How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself. Churches and individual Christians typically have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty, resulting in the use of strategies that do considerable harm to poor people and themselves. "When Helping Hurts" provides foundational concepts, clearly articulated general principles and relevant applications. The result is an effective and holistic ministry to the poor, not a truncated gospel. A situation is assessed for whether relief, rehabilitation, or development is the best response to a situation. Efforts are characterized by an "asset based" approach rather than a "needs based" approach. Short term mission efforts are addressed and microenterprise development (MED) is explored. (Foreword by John Perkins)
The authors are on staff with the Chalmers Center. The Chalmers Center is a part of Covenant College and operates in association with the college's Department of Economics and Community Development. |
