5 Questions With Dave Blundell

Welcome to 5 Questions With.....

Today's guest is author and Ministry leader, Dave Blundell. Dave is a former Youth Pastor. After being ordained in 1998, he served at the Chilliwack Alliance Church until 2000 in the areas of Youth & Young Adults, Adult Education, Missions and Worship. In 2000, Dave transitioned out of church ministry when he started work as the Director of Global Operations for Global Aid Network (GAiN), the humanitarian arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada. In this role he led relief and development projects in various countries in South America, Africa, Central & South East Asia, and the Middle East. In 2003, Dave left the Global Aid Network to begin Hungry For Life International. Dave also has a Masters of Arts in Leadership and International Development at Trinity Western University. Dave was married to Heidi in 1997 and has two children, Caleb (1998) and Abby (1999).

And now without further delay, on to the questions:

Hi Dave,

Question 1: What one word would describe your current relationship with God?

Intimate.

Question 2: Who do you want to read Hungry For Life? Why?

Firstly, those who are influencers within local churches (Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Unofficial) and secondly, those who are passionate about revival of the Church and renovation of the world. I believe that local church, however its defined, is still God’s primary vehicle for His grace and power. However, I also believe that North American local churches are currently not reflective of the Founder. Therefore, if those who are called to lead the local church (both officially and unofficially) experience the power and presence of Jesus, we will see resulting transformation of values and actions in their churches.

Question 3: What makes the vision and content of Hungry For Life different than other books
on social justice and/or world missions?

Many books on social justice and mission focus on changing behaviour often without dealing with the conditions that lead to behaviour. Everyone knows there is great need in the world…and almost everyone knows that the Church should be doing more. But…few are offering solutions that both address the spiritual poverty that exists in the majority of Western churches, that causes injustice, and then the resulting personal and corporate actions that address physical poverty in the developing world.

Question 4: What is the one thing you’d most like readers to take away from the message of
Hungry For Life?

Personal and corporate transformation that results in global social transformation.

Question 5: Hungry For Life is also the name of the organization you work with. How does
Hungry For Life, the organization, partner with local churches to have a targeted,
long-term global impact?

Hungry For Life’s model of international ministry reverses the typical para-church interaction with local churches. Instead of approaching local churches asking for their people and money for “our” projects, we assist local churches to invest their money and people in “their” projects in a way that 100% of project funds go to international compassionate needs. Hungry For Life comes along side of local churches and serves them with the following to experience both motivation (spiritual transformation) and mobilization (social transformation):

• · Worship and prayer ministries
• · Missions focusing consultation with local church leadership
• · International needs assessment and project design
• · International project management and monitoring (reporting and evaluation)
• · Full service short term teams program
• · Humanitarian aid
• · International development and cross-cultural leadership and communication training

Thank you so much Dave.

There you have it. I would encourage you to check out Dave' s blog, the Hungry For Life Website and by all means pick up a copy of the book, Hungry For Life, today.

To see past 5 Question guests, check out the rotating interview links on the sidebar.

Hungry For Life

I have never been a fan of anti-poverty books. This is not because I don't care about the issue; I do. (I work for the Salvation Army, after all!) The reason I have never cared for these types of books is because the authors often take a Scripture out of context, and run with it to prove their opinions.

Not so with Hungry For Life by Dave Blundell. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading this book to find Dave doesn't like it when people do this either. He gives a Scripture and then backtracks trough the Biblical chapter/book, to explain the setting and audience.

That is just one of things that excited and challenged me about Hungry For Life. Without hammering stat after stat, Dave engages the reader in a way that makes one see the problem of poverty is not just a social issue but a spiritual one. Instead of just trying to see behaviors changed, Dave looks at the heart issue of the body of Christ as well.

Dave seeks to help us understand the Scripture in a fresh way as he brings it into our modern focus. When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, I found myself wondering if He could say the same thing to today's Spiritual Leaders, myself included. I didn't like the answer I came up with.

I found myself examining my own walk with the Lord as Dave expressed that a revival of the heart is truly needed to see the church get out into the street and live out their faith. That to me is the bottom line. Are we living our faith or are we just tossing a few coins at the "problem" to assuage our own guilt? Dave asks and answers that question.

WARNING - IF YOU READ THIS BOOK YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED!

So having said that, you need to read this book. Pick up a copy today and check out the Hungry For Life website as well!

"Book has been provided courtesy of the author and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favorite bookseller."