The Wealth of the Poor: How Valuing Every Neighbor Restores Hope in Our Cities

by Larry M. James

A compelling memoir by an urban minister and community development practitioner with more than thirty years of experience in the field. Larry James appeared to be exactly where he was supposed to be--ministering with a large, suburban Dallas church. Then came the intriguing invitation to move his ministry to inner city Dallas among some of the ''poorest'' people in the community. Encouraged by his wife, Brenda, to follow the truth he had so often shared as a pastor, Larry accepted. As the new director of a food pantry, Larry was quickly overwhelmed, and one day when trying to communicate with Spanish-speaking families, he asked a woman named Josefina to help translate. She had come for assistance, but Josefina ended up helping Larry that day, and the next. She came back the next day for nine years. Since that day Josefina began helping two decades ago, Larry has been asking neighbors to help solve their own problems, and this new way of serving side by side has transformed a small food pantry into one of the largest non-profit food distributors in the world. With a budget of fourteen million dollars annually, the organization--now called CitySquare--also develops housing for the formerly homeless and manages health clinics and community medical outreach in economically depressed and under-served places like East and South Dallas. This is an organizational success story you expect to see in the Wall Street Journal, and yet it is like no other. The author's own journey provides the platform from which he provides a practical, theological, market-savvy manual written for others who find themselves living, serving, and investing in the work of urban transformation. Using the foundation of Jesus' teaching and love for the poor, the book shows practical and visionary ways Christ's teaching can be made real.

Genres: Poverty, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Church

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larry James works with City Square (formerly Central Dallas Ministries). This book describes the organization, what it does, how it operates. It also offers very practical advice on the poor and how best to engage them. I'd make this a must read for anybody involved in any kind of social work. The book works through the four pillars of the organization - hunger, health, housing, hope - along with other ingredients for nurturing hope - justice, community, stewardship, faith. Each chapter describes part of the organization, gives a principle, and then advice on how to do it. The principles:

1. Re-neighboring is fundamental to renewal (it helps if you live there)
2. With opportunity and resources, people can solve their own problems
3. Communities have adequate assets to initiate renewal
4. People don't need me as much as I think they do
5. Dare to dream
6. Racial reconciliation is a prerequisite for genuine community renewal
7. Partner or die
8. Communities must own change
9. Community institutions must be revived
10. Hope boils down to people

[Rendi Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have heard Larry James speak and am acquainted with the ministry of CitySquare in Dallas, so it was very enlightening to read his book. The narrative about the founding of the ministry and its many changes over the years is interspersed with personal stories of men and women he has encountered - these stories are very special glimpses into the life of the urban "poor." I appreciate the way he debunks many of the myths of poverty and the "neighbor" approach they have taken in their work. There are also insights into what it takes to change the public policies that perpetuate poverty. I don't agree with everything, but I was certainly challenged to think differently. I would highly recommend.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you care about helping folks in poverty, this is a must read, straight from the pen of Larry James of Dallas, who has done wonders offering people respect, help, and focus, whether they are rich and need to give or poor and need to give.

[Elizabeth Sargeant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have to rush through it for a class assignment. Then again I probably wouldn’t have read it if not. It is a very eye opening message about “the poor” and homeless. I believe my perspective has changed for the better because of it. If I go into a career in community nutrition I think this book will have some play into that. I would definitely recommended this book for some self-evaluation on how we should treat our neighbors as Christians.

[Margie B’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much packed into this book. If you are interested in how to change the world one community at a time, this is the answer to fighting poverty, building self esteem in every individual, and giving every soul purpose.

[Laura Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope!

I love the anecdotes. They were very inspiring. I hope this continues to be successful. This idea of reciprocity rather than charity makes really good sense.

[Dana]

Tremendous thoughts and practices for everyone who cares about people of all walks of life.
Writing is a little repetitive but worth the read.

[Ben Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my views on politics, justice, and how to love my neighbors. Thank you to this community!

[Kayla Hewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the overall message of this book, but I found the execution lacking. The author has some very good insights about what works and doesn't work in building relationships with and providing services for "the poor." I particularly appreciated his sometimes pointed observations about how misguided many church "service projects" are. However, the book would have benefited from an experienced editor. Many sections had a lot of unnecessary detail, and the thematic arrangement of chapters did not always make sense. It felt like somewhat of a slog to get through.

[Greg Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I helped to write, but it's thoroughly the work of Larry M. James, who lives what he writes: about justice and love for all people, mostly those Jesus and people like Larry notice: the poor and heartbroken. But Larry doesn't stop there. As the title suggests, the poor have a wealth of knowledge, capital, energy, vitality, ideas, and hope to give to communities, if only they and others could realize the added wealth of people around them.

[Rachel Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was everything I hoped it would be. It addressed the issues surrounding poverty, most particularly the mindset some people take toward it, in both a scholarly and accessible way.