Peter Greer

Jun 22

9 min read ⭑

“God invites us into community, and that includes the practice of praying with others. Prayer is not an “individual-only” practice. Over the last few years, I have so highly valued opportunities for corporate prayer, where we enter into prayer alongside others.”

You may recognize Peter Greer best as the CEO of HOPE International, a Christ-centered organization that works toward economic development in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. But he’s also a successful author and missions advocate with a passion for alleviating extreme poverty and bringing the gospel to a hurting world.

As you read our interview with Peter, you’ll quickly catch his drive to honor God, love people and serve the vulnerable. So join us as we talk about spiritual growth, faith-based resources and more!

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

What I don’t order in a hometown restaurant probably says more about me than what I do order. I’m a New England native, transplanted to Lancaster, Pennsylvania — an area known for its Amish population.

Amish cuisine pervades local restaurants and smorgasbords, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the hearty breads, meats and potatoes. But I’m not yet a true native because scrapple and ham loaf — the local delicacies — still defeat me.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

Whether I’m flying across the country or around the world, I spend a lot of time on airplanes. These aren’t generally considered sacred spaces, but in the last decade, airplanes have become the place where I write. Writing has become a true hobby and an invitation to learn. Working on books forces me to be still, reflect and learn from others — and it has become a form of spiritual renewal.

I’d like to spiritualize my decision to write on planes, but the truth is that ever since I was a little kid, I have passed out at the sight of needles. On three separate occasions, the in-flight entertainment unexpectedly showed a needle onscreen, causing me to pass out. I’ve knocked over meals and caused mayhem for flight crews and concern for fellow travelers. I needed to find another way to pass the time and remain conscious on planes, so I’ve come to rely on regular airplane time as an opportunity to write — and stay far away from any unexpected needles.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

I’ve already confessed my aversion to needles, but unfortunately, they’re not my only kryptonite. Early in my leadership of HOPE International, it always felt like our resources were constrained. I distinctly recall the agony of picking up the phone to call HOPE’s field programs to tell them we did not have the funds to do what we were planning to do and, therefore, we would not be able to undertake all of the projects they had staffed their teams to complete.

More than a decade later, I can still feel the impact of that season of scarcity. Even now — when by God’s grace HOPE has met and sometimes even exceeded its budgetary goals — I too often buy into a scarcity mentality, feeling and fearing that there’s not going to be enough.

Scarcity leads to excessive frugality and missed opportunities. And while I can trace the beginning of that feeling to a season of constraint, I believe my ongoing scarcity mentality is more of a spiritual struggle than a material one.

Rooted in a lack of trust in God’s provision, it’s a default posture to which I can too easily return, despite having seen God move in remarkable ways to meet the needs of HOPE’s staff and the entrepreneurs and savings group members we serve.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

Over the last several years, we’ve seen challenges in every place where the HOPE network serves — throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. But at the same time, we’ve also experienced challenges closer to home. In the U.S., we’re confronting political polarization, racial injustice, the downfall of respected leaders and an ongoing pandemic. These are divisive times. And as we’ve been impacted and we are collectively grieving, sometimes it’s been difficult to have the eyes or imagination to see past our own pain to those who may be in situations far worse than our own.

Coming out of a season in which we all felt vulnerable, how do we defocus on self and refocus on those who are facing incredible hardship? I’ve spent a growing portion of my time and energy inviting the Church to wake up to the needs of our brothers and sisters around the world. This is a moment for us to show up; this is a moment to care. God’s concern for those experiencing hunger, poverty or other forms of vulnerability is abundantly clear and woven throughout Scripture. I want to do everything possible to see followers of Christ awaken, connect and respond to this invitation to care for our global neighbors.

At the same time, I don’t want to minimize what truly has been an exceptionally difficult season for so many. Coming out of my own season of intense discouragement and feeling the pull toward cynicism, I recently co-authored the book “The Gift of Disillusionment.”

This book came, in part, as a result of my own experiences. You see, through foster care, our family had opened our home to children in crisis — and we were struggling. We knew that the stories of the children we would encounter often began with unspeakable pain. What we didn’t anticipate was that sometimes our family’s story with these precious children would also end with pain, without clear resolution, restoration or healing. So many times we would love a child as deeply and fiercely as we could, and it still would not be enough. I hated the pain, and I hated even thinking that, as I knew it was just a fraction of what these children had endured. Still, I could feel myself constructing walls around my heart. I wanted to close the doors of our home, withdrawing into our safe haven and saying we were done.

But throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working alongside some remarkable global leaders who have continued serving faithfully for decades despite intense discouragement and pain. In this disillusioning season, I began to ask them, “How do you hold on to hope?” Their answers — and the inspiration they drew from “The Weeping Prophet” Jeremiah — became the book “The Gift of Disillusionment.” They didn’t offer Christian platitudes but instead pointed to true, enduring hope. Their message was one I needed to hear, and I pray it will be an encouragement to others as well.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

I have really appreciated Terry Looper’s book “Sacred Pace” and his idea of “getting neutral”: getting to a space where I truly want God’s will to be done more than my own. Only in those states can we understand what we’re bringing in and be prepared to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, promptings and leadings.

That’s when we can, as Romans 12 outlines, “test and approve God’s perfect and pleasing will.” In testing and approving, we can get to neutral, a place where we can listen and respond well.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?

In a North American context, we often think about our individual prayer life, but God is a God of community. God invites us into community, and that includes the practice of praying with others. I am so fortunate that I get to work with a global team. Prayer is not an “individual-only” practice.

Over the last few years, I have so highly valued opportunities for corporate prayer, where we enter into prayer alongside others. My own prayer life has been enriched as I’ve learned to pray alongside these global leaders, embracing new traditions and unfamiliar practices that center my heart on communicating with God. Corporate prayer has been a gift to me.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are some resources that have impacted you?

For the past several years, I have been a faithful listener of the “Faith Driven Entrepreneur” podcast. Last year, the team behind the podcast released a book titled “Faith Driven Entrepreneur: What It Takes to Step Into Your Purpose and Pursue Your God-Given Call to Create.” They share tremendous wisdom around the idea of deeply connecting our faith to our work. Both the book and the podcast have influenced my leadership, and I highly recommend both!

Another favorite resource has been “The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

I became familiar with “The Jesus Storybook Bible”when I was reading to my kids, but it has shown so clearly how every story in the Bible whispers Jesus’ name if only we have the eyes and ears to perceive it. You certainly don’t need to have or be a small child to benefit from Sally’s beautiful rendering of Scripture.

Lastly, like so many, I listened to Christianity Today’s podcast, “The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill.” It’s a cautionary tale, and I want to make sure that is not our story. We need fewer stories of rises and falls and more stories of long-term, faithful obedience.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.

Over the many months when travel was limited, our family discovered the gift of outdoor hikes — and AllTrails became the app that opened us up to remarkable parts of Pennsylvania that we hadn’t yet discovered. So many family adventures already, and so many more to come!

HipCamp also became a way for us to find off-the-beaten-path camping sites where we set aside screens and are invited to explore this amazing world, soaking in the goodness that surrounds us in even the most challenging seasons.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a growing desire to see the level of excellence in Christian nonprofit organizations increase. There are still some who assume that a Christian mission accepts or tolerates subpar performance. The words “poor quality” and “Christian” should never be used to describe the same organization. Substandard work runs contrary to God’s calling while excellent work can open doors to share the gospel.

This concept reminds me of a quote that’s often attributed to Martin Luther (although its origin has been debated): “The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes but by making good shoes because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

Our faith demands we lead “best in class” organizations, regardless of what type of work we do.

What’s awakened in me is continuing to think about how we equip, support and challenge Christian organizations to reach the very highest level of excellence possible, to show they can be run well and scale effectively.

I’m eager to learn how to do that and to come alongside others with a similar vision.

It’s easy to build a mental wall between the secular and the sacred, our work and our worship. But as Peter Greer points out, there’s no division between the two in God’s eyes. He cares about the quality of our work because he cares about every facet of our lives — and because even our work is an act of worship.

And that’s not just Peter’s opinion. The apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23,24, NIV).

So what are you working on this week? And how can you make it the best it can be — all for the glory of God?

Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International. Peter’s favorite part of his job is spending time with the entrepreneurs HOPE serves — whether harvesting coffee with farmers in Rwanda, dancing alongside savings groups in Haiti or visiting the greenhouses of entrepreneurs in Ukraine. Prior to HOPE, he worked in Rwanda, Cambodia and Zimbabwe and received a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School. In his spare time, he has co-authored 15 books, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals and The Gift of Disillusionment. He lives with his wife, Laurel, and their four children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.