this little human above yourself and…
What Are You?
“What are you?” a friend and mentor asked. My mind instantly began racing through a list of potential answers: a Christian, a missionary, a wife, a mother, a linguist, an adventurer… He interrupted my thoughts with his next sentence, “The answer to that is, you’re human.” That’s not what I wanted to hear! Human carries…
Humility When Tensions Are High
Last fall, Bolivia experienced significant political instability throughout the country and in areas where our WMF staff reside. Some community members evacuated as we experienced weeks of national protests, blockades and riots regarding socialist president Evo Morales and his continuance of power for an unconstitutional 4th term. Chaos and division grew as protests became increasingly…
Learn More: On Humility, Vol. 25 No. 1
As we reflect on this lifestyle celebration, we invite you to explore some of our top picks from media and resources that deal with the topic of humility. READ VINCE L. BANTU takes us on a journey of humility as he crates a paradigm shift for the Western Christian’s understanding of the Gospel and missiology.…
Celebrating Humility (Vol. 25 No. 1)
I have worked as a primary care provider since finishing a pediatric residency in 1999. Having a job in healthcare gives me numerous opportunities to be humbled in very good ways. I am encouraged that during my career, there has been a clear evolution away from the traditional hierarchical deference to doctors, and a more…
Emptying Ourselves to Come Alongside
During one of the prayer times with my colleagues, I shared on John 3:16. It was a few days before Christmas, the time we remember that God graciously sent Jesus Christ to humanity out of His great love. I wanted to call the attention of my audience on how Jesus humbled Himself and accepted to…
My Deepest Humility
I was a teenage girl when I first heard God calling my name, so I’ve always been drawn to the story of God calling Mary, a teenage girl, to become the mother of the Messiah. I’m still intrigued at Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-38, where his first words to her are,…
Humility in the “Shark Tank”
“How would you like to win $70,000?” We were initially excited when early 2020 we were asked to pitch SutiSana for a Bolivian version of the reality show Shark Tank, where we would be competing with 99 other Bolivian businesses for a $70,000 prize. Like most businesses, and specifically as a freedom business that employs…
Annual Report 2019
Thank you for being friends and allies. Every donation and purchase, each sacrificial volunteer, a story shared or a prayer offered, all contribute to an army of believers who care enough for others to change the reality we share. Thank you for being a part of it. We’re excited to share the results of our…