Author: George Dowdell

I was the founder of Karuna Action (formerly Kingscare) and was the director for 24 years. I have now handed control over to younger people but continue as an advisor and trustee. My passion is to see extreme poverty eliminated and to see justice for the powerless.

My Heroes – William Wilberforce

ImageI have been thinking of people, current or historical, who have made a real impact and helped to make the world a better place. The first one to spring to mind is William Wilberforce who guided the anti-slavery legislation through the British Parliament.

Not that he did it all alone. Many campaigners worked tirelessly to change the mind of the British people to the point when they said with a loud voice, “This is no longer acceptable, the law must be changed”. Continue reading “My Heroes – William Wilberforce”

The parable of the lost wallet

On Sunday evening I flew back from Delhi to Colombo arriving at Colombo airport at about 10 o’clock at night. There are a few minor hassles along the way but because the plane was half an hour early, Leslie had not yet arrived at the airport to pick me up. Flights make you thirsty and I was desperate for a drink of water so I went to the cafe in the arrivals area and bought a bottle of water.That was the last time I remember seeing my wallet. Continue reading “The parable of the lost wallet”

You will always have the poor among you?

Jesus was in the home of Simon the leper. A woman came with a jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. Judas Iscariot objected and said the perfume, worth a years wages, could have been sold and the money given to the poor.

Jesus replied with a verse that is often misquoted, or quoted out of context.

“You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me”
(John 12 verse 8) Continue reading “You will always have the poor among you?”

Defining influences in my life.

ImageI have been thinking about the moments, events and influences in my life that define who I am and have shaped my past, my present and my future.

One particular influence on my life was my religious knowledge teacher at secondary school, Mr. J. My family were always churchgoers. Continue reading “Defining influences in my life.”

Your Kingdom Come

We are all familiar with the words from the Lord’s Prayer that says, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

These words are some of the most powerful words ever spoken and affect the whole world, and have an effect upon the whole of human history, past, present and future. The Kingdom of God as proclaimed in Matthew’s gospel has often been a mystery. Continue reading “Your Kingdom Come”

Freedom from Poverty

It is my contention that the whole world needs freedom from poverty. It is not just the desperately poor who need that freedom. In tolerating a situation in which two billion people survive on £9 a week, we are all implicated and all need setting free from the slavery of poverty.

This article explores this freedom, and the casual, underlying and root causes of poverty. Continue reading “Freedom from Poverty”

Love and Justice

“Love without justice is sentimentality,

Justice without love is legalism.”

God’s love in Action…

For many years the strap line for Kingscare has been, “God’s love in action”. Love is voluntary, and is an excellent motive for giving.

  • We need to be sure that our love is not condescending.
  • It needs to be more than just sympathy.
  • It must not be out of a sense of superiority.

We can stand alongside the Continue reading “Love and Justice”

My Dream

I dream of a day…

  • A Day when all the people of the earth will have a chance to flourish. When all, regardless of their background, will have the opportunity, through education and hard work, to enjoy the fruit of their labour. But I dream also of a day when those who are ungifted or disadvantaged will be provided for.
  • A day when the scourge of natural disaster, disease and famine will be mitigated by caring acts from of the rest of humanity. Continue reading “My Dream”