JoAnn Lyon: A Woman of Hope

I just learned that Dr. JoAnn Lyon was elected to the highest position within my denomination - General Superintendent. Congratulations Dr. Lyon! I am proud to be a part of a denomination that affirms the gifts, talents, skills, and leadership of women in ministry and I am excited to be a part of her vision (via World Hope) to eradicate world poverty and human trafficking. If you've never heard of JoAnn Lyon, here is a paper I wrote on her just a few months ago...

Background
In her book, The Ultimate Blessing, Dr. JoAnne Lyon described the results of her decision to embrace a vision of Wesleyan social transformation which has taken her to six continents of the world and resulted in the founding of a worldwide relief and development organization – World Hope International, Inc. (WHI). She recalled that in December 1995, as she read the Christmas story, the words of Gabriel “jumped off the page” at her. Gabriel had come to announce to Mary that she would bear a child. After Mary questioned the good news, Gabriel replied, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Mary, in turn, responded, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). After a phone call to her husband at his office, they agreed that she should “take the leap” and follow the vision. On New Year’s Eve 1995, Jo Anne resigned from her position as clinical director of a four-county mental health system outside of St. Louis, and launched the first office of a non-governmental organization, WHI, from her home. It was her desire and vision to form an alliance with the Wesleyan Church and Global Partners – Wesleyan World Missions to enhance their national as well as international outreach and compassionate ministries. With the blessing of both entities at the General Conference of the Wesleyan Church, World Hope International, Inc. (WHI) was established as a separate entity in 1996. However, even though WHI had been established as a separate entity, it’s important to remember that the Wesleyan Church and WHI are allies. Both Dr. Lyon and her husband, Wayne, are ordained ministers within the Wesleyan Church; and Dr. Lyon serves on the General Board of the Wesleyan Church – the highest governing body within the denomination. Therefore, the Wesleyan Church has virtually become synonymous with WHI even though Global Partners is considered the missions arm of the Wesleyan Church.

A Brief Overview
Dr. Lyon’s vision that “nothing will be impossible with God” has been the driving force behind her ministry. This vision has taken her and WHI from the humble beginnings in her home office back in 1996 to an annual budget of $12 million in 2007 and projects in thirty countries which focus on one of four areas: community development, economic development, education, and relief. With core values of transformation, empowerment, collaboration, and sustainability, WHI tries to live up to the challenge of God’s Word concerning meeting the needs of orphans, the suffering, and people on the margins through its microfinance, HIV/AIDS, and anti-trafficking programs. In the U.S., WHI coordinates programs for children and families who are at risk as well as disaster relief. And in 1999 and 2000, WHI of Canada and WHI of Australia became independent agencies, respectively. Additionally, Hope for Children, WHI’s child sponsorship program, helps over 2,500 children in 15 countries to attend WHI sponsored schools.
According to Dr. Lyon, during the last 10 years two serious issues have demanded world-wide attention: HIV/AIDS crisis and human trafficking. WHI has devoted itself to the HIV/AIDS pandemic specifically in Zambia through a community-based approach known as Orphan Trusts. Last year while attending engedi church, I had the privilege to participate in funding an Orphan Trust in Zambia. This is how the orphan trust system works: Zambian orphans are organized in to trusts (groups) and churches in the U.S. are matched one-to-one with a trust. The church funds the trust which does three things: first, the trust spurs economic empowerment by providing training in agriculture and other trades in order to make a living. Second, the trust enhances community health by providing basic hygienic care, infectious disease prevention, and human rights training. And third, the trust provides training for home-based caregivers to provide basic medical and emotional support for people living with infectious diseases. Last year, a team from engedi church went to Zambia to meet those children whom they had been entrusted as well as to meet some of the community’s immediate needs. As a side note, Orphan Trusts are being launched at a rapid rate. Since its inception four years ago, over 60 trusts have been endowed!
On another note, perhaps one of the most dangerous battles any organization – federal or faith-based – can undertake is that of human trafficking. The International Labor Association estimates that global profits from forced labor and human trafficking are over $44 billion every year. An estimated 27 million people are held captive around the world. These simple statistics are astounding! WHI’s mission is to prevent human trafficking and care for the people who have been victimized by this gross industry. But, WHI cannot fight this battle alone, and in response WHI founded a coalition called Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST). FAAST is a growing group of Christian organizations who have committed themselves to the abolition of slavery and trafficking around the globe.

Three Observations and a Question
I’d like to offer three observations in light of what I have learned about Dr. JoAnne Lyon and World Hope International. First, no church or faith-based organization can be all things to all people. However, an organization can do a few things really well and make a significant impact for the Kingdom. In my opinion WHI doesn’t try to be all things to all people, but strives to do some things very well, such as establishing orphan trusts in Zambia and anti-trafficking programs. Second, concerning missions – no cookie cutter programs allowed! It’s apparent from my observation of WHI operations combined with our in-class discussions that cookie cutter programs and cookie cutter tactics are not effective for meeting the needs of the people we are trying to reach for Christ. I believe WHI goes in to each situation and asks this question, “What do you need and how can we help?” They don’t presume to know how to fix the problem. They work cooperatively with the nationals to come up with solutions and then empower those people to continue the work that had started. Third, missions work is about deepening relationships. We already know there is so much woundedness, suffering, and pain in this world. I believe that these people need to know that someone cares about them. They need to believe that someone cares enough to be in relationship with them – to be seen and heard as a person with dignity. Some people don’t have much dignity left because they’ve been treated less than human, and they no longer have a voice to be heard….which brings me to my question.
Where is the Church’s voice in all of this? I’ve been asked and have been asking myself this question more often, especially after returning from my intercultural experience in the borderlands. Where is the Church’s voice on issues like HIV/AIDS pandemic, human trafficking, and global poverty? We are the voice for the voiceless. And if we don’t speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, I’m convinced that no one else will – and that is really sad. We have a responsibility as Christ’s Church to speak up on these haunting issues and then act. We ought to do something -- no matter how small we perceive our action to be. I’ll close by quoting Jesus who said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me” (Matt. 25:40).