"One has to do with the use of the term self-reliance itself. I repeat once again that self-reliance, as I use it, is not unhealthy independence which ignores the rest of the body of Christ. Neither does it mean that Christians do not rely upon God. When I use the term I refer to people looking first to the resources which God has put close at hand rather than those which come from afar. I say first because there are clearly times when local resources are not adequate, such as when there is a natural catastrophe or severe drought. The issue I have tried to raise in this regard is that often the global resources from afar are, unfortunately, often the first and sometimes the only place people turn while ignoring the resources God has put close at hand."
"A second emphasis which I continually stress is that the promotion of self-reliance does not mean the needs of the poor are to be ignored. There is plenty of scriptural evidence that the people of God are to help the poor. In Acts 10:31 Cornelius was told that his "prayers and gifts to the poor were remembered by the Lord". It is very important to remember, however, who is truly poor. When it comes to the dependency syndrome among mission-established churches and other institutions, many who are dependent should not be considered poor. One does not have to travel much among mission-established institutions to see the evidence of wealth alongside the poverty of the church. It is this phenomenon which we seek to address."
(The reader should be aware of certain unreported mission information. For instance, where do the typical missionaries live? Take a look at this example in Almaty.)
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