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Real Churches, Real Change
Through the Chalmers Center’s Restore: Savings curriculum and our network of trainers and partners, thousands of local churches in the Majority World have been equipped to launch savings groups. In church after church, we’ve seen God take the mustard seeds of people’s savings and grow them into a harvest of hope in the midst of deep poverty.
Local Churches, Local Resources, Lasting Change
Microfinance can be a powerful tool for helping people escape extreme poverty. When we shift our thinking, it can be even more powerful. How can we make the most of the opportunities microfinance provides?
Walking Well with Churches in the Majority World
In God’s grand story, churches in the Majority World of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, have a critical role to play. How can we walk together in ways that enhance the dignity of materially poor churches—and the individuals and communities they serve?
Helping Without Hurting in Africa Digital Book Launch
We recently hosted a live webinar to celebrate the launch of our latest resource, Helping Without Hurting in Africa. Watch a recording of the webinar here!
Building Community on Tiny Screens?
“Are you going to adapt the 12-week Faith & Finances class into a virtual format that we can offer our participants?” In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Chalmers staff have been asked this question a number of times over the past few months. Man, we get it. We’ve all had to scramble to pivot…
A Lament
We lament for the brokenness on display in our country and pray with longing for the all-encompassing shalom that comes only through our Lord Jesus Christ. We offer this prayer and invite you to pray with us.
What Does the Lord’s Supper Have to Do with Poverty Alleviation?
What does this sacrament have to do with caring for the materially poor and helping them to overcome the causes of poverty in their lives? How does a simple worship service impact the reality that suffering people experience here and now?
Doing All Things Well
The right approaches to poverty alleviation are not quick fixes, but often decades-long processes that you can’t control. That’s why it’s so important to focus on being formed into people who can walk the long road of mutual transformation by the power of Christ.
The Incarnation and Poverty Alleviation
Poverty is complex and multi-faceted. Individual sin, systemic oppression, and even demonic forces can all contribute to poverty. Indeed, the problems are so large that only God can solve them, not a distant God but an incarnate God. The only solution to poverty once lay in a manger.
What Are People For?
If we are serious about our efforts to address the root causes of material poverty and see real change in the lives of people in our communities and around the world, there is a key question that we often fail to ask first. What are people for?
Finding Hope in God’s Story
What should churches be doing now to serve the materially poor in their neighborhoods and around the world?
Sewing False Dichotomies Back Together
We often operate under false dichotomies when we think about serving the poor. What are these dichotomies—and how can we think about poverty alleviation in more biblical ways?
The Stories We Tell
At Chalmers, we want to be story-driven whenever possible. What makes a good story? One that reflects God’s story, and demonstrates how Jesus brings lasting change in the life of a person, family, or community.
Why We Do What We Do
If you’ve been following the work of the Chalmers Center for any length of time, you know that we don’t operate in quite the same way as many ministries. Chalmers isn’t an implementing organization that directly helps materially poor people; rather Chalmers equips your church or ministry to help materially poor people more effectively. To…
Partnerships Re-Purpose Space and Re-Ignite Hope
How a long process of transformation brought churches, nonprofits, and even government services together to show the love of Christ in a community.
Relational Ministry in a Virtual World Webinar
Recently, we hosted Relational Ministry in a Virtual World, a free webinar to help churches make the most of virtual tools to keep ministry going during the pandemic.
From Needs to Assets—Shifting the Dynamic of Ministry
When we try to help people, we often start by trying to identify what’s wrong with the low-income individual or community, and then we try to bring in outside resources to fix what’s wrong. What if we started with what’s right with the people and communities we serve?
Disconnected Times Don’t Have to Stop Relational Ministry
How do you do face-to-face ministry when gathering people together could be a threat to their health? During this season, churches and ministries are getting creative with solutions that allow them to continue serving well.