Comments on: Helping the Poor http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/ Candid Talk from Christian Missionaries Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:52:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: chris http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-1055 chris Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:52:43 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-1055 Hi Ben. I came across your site today and I've enjoyed reading your thoughts. The issues surrounding money and missions are well worth exploring. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to bring up issues that few people want to. Thanks for diving in, and I look forward to future posts. Hi Ben. I came across your site today and I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughts. The issues surrounding money and missions are well worth exploring. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to bring up issues that few people want to. Thanks for diving in, and I look forward to future posts.

]]> By: Ben http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-900 Ben Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:44:52 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-900 It does make sense, Arnau van Wyngaard. And I'm positive you have a lot more experience than I do dealing with all sides of the issue(s). I don't think I've ever thought of poverty in the terms you wrote. Replacing their "lack of dignity" with "luxury items" is probably the start of a seminary thesis. I'll have to think about this. Thanks for posting your blog. It does make sense, Arnau van Wyngaard. And I’m positive you have a lot more experience than I do dealing with all sides of the issue(s). I don’t think I’ve ever thought of poverty in the terms you wrote. Replacing their “lack of dignity” with “luxury items” is probably the start of a seminary thesis. I’ll have to think about this.

Thanks for posting your blog.

]]> By: Arnau van Wyngaard http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-897 Arnau van Wyngaard Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:26:29 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-897 Oops - forgot to mention my blog: http://missionissues.wordpress.com Oops - forgot to mention my blog: http://missionissues.wordpress.com

]]> By: Arnau van Wyngaard http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-896 Arnau van Wyngaard Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:33:35 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-896 I came upon your blog today and found that you touch on a number of issues which are also relevant in my case. I am a missionary in Swaziland (have been for the past nearly 23 years and am also blogging about mission issues A lot of my work is done among the poorest of the poor, mostly among people infected with HIV and AIDS. I think a number of the things you mention is due to Western influence. Our Western influence in the first place compels us to have good returns on our investment. Oh my goodness, how many times have I been asked by people in Western churches "How many people accepted Christ this past year?" when they are pastors in churches which most probably for many years have never seen a single person come to Christ! The same applies when we give something for missions (food, clothes, medicine) - we want to see that it really makes a HUGE difference, otherwise we don't feel it's worthwhile to give. But the Western influence is also seen in many of these poor communities where they believe that, if they could have what the Western people have (usually in their minds they think of Americans, because that is what they mostly see on TV), then they will be happy. And I think that this is the reason why people who are just starting to get out of the poverty spiral seem to be using their money on items which we would regard as luxuries. Just as a matter of interest, I heard someone speaking some time ago on the effects of poverty on communities in Africa and their research indicated that the greatest problem associated with poverty is a lack of dignity. I think this may also explain why money is often used on luxury items and not on things which we would consider as necessary, because these things will help them to regain a sense of dignity. I don't know if this makes sense. I came upon your blog today and found that you touch on a number of issues which are also relevant in my case. I am a missionary in Swaziland (have been for the past nearly 23 years and am also blogging about mission issues
A lot of my work is done among the poorest of the poor, mostly among people infected with HIV and AIDS. I think a number of the things you mention is due to Western influence. Our Western influence in the first place compels us to have good returns on our investment. Oh my goodness, how many times have I been asked by people in Western churches “How many people accepted Christ this past year?” when they are pastors in churches which most probably for many years have never seen a single person come to Christ! The same applies when we give something for missions (food, clothes, medicine) - we want to see that it really makes a HUGE difference, otherwise we don’t feel it’s worthwhile to give.
But the Western influence is also seen in many of these poor communities where they believe that, if they could have what the Western people have (usually in their minds they think of Americans, because that is what they mostly see on TV), then they will be happy. And I think that this is the reason why people who are just starting to get out of the poverty spiral seem to be using their money on items which we would regard as luxuries.
Just as a matter of interest, I heard someone speaking some time ago on the effects of poverty on communities in Africa and their research indicated that the greatest problem associated with poverty is a lack of dignity. I think this may also explain why money is often used on luxury items and not on things which we would consider as necessary, because these things will help them to regain a sense of dignity. I don’t know if this makes sense.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-895 Michelle Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:46:49 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-895 I know what you mean, I have been to Tijuana.....I think if people are trying to portray more wealth than they have, then that's again a different mindset and type of poverty.....That is what I see in what is called, "the middle class" in Ukraine......They have a disposable income spent on superficial things....but I am talking about people with nothing.....like the street kids I work with who really don't have anything.......God has taught me a lot from working with them. I know what you mean, I have been to Tijuana…..I think if people are trying to portray more wealth than they have, then that’s again a different mindset and type of poverty…..That is what I see in what is called, “the middle class” in Ukraine……They have a disposable income spent on superficial things….but I am talking about people with nothing…..like the street kids I work with who really don’t have anything…….God has taught me a lot from working with them.

]]> By: Ben http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-891 Ben Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:03:17 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-891 Cheryl--We're in the middle of the "balk" right now with a similar/different issue. If anything exciting happens, I'll definitely post the results. toddh--I don't know either; which is what I suppose Michelle is getting at... Michelle--Thanks for your comment. A conversation like this gets real difficult real quick b/c wealth is completely relative to time/race/family and whatever else. There are middle class people in the States that if could only change their mindset, would rise to the upper class. But you speak about emotional and spiritual poverty. Those are so much more important than the material. "The poor can teach us who are so blessed materially." This is a tough one for me personally b/c Tijuana is pretty ghetto. It's not "clean poor," or "native/jungle poor." (I'm sure I'm going to get some negative emails off those "titles.") But it's barrio, where people often portray more wealth than they have. They spend/waste money on junk. I suppose the same is true up north where everyone has two car loans. What a joke. I'm sure my perspective would be entirely different if I was in another place... "...the word of God along with...daily bread." Agreed. There has to be a balance. Cheryl–We’re in the middle of the “balk” right now with a similar/different issue. If anything exciting happens, I’ll definitely post the results.

toddh–I don’t know either; which is what I suppose Michelle is getting at…

Michelle–Thanks for your comment. A conversation like this gets real difficult real quick b/c wealth is completely relative to time/race/family and whatever else. There are middle class people in the States that if could only change their mindset, would rise to the upper class. But you speak about emotional and spiritual poverty. Those are so much more important than the material.

“The poor can teach us who are so blessed materially.” This is a tough one for me personally b/c Tijuana is pretty ghetto. It’s not “clean poor,” or “native/jungle poor.” (I’m sure I’m going to get some negative emails off those “titles.”) But it’s barrio, where people often portray more wealth than they have. They spend/waste money on junk. I suppose the same is true up north where everyone has two car loans. What a joke. I’m sure my perspective would be entirely different if I was in another place…

“…the word of God along with…daily bread.” Agreed. There has to be a balance.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-885 Michelle Sun, 22 Jul 2007 13:47:55 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-885 I like your post. It brings up a lot of thoughts and questions about working with poor people. One of the things I learned which is hard to understand is that it's not that they want to be poor, it's just that they have developed a mindset of poorness physically, emotionally and spiritually which makes it hard for them to even begin to imagine that their life could change. This is difficult for us to understand if we have never lived in abject poverty. But it is all the more important that we keep feeding them the word of God along with their daily bread. I think there will always be poor people in the world and that Christians are commanded to help them, not so much because the poor need help, but because the poor can teach us who are so blessed materially. I like your post. It brings up a lot of thoughts and questions about working with poor people. One of the things I learned which is hard to understand is that it’s not that they want to be poor, it’s just that they have developed a mindset of poorness physically, emotionally and spiritually which makes it hard for them to even begin to imagine that their life could change. This is difficult for us to understand if we have never lived in abject poverty. But it is all the more important that we keep feeding them the word of God along with their daily bread. I think there will always be poor people in the world and that Christians are commanded to help them, not so much because the poor need help, but because the poor can teach us who are so blessed materially.

]]> By: toddh http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-877 toddh Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:54:27 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-877 Interesting thoughts. I think some people will just never want anything differently than the way it is for them, but maybe some just don't know that life could actually be different, or even have the access or desire to use resources to help change their lives. I don't know. Interesting thoughts. I think some people will just never want anything differently than the way it is for them, but maybe some just don’t know that life could actually be different, or even have the access or desire to use resources to help change their lives. I don’t know.

]]> By: Cheryl http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-876 Cheryl Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:56:38 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-876 So true, when we reach out to those that are struggling to better themselves and they are the poorest, we are applauded and our chests are full of donations. But, when those same people are getting out of the "poor" category and hit a bump, we can't help them because our contributors will balk. I applaud you for helping those families. Many times, they are in greater need because they have been clawing their way out of the cycle of poverty and are showing their children (the next generation of poor) that it can be done. But, when they hit a major set back, time after time, the children are taught that it is a futile battle and never attempt the climb. Blessings on your ministry in Mexico. So true, when we reach out to those that are struggling to better themselves and they are the poorest, we are applauded and our chests are full of donations. But, when those same people are getting out of the “poor” category and hit a bump, we can’t help them because our contributors will balk. I applaud you for helping those families. Many times, they are in greater need because they have been clawing their way out of the cycle of poverty and are showing their children (the next generation of poor) that it can be done. But, when they hit a major set back, time after time, the children are taught that it is a futile battle and never attempt the climb. Blessings on your ministry in Mexico.

]]> By: Johnny Brooks http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor/#comment-850 Johnny Brooks Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:09:56 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/helping-the-poor#comment-850 Great. We often times do the same type of thing. Like you said does not make for great fund raising stories, but I have to agree it is a great way to spend money. Great. We often times do the same type of thing. Like you said does not make for great fund raising stories, but I have to agree it is a great way to spend money.

]]>