When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself

by Steve Corbett

This chapter examines the economic environment facing the poor in the Majority World and suggests three highly strategic ways for churches, missionaries, and ministries to use economic development to impact the lives of the materially poor in the Majority World: (1) Use appropriate forms of MF; (2) Support training in small-business management, household financial stewardship, and related topics; and (3) Pursue “business as missions.” Throughout the discussion, it is important to keep the overall goal in mind: MATERIAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION: Working to reconcile the four foundational relationships so that people can fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.