Redemptive Compassion - The Defining Difference

by Lois M. Tupyi

Redemptive Compassion is a six-week study guide offering a Biblical perspective on how the Church is called to help people in need. Thirty different concepts explore how God has called us to love and serve our neighbors.

Working with people in need is one of the greatest challenges before the Church. If you find the following questions unsettling, the Redemptive Compassion study guide is for you.

- Why do so many of the commonly-used methods seem so ineffective in reducing or alleviating ongoing need?

-Why have good intentions to help others produced such devastating results?

-Is the crippling lifestyle in which thousands of individuals find themselves trapped all that God desires for them?

Now is the time to change how we address need – together we can make a Defining Difference.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Debbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for a class I was taking with LoveINC. The book is lacking in practice methods to help. She gives lots of examples of problems but not very much concrete advice on how to actually go about helping people. She mostly asks the reader to provide this information - which is why I'm taking the class. I don't have the answers and I'm not a social worker. The class itself was much better than the book. I am also uncomfortable with using Scripture out of context as a hammer to make a point. But, the overall message that helping people to see their worth, to help lift them out of their generational poverty or abusive relationships is a good message. The author knows its is not an easy task and I appreciate her trying to address this problem.

[Mandi Grasmeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super conflicted on these concepts. Yes, everyone has value, relationships are key, everyone has potential, we can all play a part in this world, we have to use discernment and be wise and we have the opportunity to transform. But who am I to deem what the "other" must do in order to receive my "help"? I understand not just donating to get it over with and feel good about yourself, but I think there are times in life when giving a handout is very necessary. Perhaps even such a time as now (amidst COVID-19), when you could not have possibly prepared for our predicted what was going to come. It's not a time for trying to discern how people can contribute in order to receive what you have to give. It's a time for survival. I will give what I have and trust that you will give what you have. I don't need to refrain from giving because of the chance that you will refrain. May what I have to offer inspire you to give what you have to offer. And if it doesn't, I hope you remember that I offered...

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous book and coming from somebody who is a practitioner, not just a theorist. Our whole staff (a Christian social service ministry) read this book together slowly and unpacked its ramifications over time. It was transformative and goes along nicely with "When Helping Hurts" and "Toxic Charity."

[John Mcgowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book challenges you to better understand the "help" we seek to provide to those in need. It is a fabulous six week study that improves with each page. You will be challenged to understand your motivation for helping and see what He is calling us to do.