Is clean water the solution to poverty? Or is it health care? Education, perhaps?
In this audio episode, Wendy McMahan speaks from years of experience in serving vulnerable communities and observing transformational development through the work of Food for the Hungry.
Journey with Wendy as she unpacks what it means to “consider the poor.” (Psalm 41:1) God’s solution to poverty just might surprise you.
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Listeners– Happy New Year! Here’s a repost of a New Year’s episode that you might have missed the first time around.
Incorporate the end of world poverty into your list of New Year’s resolutions. Here are three New Year’s resolutions you can make that will change the world. Click the play button above to listen.
Did you know that the United Nations, Food for the Hungry and organizations around the world have New Year’s Resolutions too? They’re called the Millennium Development Goals. They’re actually more like “New Millennium Resolutions,” I suppose.
Bonus material in this episode: How to keep your New Year’s resolutions!
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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.
When I explained this lesson to my 5- and 6-year-old daughters, here’s the language they understood for describing the six obstacles.
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In this interview, Bryant Myers responds to three questions…
Dr. Bryant Myers is Professor of Transformational Development at Fuller Theological Seminary. Previously he served at World Vision International as Vice President for International Program Strategy. Myers’ most recent books include Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practice of Transformational Development and Working with the Poor: New Insights and Learnings from Development Practitioners.
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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…
Dr. Brian Fikkert is Associate Professor of Economics and the founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College.
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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 Kingdom of God.
In this episode…
Learn more about Community-2-Community partnerships – long-term relationships between American churches and communities in the developing world.
Alisa Schmitz is Senior Director of Global Engagement at Food for the Hungry.
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This episode is the second in a series called “Laying the Foundation,” an update on the introductory episodes of Poverty Unlocked.
“’I just brought you the kingdom of God, and it’s a size 7 pair of shoes. But don’t thank me! Thank God…’ Does that strike anybody else as a pretty shallow kingdom?”
There is a difference between converts and disciples. Missional living is connected to wholistic ministry, but we need to make one step beyond living missionally. We discuss handing out food and shoes, and how to share Christ without undermining our message.
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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 charging a small amount rather than offering a handout, and Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda. Andrew and Cameron ask, “When was the last time you thought about Bangladesh?”
E-mail Cameron to learn more about shipping costs.
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This episode is the first in a series called “Laying the Foundation,” an update on the introductory episodes of Poverty Unlocked.
Poverty started in Genesis. It was solved by the Christ’s work on our behalf. Because of Christ’s work, poverty can be overcome today, and it will be completely solved when God brings about a new heaven and earth. Understanding the Biblical story of poverty helps us to understand how Christians should respond to injustice and worldwide needs.
Read Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers to learn more about these foundational concepts.
Contact Wendy to request the new Poverty Unlocked 4-week curriculum for small groups and Sunday School classes.
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People who live in poverty are experts on how to get through tough economic times. Here are some tips learned from people who live on less than two dollars a day.
Mentioned in this episode: Rooftop and Urban Gardening, a resource from ECHO
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Three brothers – Jeremy, Justin and Jordan Willet – make up the band Willet. In this interview, Jeremy Willet shares the heart of the band, his experiences in Ethiopia, and how Christians can make a difference in the fight against poverty–no matter what their profession. Jeremy invites you to e-mail him with your comments.
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One billion people worldwide are overweight or obese, while another billion are hungry. Alisa Keeton shares her thoughts on one link between obesity and poverty.
Alisa Keeton is the creator of Weigh Less to Feed More. She credits Bryant Myers’ Walking with the Poor for shaping her discussion of poverty.
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Isaiah prophesied of a Messiah who would rescue the poor. At Christmas, we celebrate this Messiah… or do we?
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Two billion people worldwide are affected by parasitic worms. These worms keep children’s bodies from absorbing the nutrients they need from the food they consume, affecting physical and intellectual development. In this interview, Karen Neiswender discusses the combination of interventions needed for children infected by worms: treatment, education and prevention.
Karen Neiswender provides technical support and training in the area of health to Food for the Hungry’s Child Development Program staff. She develops health education curricula for FH staff to use with school age children. Karen also collaborates with a Health Ministry Services Team to provide necessary support to other FH health programs. Previously, Karen served as a Hunger Corps missionary for over four years in Guatemala, working with children and their families at the community level. Karen’s professional background is in nursing and public health, focusing on maternal and child health.
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The story of how one missionary’s theology was forever changed by a grocery store in Africa. In this humorous and insightful story, Dwight Jackson describes how he came to embrace holistic ministry.
Dr. Dwight Jackson works for Food for the Hungry as Country Director in Rwanda and Burundi and Regional Director of the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
If you would like a special version of this story to share during a sermon or lesson, e-mail us.
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The story of how one missionary’s theology was forever changed by a grocery store in Africa.
Long:
In this humorous and insightful story, Dwight Jackson describes how he came to embrace holistic ministry.
Dr. Dwight Jackson works for Food for the Hungry as Country Director in Rwanda and Burundi and Regional Director of the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
If you would like a special version of this story to share during a sermon or lesson, e-mail us at povertyunlocked@fh.org.
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Subscribe in iTunes.
