Newsletter & Magazine MARCH 2010 A Family of Friends - Developing the Cornerstones of Africa’s Next Generation
WHY ARE WE DOING ALL THIS? This year in Cornerstone our theme is: “Understanding and Strengthening our
Purpose, Vision and Mission.” In this Newsletter/Magazine we revisit our purpose, our vision and the various mission statements of our various departments. Sometimes these three words – purpose, vision and mission – are used interchangeably and that is understandable. Because, generally they all describe why we get of the bed in the morning and why we invest time, energy and resources toward a particular end. In our teaching materials we define these words as follows:
Purpose – answers the ultimate questions: Why am I alive? What am I here on earth? And, the answer to such questions is the same for every human being. (Tim’s article on the back talks more about this.) Vision – portrays an aspiration that we ascribe to in response to the important questions like the purpose of life. Mission – describes how we define our specific calling individually or collectively in response to a particular vision.
Inside
6
School scores: Our best year yet!
In Cornerstone our vision is simply to see Jesus’ idea of “the Kingdom of God coming on earth.” In other words, that the ‘Divine order’ based on the highest ideals - such as brotherhood, justice, love of neighbor, purity and peace would break into and replace the ‘dis-order’ we see so much of in our world today and even in our own lives. And, our mission then is the unique contribution we seek to make to further that vision here in the African context:
8
The Cornerstone - Mission Statement To be a family of friends in the spirit of Jesus, committed to:
Welcome: COSA Rwanda
• Equipping and advancing a movement of “servant leaders” with a shared vision for the positive transformation of their communities, nation and region. • Compassion for the poor – with a focus on young people. • Working across the lines of culture and faith differences. • Maintaining a long-term partnership with each other. • Loving God and neighbor. Our mission statement first describes “Who we are” and then secondly “What we do.” In other words we seek to put relationships ahead of tasks. This is part of what it means to operate “in the spirit of Jesus.” He only gave one mark by which he wanted his followers to be identified. “By this - all men will know that you are my disciples: by your love for one another.” Jn. 13:32 The term “family” speaks to the nature of our relationship. We see each other as life-long “brothers and sisters.” The term “friends” speaks to the quality of our relationships – we seek to love and support each other as we carry out our work. In pursuit of a great cause some say that “The end justifies the means.” However, in Jesus’ way of thinking the means and end look the same: To live – to learn – to love.
12
Northern Homes receive US celebrities
19
Letters from friends Kristen & Ashley
and
...
-Updates on Cornerstone schools, Youth Corps, and COSA programs -Where is he now? Martin Ssuna -Cstone long range strategic vision -AYLF activities in the East Africa