If You Really Want to Help: Redefining the war on poverty

by Kurt Kandler, Peter Greer (Other Contributor)

If you Really Want to Help provides a freshly innovative approach to eradicating poverty and global missions. Everyone wants to see extreme poverty alleviated, but too often well-meaning Westerners believe that good intentions and their carefully crafted solutions are sufficient. But poverty is more than just a material issue, and the poor are more than a set of problems to be solved. Any effort from outsiders will ultimately fail without a comprehensive shift in how people think and an understanding that we must do with, not for, the poor. If You Really Want to Help lays out a fresh blueprint and proves that people really can lift themselves out of poverty if they are allowed to take the lead.

271 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Americans are known for mission trips where we sweep into a poor region thinking we know what the people need. And, we give, without getting to know the locals and their true struggles. A quote I love from the book says it perfectly, “When are we going to stop disempowering people for the sake of some ‘transformational’ mission experience for Americans.” Kurt illustrates how this can actually harm the very people we think we are helping.
Kurt built his organization on the belief that to really help you must first form a relationship with the local community. Kurt does need to see the poor as victims, “Any view that the poor are victims or incapable of helping themselves prevents us from empowering them and preserves the false notion that they must continually look to outsiders to pull themselves out of their circumstances.”
Kurt has found a way to truly help by empowering the poor. And, Kurt does it by first teaching about Jesus and his love for his neighbor. Quoting C.S. Lewis, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”
Kurt doesn’t sweep in to save the day. Because he realizes that doing so does just that: saves one day. Kurt’s mission is a long-term solution to empowering the poor to change their circumstances.
Highly recommend this book.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of meeting Kurt Kandler and serving on a 410 Bridge Mission team. This book tells the genesis of The 410 Bridge with all the bumps along the way of learning the very best practices of alleviating poverty through empowerment. Anyone interested (particularly Western people) in truly helping the poor should read this book and learn how walking alongside the community in relationship is powerful, successful, and leads the community to self sustainability. This is a must read for every organization that has a missions department.
I’d also recommend “Toxic Charity.”

[Jane Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really want to help the poor, read this book. Your Western philosophy will be challenged. “In building this bridge, he and his team have built a foundation that can change the future of global poor, one community at a time.”

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

Kurt Kandler writes an interesting book about global poverty in If You Really Want to Help - Redefining the War on Poverty. This book gives a lot of information about how people perceive poverty, and may not want to admit that it is a global issue, from third world countries to a country such as the United States or Canada. Kandler brings his readers on a journey through different communities and sets out a challenging path in a way that people can change and fight the enemy that is poverty. He came up with ways, even small ways, that the average person could do in their community to help combat poverty. From homeless, to those living in huts in small communities that don't have a lot of food or a wager earner, to those living in cheap or government homes, and receive (never enough) government benefits, if they live in a country that provides them. It's an interesting read, and if you're looking to help others, it's a must read. If You Really Want to Help - Redefining the War on Poverty is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book to also write a review.

[Happy Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘If You Really Want to Help’ is a non-fiction book written with the purpose of providing the secret to helping communities to be lifted from poverty.

The author emphasizes the fact that money does not necessarily help the poor, and even if you have good intentions, you may not be helping in the end. There is a certain understanding needed to solve poverty, and he demonstrates this in his book. The work is written well and is easy to understand. The concept and premise are laid out in an educational and informative way. The added religions and spiritual nature of the elements added to his purpose were much appreciated.

If you really wish to help the poor in the world in an effective and long-lasting way, then this book is for you. The lasting impact of changing people’s lives is what you read here.

I recommend this book to those who wish to make a real change in the world.

[Christina Gerecke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, thought-provoking, brilliant, inspiring and one of a kind book that reframes your mindset on charity in a fundamentally important way. The in-depth communication and strategy behind the transformative work that 410 Bridge achieves is commendable. Moreover, the counterproductive and toxic western habits of just throwing projects, money or stuff at the problem rather than digging deep and empowering the people to lead is too often duplicating the issue (despite pure intentions).

The eye-opening mindset shifts outlined in this book are very important.

The key messages Kurt explains need to be expressed and explained to ANYONE helping poverty… in order to actually help and not hurt these communities. I couldn’t recommend it more!

[Carey Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical, real life advice on alleviating property.

Kurt does an excellent job of giving readers basic principles on making a difference in fighting poverty in communities globally through his own personal account. This books is a much needed addition to Westerners who have a real desire to help international, those in poverty, but have often done more harm than good by taking the easy road. Kurt offers a more challenging path that is built on relationships and mutual respect that when cared out through a Christian world view can transform lives physically, as well as spiritually.

[Dave Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kurt provides a comprehensive framework, including spiritual, philosophical, and practical advice for moving the needle against poverty. I loved the discussion of principles, followed by moving examples from the folks 410 has helped to drive home the points. I am involved with a similar mission group, and "If You Really Want to Help" is really going to help us in our work.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.
For a very long time, the approach to community development has been more of disempowering as opposed to empowering. This book provides a blueprint on how to address poverty based on a worldview shift.
If you really want to help, start by reading the book.

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. So so good. If you’re interested in humanitarian work of any kind this is a must read. If you support organizations that do this type of work, check to see if they are actually helping more than hurting. Love this.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professional writing and easily digestible ideas. He explained the goals and motivations of his nonprofit so clearly. I feel very prepared for my mission trip.

[Calinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, particularly for religious leaders who deal with missions in the developing world, but also for anyone with a heart for missions. See my full review at:
https://www.compassbookratings.com/if...