Wednesday, March 20, 2013

When Helping Hurts Training at Shocco

If you didn't get the word, ANCCM and the Alabama State Board of Missions got together in March to talk about poverty in Alabama and how churches can best serve those of low wealth. A hearty discussion went on as we studied the book, "When Helping Hurts" (see description at bottom of this page).  Those who have been in community ministries a long time and those who were brand new discussed this topic with passion and concern.

If you missed out, here is the link to the website that supports this book. Check it out!


 
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Information on helping people with special needs in churches

http://www.theinclusivechurch.wordpress.com
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When Helping Hurts

When Helping Hurts

Recommended Book


"When Helping Hurts:How to Alleviate PovertyWithout Hurting the Poor...and Yourself"
by Steve Corbett and Dr. Brian Fikkett

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 to themselves. When Helping Hurts is a book by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development that directly addresses these assumptions, providing foundational concepts, clearly articulated general principles, and relevant applications. The result is an effective and holistic approach to ministry to the poor, not a truncated gospel.

What You Will Learn
The book begins by establishing a solid biblical foundation for understanding the nature of poverty and its alleviation. This is more than an academic exercise, for people's understanding of poverty shapes the strategies they use to minister to poor people. Building upon this foundation, the book then outlines several general principles for all poverty alleviation efforts including: the importance of distinguishing between relief, rehabilitation, and development; the difference between asset-based and needs-based strategies; and the advantages of participatory over blueprint approaches. These general principles are then applied to short-term mission efforts and to various economic development strategies appropriate for North American and international contexts, including jobs training, financial literacy, individual development accounts, and microenterprise development.

Who Should Read This Book
The book is designed for those who want to minister to poor people more effectively, including pastors, missionaries, deacon boards, lay leaders, home and foreign missions committees, mercy ministry teams, and donors. It is appropriate for an individual or for a group such as a Sunday school class, a ministry team, or a small group Bible study.
AuthorsWhen Helping Hurts is written by Steve Corbett and Dr. Brian Fikkert of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development and the Department of Economics and Community Development at Covenant College. Steve and Brian draw upon decades of experience as practitioners, researchers, and trainers in economics and community development both in North America and around the world.

Free Self/Group-study Course
To help you study the topics of the book further, the Chalmers Center has made available at no charge a four-lesson self/group-study course that complements the book. This course provides additional readings, reflection questions, application questions, and learning exercises. It is appropriate for an individual or a group such as a Sunday school class or a ministry team.

www.chalmers.org/when-helping-hurts/book.php

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