|
Five years after publishing their watershed book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself, co-authors Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert have now applied these principles directly to the field of short-term missions in
Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions: Leader’s Guide. The authors explore the glaring woes of the multi-billion dollar STM industry that can “unintentionally harm materially poor communities and the ministries that work in them,” as well as cultural misunderstandings that arise
due to the different ways in which Westerners and those they seek to serve approach the concept of time, degrees of directness in personal interactions, or the role of self within communities. This excellent guide presents STM leaders with training materials to help better prepare their teams to serve in impoverished areas, as well as suggestions for post-trip reflections. It includes a “Participant’s Guide,” which is also sold separately. It provides access to a number of online videos that feature instruction, vignettes, and interviews with organizations that have successfully applied the When Helping Hurts
principles. I highly commend this book as a helpful tool to anyone considering STM service in the OPC, particularly if it will involve ministry to the poor! Click below for additional STM Resources:
|
