Book Recommendation-When Helping Hurts

Anyone who is working in development, working with poverty, or supporting people in ministry to the poor should read this book. At the ECHO conference with 260 delegates working around the world-I was not the only person to advise folks that this book is a must read.

When Helping Hurts. How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor ...and yourself.

Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert Moody Publishers. ISBN-13 978-0-8024-5705-9

It is not enough to want to help. In medical school one of the first 'rules' one hears: "Do no harm" and unfortunately many folks unintentionally are adding to the problems and making things worse by 'helping' incorrectly.

But many folks trying to help are just making matters worse and wasting limited resources.

With more than 10,ooo none for profit organizations working in Haiti [and the number is growing rapidly] this problem is HUGE.

Amy L. Sherman "Although this book will make many readers uncomfortable, it quickly offers hope in the form of understandable, feasible new strategies that better grasp the dignity and promise of the materially poor. It deserves a #1 spot on the reading list of every Christian who wants to follow Jesus in a genuine, mutually transforming love of neighbor."

Joel Belz, founder and writer, World Magazine "When Helping Hurts wonderfully combines heavy-duty thinking with practical tools. I appreciate their zeal to root all strategies in the institution God has ordained to bring about His goals. No donor should invest another dollar in any kind of relief effort before digesting that last page of this important book."

Stephan J. Baumann, senior vice president, World Relief "A clarion call to rethink how we apply the gospel to a broke world. This book will transform our good intentions into genuine, lasting change."