When Helping Hurts

In order to prepare for the trip, I have been reading about poverty. HOH requires every volunteer to read parts of When Helping Hurts before the trip. I wanted to share some of the things I learned from the presentation with you.

The idea that we are all poor was addressed. We ALL need Christ. To address poverty, we must come in with the idea that only God can rescue us sinners from poverty. He alone can make us rich with joy, compassion, kindness, and love.

This image shows some of the things that people think of as the causes and solutions for poverty.

The REAL cause of poverty is broken relationships. Broken relationships with God, man, and with ourselves are reasons why all of us are poor.

I have included some quotes that echo and reinforce what I wrote above.

"Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, they are not just, they are not for life, they are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings." -Bryant L. Myers 

"Until we embrace our mutual brokenness, our work with low-income people is likely to do far more harm than good. -(WHH, p. 64)"

Poverty is rooted in broken relationships, so the solution to poverty is rooted in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection to put all things into right relationship again.‖ (WHH, p. 77)

Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation.‖ (WHH, p. 78)•

"Material poverty alleviation is working to reconcile the four foundational relationships so that people can fulfill their calling of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.‖ (WHH, p. 78)

Avoid Paternalism. "Do not do things for people that they cannot do for themselves." 

Understanding that missions is about glorifying God and that I won't ever be able to solve the world's problems is very important. Only God can change people and take them out of the cycle of poverty. I am glad I will be serving the only one who can truly make people rich! 

If you would like to read the book, here is the link. 
Here is the link to the presentation Hospitals Of Hope had me read.