Theology of Harambee
• Matthew 22:34-40: “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
• Luke 2:40: “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.”
• Proverbs. 22:29: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
• Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We hold to the Nicene Creed, which is what most Christians at most times in most places have believed.
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate
from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The three Rs of Christian Community Development
• Relocation: John 1:14: “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
• Reconciliation: 2 Cor. 5:18: God… reconciled us to himself and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
• Redistribution: Acts 2:42-47: The Fellowship of the Believers. Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. Matthew 10:8: Freely you have received, Freely give. Not redistribution of wealth, but of skills, opportunities, and hope.
The Book/Story of Nehemiah
• Neh. 1:3: The problem: “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.”
• Neh. 2:5: Personal responsibility in response to the problem: “Let the King send me to the city of Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
• Neh. 2:17: The call for others to join the mission: “…come let us rebuild the all of Jerusalem…”
From Marvin Olasky’s The Tragedy of American Compassion (from review of charities in 1890s New York)
Outline by Rodolpho Carrasco
