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Congregation worshipping in a church

We Become What We Worship: Why False Stories Hurt Us—And the Poor

Every human is worshiping something—and what we worship shapes our entire lives, including our work with people in poverty. When people encounter our poverty alleviation efforts, what will they find us worshiping?

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Wendell Kimbrough

A Gymnasium for Our Hearts: Singing to Shape Our Love for the Poor

The gathered worship and liturgy of the church is key to our formation as the people of God, but too often, an element is missing. Musician Wendell Kimbrough shares how our worship services can reinforce our understanding of God’s heart for people suffering poverty and injustice.

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Laura Haley and Vicki Conn

Interview: Vicki Conn of Love INC

Chalmers staff member Laura Haley sat down with Vicki Conn, Director of Love INC of Greater Holmes County, to discuss how local churches are transforming lives and communities in the name of Christ.

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Woman looking out over a city

We Need a Better Story

We often build poverty alleviation initiatives that are designed to help poor people pursue the American Dream. But what if all of us—poor and non-poor alike—need a different story?

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Man reading Becoming Whole

Interview: Brian Fikkert on Becoming Whole

Brian Fikkert recently sat down with staff member Laura Haley to discuss the new book he co-authored with Kelly Kapic, Becoming Whole—and how the stories we tell ourselves shape our work with the poor.

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Woman serving a homeless person soup

Why the Kingdom of God Matters if We Want to Help the Poor

The way that we work with people who are poor reflects the stories we tell ourselves about what it means to live the “good life.” If we get the story wrong, our efforts to help the poor can do more harm than good.

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Volunteers distributing disaster relief supplies

Finding Hope After the Hurricane

Pastor Ronnie Garcia wanted to see the gospel flourish in Puerto Rico. But he never imagined that he’d be on the front lines of disaster relief after one of the most catastrophic hurricanes ever to hit U.S. soil.

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Flipcharts from a Faith & Finances class

The Art of Flipcharts

Faith & Finances uses the tangible, customizable flipchart in every lesson. Flipcharts are great because they require no electricity, software updates, or photocopiers. But just because they are intentionally low-tech doesn’t mean that the importance of good flipcharting should be underestimated!

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Participants in a Cost of Poverty Experience

The Cost of Poverty Experience

The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) is a tool that can help move your church or faith-based ministry into a deeper understanding of poverty that facilitates meaningful dialogue and engagement.

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Kwazi smiling

A Shared Vision of God’s Kingdom

We’re joining with strategic partners around the world to develop biblical, innovative approaches to poverty—and to equip more churches than ever before. This year, we’re celebrating our emerging partnership with Tearfund, a UK-based church-equipping organization. Tearfund has mobilized a worldwide network of more than 154,000 local churches in some of the most challenging places on earth….

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Faith & Finances curriculum

Finding New Community Through Faith & Finances

When one Ohio couple called Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC), they asked for help with housing. But what they found was a supportive community. When Elmer and Dawn contacted Love INC of Greater Holmes County, Elmer was recovering from drug addiction, and the couple was working to regain custody of their three children….

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Neighbors eating a meal together

Potluck Community: Re-Imagining the Kingdom

This year, we released a new book resource designed to help churches re-disciple their members around the vision of the Kingdom of God. Written by community development practitioner Michael Rhodes and Chattanooga pastor Robby Holt, Practicing the King’s Economy explores practical ways for Christians to live out the Kingdom of God in their work, church, family, and…

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First Pres in Colorado

Strengthening Local Relationships Through Online Learning

Through online learning, Chalmers is making paradigm-shifting resources more accessible to local churches. Located in the heart of Colorado Springs, First Pres has always served its community and reached out around the world. The church has a 150-year history of local and global outreach, and they’ve often turned to resources like When Helping Hurts or Helping Without Hurting…

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Maurice and Matt at their church

Maurice’s Story: Restoration through the Local Church

Maurice participated in Faith & Finances at North Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he learned practical skills that helped him overcome financial obstacles. Today, Maurice has a new vision for his future and enjoys renewed relationships with friends and family.

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Two men working with power tools

Restoring Work: Jobs Preparedness Training

What areas of your life do you long to see reconciled and made new? It may seem like a strange question. But on a summer day in Memphis, TN, a group of people navigating unemployment wrestled with it in powerful ways. One by one, they each described areas of brokenness in their lives that they…

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Discipleship Meets Financial Education: An Interview with Jerilyn Sanders

Jerilyn Sanders is the Director of US Training at the Chalmers Center. Her work combines two things: her love for God’s people and her passion for education that empowers the disenfranchised. In this role, Sanders and her team created Faith & Finances, a financial education curriculum that allows the church to minister holistically in its…

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Biblical Truth, Lasting Change: Fe y Finanzas

“Antonia, we think of you now when we go in the store and start to buy something. We ask ourselves, ‘Is this a need or a desire?’” In 2013, Antonia Alzate led a field test of Fe y Finanzas, the Spanish-language version of the Chalmers Center’s Faith & Finances program. “I saw the need in…

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Restoration and Hope Behind Bars: Faith & Finances

Twenty-two women sat around tables, casually eating a classic southern lunch of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and peanut butter pie. They laughed together, swapped stories about their families, and shared about their upcoming plans. It could have been a women’s ministry potluck. But they were not in a church fellowship hall. A…

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