Most of our ministry is focused on indigenous people groups which are minority groups. They don't have growing economies because of the majority groups who have suppressed them. Farming and handicrafts are their trades. One rarely tries to pursue any other type of career. So we have focused in on those two key trades in their culture to see how we can actually build their communities and economy in a way that establishes discipleship and followers of Christ.
We came to the realization that if our ministry doesn't empower who we minister to, then it is void.
One of the ways that we have found to empower a community is to help them develop tools to become sustainable. One example is of a group that we have been ministering to called the Tigwahanon Manobo. In 2010, we formed a group of instrument makers and helped them develop the tools to take pride in their own God-given, indigenous sound. Now there are around 15 instrument makers who are also discipled followers of Christ and have craftsmanship skills to grow in their own careers and destiny. They have been able to develop their own business in making native instruments and other types of handicrafts. We sell these instruments as a way to help support their families and on-going missions work in their own areas.
We are actually taking this same principle and using it many places we go. It's a way of re-inforcing cultural dignity, building the local economy and making disciples in a real impactful way.
Watch their video below.
On another note, I am an instrument maker at heart and I have found that wherever I am, I always resort to making instruments. I am deeply in love with sounds and extremely excited about redeeming the sounds of indigenous worship. I have also developed a business in making instruments and I consider it my tentmaking business. Just as it explains in the Bible how the apostle Paul built tents to help achieve his missions funding, we do the same. This is our approach to business and missions.
So, if you are interested in a handcrafted instrument, feel free to contact us or visit our online shop. Thanks for reading!
Caleb Byerly
www.evergreenmissions.net