What's the Big Idea?!

The other day somebody asked me about Floresta. “What is the big idea?” was the way they put it. It is an excellent question. I think there is one big idea and three very important secondary ideas.

I think the big idea is that we can make environmental restoration profitable for the rural poor at the same time we are making poverty reduction beneficial for the environment. That is the Floresta idea. In other words, we are creating virtuous cycles or spirals in places where vicious cycles existed before. In so doing we are solving two enormous problems that taken by themselves seem intractable. The big idea is that it is actually easier to address both problems together than it is to take them on one at a time. This is unique, and I think it is what sets Floresta apart from most other organizations and solutions.

Almost as important is the idea that the poor are the most important allies in solving these problems and are probably the greatest untapped resource on earth. They have the skills, insight and vested interest in solving their problems. They have far more intelligence and initiative than people give them credit for. Often they only lack tools or opportunities. Perhaps all they lack is self-confidence. Yet far too often those who want to help see the poor as an obstacle. The temptation is to try to solve their problems for them without involving them. One of the most important things we can do is empower the poor to realize and use their God-given talents to change their communities and restore their land.

Another idea - one that almost seems self-evident - is that any long-term solution to the problems of environmental degradation and rural poverty must be holistic and must focus on root causes. Distributing food and medicine may solve immediate problems but they won’t change the world. Giving away a shoebox with Christmas presents or a disaster kit may be a nice gesture, but probably won’t change someone’s life. Building a low cost home may be a tremendous blessing to a family. However, the family is probably not poor because they don’t have a home; they don’t have a home because they are poor. This is not to disparage any of the ministries who build homes or distribute food. God calls each of us to different tasks, and each of those has its place. However, at Floresta we feel called to changing peoples lives through long-term holistic solutions that get at root causes of poverty and environmental degradation and leave the people transformed forever.

Finally, we believe that for lasting change to take place, Jesus must be involved. There is a spiritual dimension to all of the problems we deal with. In order to succeed in our task, Jesus must empower us and walk with us. In order for lives to be transformed, Christ must be working in those lives. That is not to say that we force our faith, or even our “witness” on anyone. We serve the poor out of our love for Jesus, and it is our desire that people would come to know Jesus, but we absolutely do not want to manipulate people in any way. To even imply that one would have to “convert” to receive help from Floresta would be manipulative, so we go out of our way to make it clear that the spiritual activities of Floresta are optional. However, it is only Jesus who can take a virtuous cycle of economic opportunity and environmental restoration and turn it into something that resembles the Kingdom of God.

All of these ideas are important; it is the first idea that makes Floresta unique. We share the other three with many fine ministries.