In the second half of chapter 11 of When Helping Hurts, the authors give some practical advice for effectively partnering with communities in the majority world. We love their suggestions. We asked our friend Celeste Brown de Mercado to add her perspective as well, since she was part of a team that facilitated church-community partnerships in Bolivia with Food for the Hungry. •••••••••• […]

I have never worked in corporate America but from the little I know it seems to operate according to results. If the numbers are rising, the stocks are growing, the network is expanding and the profits are increasing then all else is secondary. Sure it matters to some degree how you get there, but the most important element is the bottom line. Results are a direct correlation to success. Does the same ring true when working with the poor? […]

In the introduction to When Helping Hurts, Brian Fikkert tells a story about a trip he took to Africa and that, while there, he gave $8 to a woman who urgently needed medical help. Afterward, he regretted his donation. He picks up the story here in chapter 5, explaining the harm that he did—that with $8 he undermined the ministry of the local church, the relationships the woman needed within her community and the leadership of the local pastor. It all sounds so obvious and logical when he explains it like he does. But in the heat of the moment, when I’m confronted with an emaciated child, a picture of a dried up well or a sign that says, “Hungry. Anything helps,” I’m not usually [...]

Continuing in our study of “When Helping Hurts” – Chapter 4 There is no doubt you have come across the word “holistic” sometime in your past. It has become a popular buzzword used to describe an approach that sees the “whole” and not just the “parts.” A quick Google search found a wide variety of “holistic” approaches. I found information on holistic medicine, holistic nutrition, holistic politics (really?), holistic wealth management (seriously?), holistic tackling (yes football fans you can holistically tackle a running back…) holistic dog care (no way…) and even a holistic massage parlor in California (no thanks). While some of that sounds a little creepy it does somehow speak to this attitude of wanting to take a well-rounded approach to subjects, situations or [...]