Alliance of Scientists and Missionaries
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Then
God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth";
and it was so. And the earth
brought forth grass, the
herb that yields seed according
to its kind, and the tree
that yields fruit, whose
seed is in itself according
to its kind. And God saw
that it was good. Gen 1:
11-12
What is Ethnobotany? Since God created the earth, people have used plants for medicine, food, shelter, clothing, etc. God said to have dominion over plants that is what basically what Ethnobotanists are doing. Their roots come out of the field of Botany which is the study of Plants and a large part of the study is how to use plants to fight illnesses. Executive Summary 5355 L. Honapiilani Road #101
Napili, Maui, 96761
(808) 669-2007
(858) 669-5103 Fax
Email: paulmaui@aloha.net
Web site: www.churchofmaui.com |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OVERVIEW AND HISTORY
While attending jungle survival school with the U.S. Navy I became fascinated with the various ways we were taught to survive with plants. I asked to have copies of the information but at that time it was considered classified information.
Years later my young son became interested in tropical plants and joined a tropical plant club. Along with his interests and my past interest, as I traveled the world I discovered how very a few missionaries were using plants in unique ways to give comfort and healing to those they were endeavoring to reach with the gospel.
My son entered the University of Hawaii (UH) to study Ethnobotany and I began spending time meeting with the senior professors and department heads. I was amazed at their stories of discovering many ways plants could be used as medicine.
I felt the Lord giving me the vision to form an alliance between Missionaries and Scientist and to create a web site that would network them, giving the Missionaries the opportunity of making use of these important discoveries in the countries where they are ministering.
I shared this simple vision with Scientists from the National Science foundation who were in Hawaii enrolling people to request grants from small states. Their response was most enthusiastic and they suggested I submit a letter of inquiry to both them and also to the National Institute of Health. We would hope to support this project through funds received outside of missionary organizations.
Now that we have met with the key Professors and Scientists from UH and with some top leaders in missionary organizations, they all are encouraged by the possible benefits of such an alliance.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this work is to establish an alliance between Missionaries and Scientist. We will create a web site and promote the use of the web site by Missionaries at first and then anyone who wants to submit information they learn from people in their area about plants.
After the questionnaire phase is completed, we will submit for a grant to cover the next 3 years of operating this project of sharing existing information and collecting new information on plants to be shared on the web site to help others use plants for medicine, shelter, food and clothing.
THE STRATEGY
Since all parties in the alliance want to move ahead on this project, it is important to do the questionnaire first and then secure financial backing from government, private foundations and individuals for the first 3 years operations of the alliance. Government agencies have encouraged us to submit a proposal for a grant.
After securing the financing, we will create the web site, promote and train missionary organizations on how to use it.
GOALS
• 2004 – Complete
questionnaire and submit the letter
of inquiry while at the same time promoting
this with mission groups.
• 2005 – Secure funding for the alliance
• 2006 – Expand the knowledge of the power of using this web site
to other individuals and groups.
PARTNERING
The Director of Maui Marketplace Ministries (MMM) a non-profit organization which is a well respected organization that is currently working on many projects with business leaders, missionaries and church leaders/pastors., will be the key person who will direct (gatekeeper) the alliance between scientist and missionary groups and help promote the vision. UH is working with us to create the questionnaire and help with the letter of inquiry, grant proposal and creating the web site.
We are also talking with missionary organizations, private foundations and individuals about them partnering with us.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr. Will McClatchey – Associate
Professor of Botany
Dr. McClatchey is
a faculty member at the University of
Hawaii at Manoa. He has conducted research
in Pacific Island communities for the
last 15 years. His work has focused on
plants used as foods, medicines, and
for construction, with emphasis on ways
in which knowledge of plants has shaped
the development of the distinct cultures
in the Western and Central Pacific region.
His most recent work has been in the
Solomon Islands, Marshal Islands, and
Tahiti where he has worked on community
development projects intended to support
local efforts to be sustainable with
less dependence upon foreign imports
and aid. He is a member of Kalihi Union
Church in Honolulu (EFCA). He is supportive
of a broad range of missionary efforts
intended to first meet practical needs
of people’s lives while sharing
the fundamentals of Christian faith and
respecting cultural differences.
Paul Hansen
Mr. Hansen has over 30 years of executive experience with companies such as Emerson, Qualcomm, and Rockwell. He currently is a partner in an internet company and works with his partner in that company in running a unique resort on Maui. They both created and run the very successful non-profit organizations, Maui Marketplace ministries. Mr. Hansen has a passion to see this project be a success as he knows how it will help hurting people all over the world. PROFESSIONALS, SCIENTIST AND OTHER ADVISORS
Bill Brown
Mr. Brown served over 47 years with the Billy Graham Association (BGA). He held positions as Director of Crusades and President of Worldwide Pictures the motion picture business for BGA. Bill is helping us with the promotion and contact to religious and missionary organizations.
Dan Williams
Mr. Williams is General Manager and the key person behind a very unique resort on Maui. He is also partners with Mr. Hansen in an Internet company and co-founder of Maui Marketplace Ministries. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS VISION
The best thing you could do for us after reading this summary is to spread the word about the vision to others and send your input.
If you want to be part of building the foundation, you can make a tax deductible contribution.
Think about just getting this web site up and people all over the world can check and see if plants they have in other parts of the world are being used for medicine, shelter or food and then teaching people in their area to use the information they find on our web site.
Or hitting the home run, a missionary finds something from a local person that is passed through the web site and teams of scientist make a field trip and it leads the cure for a major illness. You could also say you were part of making that happen.
Then
God blessed them, ……fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over…..the earth”. And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, …..to everything…which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…..Gen
1: 28-31
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