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Posts in “Theology of Poverty Alleviation”
A Long Walk in the Same Direction
Adapted from A Field Guide to Becoming Whole, 107-112. When followers of Jesus describe our relationship with God, we often use the language of a “walk with God” or “Christian walk.” That’s because spiritual growth is not a sudden jolt into greater maturity. Instead, it’s the patient outworking of the Spirit of God in our…
Prayer and Poverty Alleviation—Part 2
Jesus Christ is the only one who can enable true poverty alleviation. Among the many implications of this truth is that we should be praying—a lot!
Prayer and Poverty Alleviation—Part 1
As we go forth to work in Christ’s kingdom, we must recognize that because Jesus is King, His story of change, not the deceptive stories of false gods, is the only one that actually works in His realm.
Audio: Brian Fikkert Plenary Talk at ETS
On November 18, 2021, the Chalmers Center’s Founder and President Brian Fikkert was invited to deliver a plenary address at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Fort Worth, Texas. His talk was recorded and is now made available here.
Watch Now: Improvising the Kingdom
Chalmers’ Founder and President Brian Fikkert and Director of Innovation Tabitha Kapic hosted a conversation on February 16 around how to apply a biblical framework for poverty alleviation to improvise God’s kingdom and foster real change in your community. — Want to learn more? Unleash your church or nonprofit to create a new or…
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.
Why Bother with the Local Church?
Your local church is a place where God dwells with His people in a special way. Is your church welcoming people who are poor back into the dwelling place of God?
Video: Participation *Is* Development
Getting everyone involved in a ministry initiative isn’t just a means to sustainability, but the heart of healthy, transformational development. Researchers and practitioners have found that meaningful inclusion of materially poor people in the selection, design, implementation, and evaluation of any poverty alleviation effort increases the likelihood of its success. Unfortunately, we often pursue approaches…
Overcoming Poverty: Keys to Flourishing
A few years ago, at a restaurant near Dallas, Texas, a young cashier with Down Syndrome told a customer, “I love my job! It’s who I am!” He enjoyed greeting and seating people, balancing the register at the end of his shift, and seeing people smile as they noshed on their signature sandwiches. This simple…
The Church, the Parachurch, and Poverty Alleviation
One way that the church’s responsibility to care for the poor is carried out in complex modern societies is through a wide range of parachurch ministries. While the parachurch should never undertake tasks that are exclusively given to the church, there is much that these ministries can do very effectively to care for the materially poor.
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?
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 Beautiful Community of the Church
The impact of racial hierarchy, privilege, and class in society has a substantial impact on the way people interact with one another and value themselves. The church is not immune to this dynamic. You don’t overcome the dignity dynamic simply by believing in Jesus together. However, there is joy in the pursuit as we toast to the truth of the beautiful diverse community that God desires to create.
Waging Spiritual Warfare on Racial Injustice
Scripture has plenty to say about the ways Satan and his legions are actively involved in the affairs of this world, but we often ignore spiritual warfare. Every physical problem in this world is also spiritual in nature—and racism is no exception. How can churches address the spiritual roots of racial injustice?
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