How do you find hope when resources are dwindling and the scale of human suffering seems insurmountable?
In the latest episode of the Active Generosity podcast, Ruth Jackson sits down with Anne Reitsema, CEO of Medair, to explore how a generous spirit can transform even the most desperate situations.
Seeing beyond the impossible
With over 20 years' experience in the humanitarian sector, Anne has seen first-hand the devastating impact of conflict and disaster. Recently, Medair, like many NGOs, faced significant funding uncertainty, leading to a 25% reduction in their global budget.
In such a season of scarcity, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Yet Anne reflects on a powerful shift in perspective: "If I see scarcity, I struggle to be generous. But if I know God's abundance, I can in faith lean into the generosity that he has called us to." Drawing on the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000, she shares how Medair moved from seeing the impossible, like the disciple Philip, to bringing what little they had, like Andrew with the boy’s lunch, trusting God for the rest.
The power of the small gift
One of the most moving moments of the interview is the story of eight-year-old Eleanor. After hearing about Medair’s work with sick and hungry children, she decided to give all her pocket money – 12 francs – in a handmade envelope.
For the Medair leadership team, this was not just a small donation; it was their boy’s packed lunch moment. Anne notes that generosity is not about the size of the gift but the attitude of the heart.
Eleanor’s simple act of love became a symbol of the multiplication that happens when we offer what we have with open hands. Anne finds further inspiration in Isaiah 58, which promises that when we spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry, 'you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail' - Isaiah 58:11.
Listen to the full story
Anne’s journey, from her childhood in South Africa to leading an organisation that has helped 53 million people, is a testament to how generosity breaks down divides and offers a sign of restoration to a broken world.
Ready to be inspired? To hear the full conversation about leading in hard places, finding God’s storehouses in the desert and the miracle that prepared Medair for their toughest season yet, listen to the complete episode and subscribe to the Active Generosity podcast on your favourite platform.
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Ruth Jackson
Ruth is leading the PR and Communications for Stewardship, which she joined in April 2022.
She has over 25 years’ marketing communications experience across a range of sectors, including higher education, technology and the arts, both business- and customer-facing.
Ruth worships and serves at C3 Church in Cambridge where she lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, a dog and a cat. When she’s not at her desk, you might find her rowing on the River Cam, in a ballet class or out for a walk.
She supports causes that are focused on alleviating global poverty and injustice, with a particular interest in supporting vulnerable children.
