WHEN HELPING HURTS [Paperback]

 

 

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"'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'" -- Matthew 25:43-45 (NKJV)

Don't miss this book. You need to read it . . . especially if you think you don't need to do so. Humble yourself and read it!

Statistics about poor people fly around like dried straw during a hurricane. If billions live on less than two dollars a day, it's easy to assume that sending along five dollars a day would be a big help. If villages lack clean water, drill wells. If youngsters are sick, send them physicians and medicine. What those examples have in common is that they are applying the perspective of educated, high-income societies to the circumstances of poor people in poorly educated, low-income societies. Sometimes those "solutions" are called for, but often they are not.

Let me explain. If you just send more money, you may unintentionally stifle efforts for people to help themselves by encouraging people to wait for a handout. If villages lack clean water because husbands want their wives and daughters out carrying water while they entertain themselves without female complaining, the wells won't be maintained. If youngsters don't wash their hands, they will just get sick again . . . with something different. Yes, sometimes people in a catastrophe just need a helping handout . . . immediate food, water, and medicine. But soon they need also different kind of help, enhancing their ability to help themselves.

It's a standard joke in many countries how the "helpers" from outside the nation drive around in Land Rovers burning up lots of scarce, expensive fuel while enjoying $100,000 tax-free incomes and not doing much good other than when they hire a local person to do some work.

When Helping Hurts addresses the hard truths behind the ways that Christians often attempt to alleviate poverty without addressing the actual needs that poor people have . . . especially such as low self-esteem, lacking confidence, and needing stronger relationships with one another.

The book covers one of my favorite examples of how resources can be wasted: How a short-term missions trip to do some minor repair work and painting might cost more than the budget needed to make a breakthrough for a local Christian activity. The authors wisely suggest asking the people being visited if they would prefer the money or the visit.

For many years in many countries, I have worked with local partners to make breakthroughs in poverty alleviation. From these experiences, I have learned the following lessons:

1. No one need go there from another country. You can send any information needed by e-mail.

2. Local people have all the knowledge and resources to succeed in alleviating a great deal of poverty very quickly, but they need someone from that country to bounce ideas around with who has done it before. Get someone like that involved, and it goes smoothly.

3. Train one person in how to alleviate poverty in one way, and a whole village can learn and apply the same lesson from that person in a short amount of time. If the people in that village each train one person a month, tens of thousands can be lifted out of poverty in two years.

4. Christian leaders who are native to these nations where poverty is rampant are extremely capable at finding poverty alleviating solutions. Encourage them and give them the resources they ask for, and get out of their way.

5. Applying technology is seldom the answer.

While I could list more things, the more profound point of the book is that Christians should approach poor people in other nations as people to develop relationships with and to learn from. I'm always impressed by stories I hear of visiting ramshackle churches sited on garbage dumps where the love of God vastly exceeds what anyone from a developed country has ever seen before. From such experiences, Christians from the developed countries can learn to appreciate how materialism gets in the way of spiritual health and loving as God wants us to do.

The problem of alleviating poverty is a lot like the problem of obeying God was during the time when Jesus was born. People were going through the motions of meaningless rituals and ignoring God's plan.

I pray that this book will help many Christians to learn to reconsider how they "alleviate" poverty.

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)

When Helping Hurts is a "must read" book for anyone involved in Christian ministry. When Helping Hurts gives a very clear picture of what truly healthy, wholistic ministry looks like. In a world gone crazy with relief focused ministries which are actually doing harm to others, this book presents a new way of considering serving the needy. Although many people serve with good intentions, without realizing, they are actually creating more harm than doing good. If you truly want to serve in a way that is healthy, wholistic, and Christ-like, this book is imperative. Please read and apply the principles portrayed in When Helping Hurts.

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5.0 out of 5 stars a must read
For everyone going into missions, this is a must read! There is so much need out there so how can people decide where to give, and can the giving hurt the recipient, even though... Read more

Published 4 months ago by J. Peters

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful!
Very practical, Biblical, and insightful look into missions. It really helps give a framework to help think through missions through a relationship framework and also in what... Read more

Published 4 months ago by bruce

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