On The Same Page

What are MCEC staff reading?

Brian Bauman
Mission Minister

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty
without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself
by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Every congregation I've ever been a member of or pastored in has at some point wrestled with how to respond to someone from the neighbourhood who was poor and was knocking on the door for help. We want to help but knowing what to do or how much to give always became a dilemma.

This book reveals the truths about the complex issues of poverty and gives people like me, who live in the materially wealthy world, a better understanding of what it is. The authors help the reader answer the question, "Who are the poor?" and defines the principles of relief, rehabilitation and development so we can discern which would be a most helpful response. They create a strategy for how we can help the poor both domestically and internationally.

When Helping Hurts is a book which anyone, who either has a passion for the marginalized or who is annoyed with the person asking for money at the traffic light in the city, would find enlightening. I highly recommend it to all congregational Mission Committees, Pastors and finance people. It would also provide stimulating discussion for any small group.

A quote from the book..."Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings."

Borrow this book from the MCEC Resource Library.

Share your thoughts related to this report below by clicking on Add New Comment.