When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Ourselves

Man of Peace Develpment (org) 2010-03-16

Reviewer: Andrew Rayner

This book is an easy read with some keen insights. Great Introduction to Poverty & Community development Issues.

The Key Keen insights:

For example -in the west we view poverty as a "lack" of resources, where as the poor use psychological terms to describe their situation - How it makes them feel ashamed, embarrassed, powerless etc.

Secondly - The authors highlight the three kinds of "Help" one can give - Relief, Restoration, Development. Unfortunately the westerners approach almost all we do from the "Relief" category. Very Damaging and has created serious dependency, and harm to local people.

Thirdly, another keen insight is reminding us to NEVER ask a community what their needs are. It makes them immediately define themselves by what they "LACK" This is negative and causes further depression as you highlight all they don't have. It sets the community development person up as the only provider from the outside, making the poor think they have little or nothing to offer- it must come from outside sources.

Rather ask; "What resources, skills, knowledge etc do you have at your disposal around you to bear on your family or community issues. Help them to focus that, and then maybe you might be a small part of that skill/knowledge/resource equation. However, this question begins with the people thinking about what is "right" with me and my community.

I recommend making it mandatory reading for all Christian field visitors, short -term mission teams (From grade 7 up) and missionaries who already are trying to do something, anything , to help poor families.

Read the book if you would like to BEGIN helping the poor.
It's the perfect starter book on the subject. Will also keep you, and any field visitors, humble about our "real" place in the helping process among the poor.

Andy Rayner Man Of Peace Development (org)

Wow, I was wrong in my thinking! 2010-02-25

Reviewer: Stephen Bowers

Growing up in a foreign country and being surrounded by the poor, I though I would read this book and gain just a little. I was surprised to find out how life altering, mind blowing the ideas are in this book. I thought I understood, but I was wrong.

I love this book so much I will by buying copies to distribute to people within my church for free.

Buy it, read it carefully, put it into practice!

A Fresh Look at Social Ministry 2010-02-24

Reviewer: James Drake

As the pastor of a rural church in the heart of Appalachia, I am confronted with the harsh realities of material poverty on a daily basis. Generational poverty is not a pretty sight, but neither is the attempt of many to alleviate that poverty. Most people are emotionally moved by images of poverty. Then, after the initial emotional response, the question becomes how can the materially poor best be helped? Unfortunately, most attempts at helping are futile at best and can even be destructive. Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert do a very good job of addressing that question in their book, When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Ourselves.

This book is far from a typical, tired, social gospel guilt trip. The authors begin by building a theologically sound foundation by defining the true nature and mission of Jesus, His church and the Gospel. It is only out of that correct understanding of the Gospel that truly beneficial social ministry can occur. From there, they lay out their case that much of what is done in the name of Christian charity is not beneficial. They do not shy from their belief that, "when North American Christians do attempt to alleviate poverty, the methods used often do considerable harm to both the materially poor and the materially non-poor." They further state that their concern, "is not just that these methods are wasting human, spiritual, financial, and organizational resources but that these methods are actually exacerbating the very problems they are trying to solve."

The authors did not just take the opportunity of this book to rant against what they see as wrong. In addition to accurately depicting what is wrong, they do an outstanding job of pointing out a better way. Once the problem is clearly understood in the reality of the fall, material poverty can be addressed in the right way. "The goal is not to make the materially poor all over the world into middle-to-upper-class North Americans, a group characterized by high rates of divorce, sexual addiction, substance abuse, and mental illness.... Rather, the goal is to restore people to a full expression of humanness, to being what God created us all to be, people who glorify God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation."

This book does not attempt to be a step-by-step guide for how to develop an effective ministry to the poor. It is not a "how-to" book, despite the fact that it gives good examples and suggestions. Instead, its strength is in the way it challenges paternalistic mindsets about the poor and realigns social ministry with the Gospel. The premise is sound and the theological foundation is solid. Because of that, any ministry that is developed from it will help without hurting.

When Helping Hurts 2010-02-22

Reviewer: Arnold C. Rottier

An excellent book. A MUST read for anyone involved or thinking of being involved in short term missions.

A landmark we cannot afford to ignore 2010-02-02

Reviewer: A. Swanson

I spent 31 years in Asia. During my first term in the 1960's I began to observe, painfully, that much of what we "think" is happening, is not in fact the case. "Lessons to be Learned from Mainland China" books flooded the mission world in the 1950's & 1960's but were by and large "not learned." I wrote on the subject back then and earned a few enemies along the way.
Corbett and Fikkert state precisely what needs to be said. The "tsunami" called Short Term Missions has many good points but is spinning out of control... the "Reamaturization of Missions" as Dr. Ralph Winter called it. Or "Drive through Missions" as some note. I taught cross cultural missions for 15 years in a grad seminary in Taipei, Taiwan. I wish I would have written this book 30 years ago. But praise God two emminently qualified men did. I have already sent out an email to many dozens of my friends urging them to get this book. I have never done that before.
Involved in any type of missions? This book was written for you. It will challenge and reshape you.
Allen Swanson
Gainesville, GA