Today I’m going back to one of the most basic lessons about poverty–one that everyone needs to understand but very few people actually get. It’s the infamous issue of dependency. Listen to this 20-minute episode to become an instant expert on the topic… or at least to get started with what you need to know. …
Tag Archives: dependency
PU 045: Six Steps to End Poverty (Laying the Foundation #4)
Why do people remain poor? This episode addresses six obstacles to positive change for people living in poverty. When all six of these obstacles are lifted, the change process can occur. Lack of education Lack of resources Human sinfulness Satanic deception Lack of supportive people Presence of opposition When I explained this lesson to my …
Continue reading “PU 045: Six Steps to End Poverty (Laying the Foundation #4)”
PU 044: Three Mistakes to Avoid in Short-term Missions
Good intentions aren’t always enough in missions. When churches and individuals go on short-term teams to communities in developing countries, they need to think carefully about the messages they send – not just verbally, but also through their actions. In this interview, Steve Corbett shares three mistakes to avoid when participating in short-term missions. Other …
Continue reading “PU 044: Three Mistakes to Avoid in Short-term Missions”
PU 043: Preventing AIDS Among Women
World AIDS Day is December 1, 2009. In this interview, Carolyn Wetzel shares the story of 36 African women who turned away from prostitution when they were shown a way out. Carolyn Wetzel is Health Programs Coordinator for Food for the Hungry. She lives in Washington, D.C. More listening options: Right-click to download Change for …
PU 039: When Helping Hurts
I had the opportunity to interview Brian Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… And Yourself. In this conversation, Fikkert discusses… Diagnosing the causes of poverty How Western materialism has infected Christians’ work among the poor How Christians can use their gifts to do meaningful ministry Ministering out …
PU 038: Ideas Matter (Laying the Foundation #3)
In this third foundational episode, we look at the roots of poverty. If we provide food, health, and education to people living in poverty, will we solve the problem? Or does poverty run deeper? Key thoughts: Our understanding of how life works must be defined by God. (Romans 12:2) When we don’t listen to what …
Continue reading “PU 038: Ideas Matter (Laying the Foundation #3)”
PU 036: Church Partnerships
Alisa Schmitz answers questions about church partnerships. When a church in the U.S. partners with a community in the developing world, life change occurs on both sides of the relationship. The overseas community can be released from poverty, and the U.S. church can also learn and grow. Ultimately, church partnerships exist to bring about the …
PU 033: Why We Ship Goods Overseas
Questions and answers about gifts in kind. Are handouts ever appropriate in community development? Andrew Crawford and Cameron Calabrese work for Gifts in Kind Resources at Food for the Hungry, a department that handles non-cash items going to other countries. In this interview we discuss if and when “handouts” are appropriate, a case study in …
PU 008: Dependency
Today we look at how we can minister to the poor without taking over their lives, their communities, and their goals. There is a line between healthy reliance on other people (Galatians 6:2) and unhealthy dependency. Handouts send messages beyond the goal of charity. Playing God in the lives of the poor leads to a …
PU 005: The Transformation Toolkit
Four simple tools that facilitate holistic development. This episode features four tools to facilitate holistic development. These approaches are practical methods based on the foundational material from previous episodes. They can be used on a daily basis anywhere from villages in Peru to housing projects in Chicago. More listening options: Right-click to download. Ready for …