Stories are powerful. The stories we believe—whether true or false—shape our entire lives, telling us who we are, who we were, and who we are becoming.

Unfortunately, several common but misguided stories of change are shaping our lives, including our approaches to poverty alleviation. Our poverty alleviation efforts often do harm because we have unknowingly and unconsciously—yet deeply and destructively—absorbed misguided stories of change from our culture. 

The story of change we need is one of restored relationships. Humans flourish when they live in restored relationships with God, self, others, and creation. The only way to achieve this kind of restoration is the gospel. That’s why the gospel must be fully integrated into all parts of a poverty alleviation ministry.