• FROM THE DIRECTOR: What’s Right with You?
   • Doing Short-Term Missions Without Doing Long-Term Harm
   • A Penny Saved is a Penny Matched
   • Can Anything Good Come Out of Bunyoro-Kitara?
   • Key Links and Announcements

Your church wants to minister to an individual poor person or to a low-income community. Stop and think: What is the first thing you should do to determine the best way to begin your ministry?

Most of us would probably start by trying to ascertain what is wrong with the individual or community. We might conduct a “needs assessment” by using an interview or survey to determine the best way to provide assistance. Although this “needs-based” approach has merit, it amounts to starting a relationship with low-income people by asking them, “What is wrong with you? How can I fix you?” Given the nature of most poverty, it is difficult to imagine more harmful questions to both low-income people and to ourselves! Let me explain.
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Given the explosion of Short-Terms Missions (STM) trips to minister to those in low-income communities, it would appear that STM is the most effective way to minister to poor people. Right? Wrong! In fact, most STM trips violate basic principles of effective poverty-alleviation and have the potential to do considerable harm both to low-income people and to ourselves. However, by being cognizant of these principles and more intentional about our actions, the downsides of STMs can be reduced and there can be greater hope of long-term benefit for all involved.
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Veralisa was struggling to get off welfare and support herself and her two children by making jewelry, but the harsh chemicals involved were taking a toll. Her income for the year totaled less than $6,000, and then she learned she had cancer. At this low point the Texas Workforce Commission told her about a faith-based organization called Covenant Community Capital that helps low-income working families escape the cycle of poverty by building personal finance skills and acquiring assets that grow in value over time.
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“Words cannot express what this [savings and credit] group has meant to me and my family. I am just so thankful to God for what the group has done.” As she uttered these words, a warm smile cut across Elizabeth’s serious and determined face. Elizabeth has reason to be serious. Living in rural western Uganda, Elizabeth, her husband, and four children face the daunting challenges that characterize this region including low incomes, high rates of infant mortality, child sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, and illiteracy… Read Full Article »

  • Watch the video of Dr. Fikkert’s Africa visit

  • Course and training links:
      — Course descriptions
      — Distance learning course schedule and registration
      — New Course: "Principles and Practices of Econ. Development Ministry"
          (U.S. and Canada)

 • Back issues of the Mandate e-Newsletter sent in 2007:
      — Issue #1: January/February
      — Issue #2: June/July
      — Issue #3: December

 • Support the work of the Chalmers Center:

Pray	- Pray for the work of the Chalmers Center
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