[Guest post by Activist Faith co-founder Daniel Darling, minister, author, and speaker, and friend, interviewing WorldCrafts president and New Hope CEO Dr. Andrea Mullins. Worldcrafts is a Christian fair-trade artisan group based in Birmingham, AL.]
I have found Andrea to be a wonderful friend, someone who is deeply
passionate about sharing the gospel around the world. Andrea is the
publisher/director of New Hope Publishers and the President of Worldcrafts.
She is the author of several books herself and has a Doctor of Ministry
Degree in Transformational Leadership from Bakke University. Andrea is a
sought after speaker for women’s ministry events.
1) As long as I’ve known you, Andrea, you’ve always had a
passion for missions. Tell me how God birthed this in your heart and
your soul?
I was in an airplane over Wyoming when I experienced God’s call to
missions. Almost audibly I heard God say, “I want you to join me in what
I am doing in the world.” Until that moment, I had no idea how little I
understood about God’s love for the world. When I arrived home I
couldn’t wait to learn more about God’s work in the world, including my
own community. I am convinced that missions isn’t optional for any
believer. Acts 1:8 commands all believers to missional living in their
communities and around the world.
2) New Hope Publishers is part of the Woman’s Missionary Union®. Now I grew up Independent Baptist, but my wife is a longtime Southern Baptist. WMU is a big part of SBC life. But for those maybe outside of those circles, can you explain the mission of WMU?
WMU® is an international missions
organization that provides missions discipleship in the church for all
ages. Missions discipleship includes learning about missions, praying
for missions, and doing missions. WMU involves believers in missions
through many volunteer opportunities and ministries such as Christian
Women’s Job CorpsSM, Christian Men’s Job CorpsSM, International InitiativesSM, Volunteer ConnectionSM, Pure Water Pure LoveSM, and WorldCraftsSM.
New Hope Publishers was formed a few years ago to extend WMU’s mission
to challenge believers to a radical involvement in God’s mission.
Information about WMU can be found at http://www.wmu.com.
3) If someone asked Andrea Mullins what New Hope Publishers
publish-what would you say? What makes New Hope books stand out in the
evangelical marketplace? Our aim is that every book will meet readers
where God is at work in their lives and take readers to where God is at
work in His world.
We publish books that address real life needs and
issues while at the same time expand a reader’s worldview to see their
lives within the context of God’s plan. We are committed to a worldview
that all of life is to be lived in obedience to Acts 1:8.
4) You have traveled extensively overseas, especially leading
evangelistic teams at the Winter and Summer Olympics. Tell me how that
has changed your worldview and what perspective has that brought to your
work as a publisher?
Foremost, I believe God loves the world and His
love is revealed in Jesus Christ. God’s love in Christ is the common
thread of all missions. As a publisher I am committed to books that are
true to the gospel message found in the Bible. The need for Truth is
urgent as people have unlimited access to every imaginable kind of
content. I pray that people will bump into God regardless of where they
are looking for something to listen to or to read. The only way this can
happen is for us to be committed to the Great Commission in every
aspect of what we do as a publisher. Our books may be seen at http://www.newhopepublishers.com.
5) One of my favorite parts of New Hope Publishers and WMU is
Worldcrafts. Last Christmas we bought each of our kids a Christmas
ornament from Worldcrafts and took the time to explain this unique
ministry. Can you explain this opportunity for Christians to help women
in other parts of the world?
WorldCraftsSM
is a fair trade non-profit company that imports handmade crafts made by
impoverished people. Our vision is to provide dignity as we partner to
build microenterprise businesses through which some of the poorest
people in the world receive sustainable income and eternal hope.
WorldCrafts is helping to free women, children, and families from
prostitution, trafficking, and exploitation in places where these have
been the only options for survival. The stories of our artisans and the
beautiful products they make can be found on our website, http://www.worldcraftsvillage.com.
While the numbers are changing all the time, we are currently in nearly
40 countries working with over 70 different artisan groups.
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Daniel Darling is the Senior Pastor of Gages Lake Bible Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and is the author of Teen People of the Bible, Crash Course, and iFaith (2011). His work has been featured in evangelical publications such as Focus on the Family, Marriage Partnership, Pray!, Stand Firm, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. His op-eds have appeared in Newsweek/Washington Posts’ On Faith section and other newspapers and opinion sites. He has been profiled by The Chicago Tribune. Daniel is a contributing writer to Zondervan’s Couples Devotional Bible.
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