Search results for: When Helping Hurts

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Savings Groups as Transformational Development

In chapter 4 of When Helping Hurts, Brian Fikkert writes, “Development is not done to people or for people, but with people.” He talks a lot about savings groups as an example of good “with” type development. Our friends John and Kate Marsden at Mustard Seeds Shared established one of our favorite savings group programs in the known universe 🙂  So we asked John to share from their experiences doing development with people in Bangladesh. •••••••••• My legs were growing stiff from sitting cross legged on a mat in the shade of a mango tree. Sweat trickled down my back from the sticky heat of a South Asian summer. I was sitting in a circle with fifteen Bangladeshi village women who had been conducting their [...]

By |2015-06-22T05:30:44-05:00June 22nd, 2015|Categories: Stories|Tags: |
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What Does it Take to Alleviate Poverty?

In the past year, TCT has suddenly expanded in what I would refer to as a rather alarming rate. Others, who like growth, probably wouldn’t use the word alarming. Since the beginning of the year we have trained people to set up TCT programs in Uganda, DR Congo, Delhi, India and Hyderabad, India. Next month we are in South Sudan. We’ve also presented the ideas at a number of conferences. […]

By |2015-06-18T05:30:18-05:00June 18th, 2015|Categories: Learn and Apply, Truth Centered Transformation|Tags: |
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Chili is Just the Beginning

A Christian volunteer living in the Phoenix area had become friends with a homeless person and asked their new friend this question: “Help me understand your needs. What is it that you (a homeless person) need most?” Their response was this: “I know where to go to find services (food to eat, shelter to sleep, clothes to wear etc.) what I really want is to be loved.” Why did the person interviewed distinguish the receiving of services as being something different from being loved? […]

By |2015-06-15T05:30:35-05:00June 15th, 2015|Categories: Learn and Apply|Tags: |
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It’s All About the Root!

Have you ever spent time pulling weeds in your garden? I have this flowerbed in the front of my house that is filled with mulch. Every few weeks I notice a few brave weeds that ambush my serene flowerbed and try to take over. Yesterday I spent time putting the smack down on those weeds. When weeding, there is nothing more gratifying than when you pull the weed and feel the root dislodging and coming free, and then plop the whole weed comes out, root and all. You know you took care of that little rebel once and for all. Why, because you got it by the root! […]

By |2015-06-11T05:30:05-05:00June 11th, 2015|Categories: Learn and Apply|Tags: |
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God is at Work

“There is hope, because God is at work.” – pg. 27   As we begin our journey with When Helping Hurts, I hope this central theme will permeate everything we read and write about: God is at work. God is at work in poor communities in the back of beyond. God is at work in ghettos. God is at work in suburban churches. We don’t have to save the world, because that is God’s job. We don’t have to transform anyone. Also God’s job. We don’t have to solve every problem and know every answer. God’s got it covered. […]

By |2015-06-04T05:30:53-05:00June 4th, 2015|Categories: Learn and Apply|Tags: |
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Dignity- Our Measuring Stick

Last year I wrote a blog challenging us to move from ‘helping the poor’ to ‘loving our neighbor.’  The intention wasn’t that we should stop serving those who are the vulnerable around us. The story of the Good Samaritan makes it clear—loving our neighbour definitely includes:  being interrupted  to help someone with needs  who you may have no connection to at all. As I shared, we need to change the way we think about being involved in others lives. Too often we leave the poor feeling like they are a project to cross off our to-do lists rather than people we genuinely care about. […]

By |2015-02-02T05:30:01-05:00February 2nd, 2015|Categories: Learn and Apply, From the Directors|Tags: |
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Responding to Poverty: Who’s right, Luke or Paul?

Luke 3:11 says: “And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 2 Thess. 3:10 says: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” So which is it? Should I give my tunic away or should I make them work to buy their own tunic? Do I help by giving or do I help by restraining to give? Who do I believe Dr. Luke or the Apostle Paul? The Bible seems to indicate that when helping those in need there aren’t any cut and dry answers. It seems, sometimes we are told to help by supplying physical [...]

By |2014-09-08T05:30:54-05:00September 8th, 2014|Categories: Learn and Apply|Tags: |
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The Undeserving Poor

The problem is, I grew up in church. I raised my hand to receive Jesus when I was five years old. And, yeah, a few more times after that just to make sure it stuck. Have you ever been jealous of other people’s testimonies? I have. I know people who can get up in church and say that Jesus rescued them from drug addiction or forgave them for adultery. What can I say? I was nurtured in the faith practically from the cradle. I was taught all the rules and supported from every side to keep them. I genuinely want to please God, so I have always been a good girl. The problem is, I TOTALLY get where the Pharisees are coming from. I mean, [...]

By |2014-07-02T05:30:27-05:00July 2nd, 2014|Categories: Learn and Apply|Tags: |
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