14. Family Preservation and the Complications of International Church Involvement with Megan Boudreaux

Oct 30

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Overview

Like many guests on this season, Megan Boudreaux found herself swept up into the church industry or orphanages. The longer she stayed in Haiti, the more she noticed that something was awry with the North American approach to placing children in institutionalized care. Megan and Lauren discuss the crisis of children aging out of orphanages with no connection to their city, their family, or their culture. This episode is an invitation for Christians to consider the large how the conversation around orphan care in the Global South needs to shift.

“It really is this savior mentality of swooping in and saying these children don't have what they need, instead of asking the questions of what is needed.”

“We have this huge problem of children aging out of orphanages and having no connection to their city, their family, their culture.”

“Until churches do their research and ask locals and they recognize that the American church is not going to be the savior in this story…this is just a cycle.”

Episode Highlights

1:53 - An introduction to Megan Boudreaux

5:50 - Megan’s work and the truth about orphanages in Haiti

17:58 - Why are American churches building and supporting orphanages?

22:09 - What is the call as followers of Christ?

24:43 - What does positive support look like?

27:38 - Megan’s organization Respire Haiti

31:02 - Response to Megan’s organization and continuing the conversation

Links

Kindred Exchange - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission

Think Orphan - Learn more and listen to the podcast

Respire Haiti - Learn more about the work they are doing to empower the next generation of Haitians