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.

I also took some time to address the question that everyone seems to ask: What should I do instead? It’s not hard to avoid dependency—it’s really not!—after you grasp a few basic concepts.

Let me know what you think of this episode. What else would you add?

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Today’s episode is one of our foundational episodes on the theology of poverty. You can teach this material at your church by downloading our four-week curriculum free of charge.

Mission trips can be unpredictable, but following a few simple guidelines can take the guesswork out of the experience. In this interview, Heidi Hatch shares seven standards that every short-term team leader needs to know. These principles apply to any Christian mission team, whether they are planning a building project, medical mission, service team, or vision trip.

The Standards of Excellence in Short-term Mission are a set of seven guidelines for organizations, churches, and individuals. Over 75 organizations are provisional or covenant members adhering to the standards. Food for the Hungry is a covenant member.

Heidi Hatch is a Field Liaison for Food for the Hungry (FH). Her ministry team facilitates approximately 80 short-term teams each year to Africa, Asia and Latin America. Churches interested in sending a team with FH may learn more on the FH teams homepage.  Individuals interested in joining a team can view a list of this year’s open teams.  Short-term teams agree to the mission, vision and statement of faith of FH.

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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 topics in this interview include the distinction between relief and development, choosing asset-based development rather than need-based development, and investing missions money wisely.

Steve Corbett is a featured speaker at Summit 2010. He is an Assistant Professor of Community Development at Covenant College and serves as a Distance Learning Trainer for the Chalmers Center. Steve Corbett co-authored When Helping Hurts with Brian Fikkert.

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Anne McCain shares eight reasons for Christians to develop personal relationships with the poor beyond reading the newspaper and sending money.

1. Christ ministered to people personally – Mark 7:31-35
2. It reminds us that the masses of poor people are real people
3. It allows those in poverty to give to us
4. It impassions our prayers
5. We see God bring change
6. It challenges us personally in our own walk with God – James 2:5
7. It motivates us to action
8. Christ tells us that when we care personally for the poor, we are caring personally for him – Matthew 25:31-40

Request more information about the Community to Community program for church partnerships.

Anne McCain is Eastern Regional Manager of Global Engagement at Food for the Hungry.

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An interview with Josh Kienzle on lessons learned from colonialism and taking the posture of a cross-cultural learner.

Josh shares the location and characteristics of Mozambique, with special attention to the community of Mucodza, Mozambique.

Who is the main character of a short-term mission trip? It should be God, not the team. (Mark 10)

God is rewriting the history of Mozambique and the text of our lives. (2 Sam 22:21-25)

Social problems due to colonialism, and social problems due to sin (Romans 12:21)

Short-term teams to Mozambique and other countries

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