"When Helping Hurts" combines sound theology, solid research, foundational principles, and proven strategies that prepare you for Christian transformational ministry among the poor, whether in the local community or abroad.
Good Intentions Are Not Enough
Churches and individual Christians often have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty — assumptions that many times lead to ministry strategies that do considerable harm to poor people as well as to themselves. "When Helping Hurts" addresses these assumptions and offers several principles and strategies for poverty alleviation, including:
the distinction between relief, rehabilitation, and development
the difference between asset-based and needs-based strategies
the advantages of participatory over blueprint approaches
Well Received
Released by Moody Publishers in July of 2009, the book is in the fifth printing. It has been well received and endorsed by a number of church, ministry, and missions leaders. Read the
endorsements, reader comments, and media and blogger reviews.
Intended Audience
Pastors, deacon boards, mercy ministry teams, home and foreign missions committees, missionaries, and donors will all benefit from reading "When Helping Hurts." It is also appropriate for an individual or for a group such as a Sunday school class, a ministry team, and a small group Bible study.
This is a must read book for those ministering to the poor!
Learn More»
Chalmers Mailing List — Sign up to receive the Chalmers Center e-newsletter and e-mails notices and announcements.
The Hole in Our Gospel — The website for this book by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision US, lists "When Helping Hurts" as a suggested reading.
June "When Helping Hurts" Events
June 15th — Brian Fikkert will be the speaker at a World Relief conference held in Chicago.
June 30th — Brian Fikkert will give a seminar at the Presbyterian Church in America's (PCA) annual General Assembly that will be held this year in Nashville, TN.
August "When Helping Hurts" Events
August 19-22 — Brian Fikkert will speak at the MTW "Missions in Business" Weekend at the Billy Graham Conference Center in Asheville, NC.
Awards and Recognition
"Resource of the Year" Award — Identified by Outreach Magazine as a "Resource of the Year (2009)" in the compassion category (February 19, 2010). Outreach Award
Top Ten Books for 2009 — Included by blogger Kevin DeYoung in his top ten favorite books for 2009. Kevin's Review
Sales Ranking
Amazon.com — A current Amazon bestseller, consistently ranked in the top 1,000 books currently listed, reaching #386 on April 14th. Recently ranked #1 in current sales in the Poverty category and #12 in current sales in the Christian Living category.
ChristianAudio.com — Recently ranked among the top 100 items currently listed.
Reader Reviews
Amazon.com — Average review of "Five
Stars" (as of 3/29/2010). Reviews
ChristianAudio.com — Average review of "Four Stars" (as of 3/29/2010). Reviews
ChristianBook.com — Average review of "Four and a Half Stars" (as of 3/26/2010). Reviews.
GoodReads.com — Average review of 4.17 out of 5.00 (as of 3/29/2010). Reviews.
Featured Author Interviews
Moody Radio: Chris Fabry Live! — Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert were interviewed on March 26th by Chris Fabry. The radio program is aired nationwide. Listen or Download.
NPR: Talk of the Nation — On February 15th, Steve Corbett was interviewed on “Talk of the Nation,” NPR's nationally aired mid-day news program hosted by Neal Conan. The interview focused on providing aid in light of the Haiti crisis: specifically how to provide culturally appropriate aid to communities abroad rather than paternalism. Listen to the interview.
