When Helping Works: Alleviating Fear and Pain in Global Missions

by Michael Bamwesigye Badriaki, Randy Woodley (Foreword)

Today, people from various parts of the world who are interested in helping fellow human beings impacted by famine, epidemics, wars, and poverty are uniquely positioned. They are interconnected due to globalization's impact, which also has implications for intercultural work and global missions. The ability to help people is a constructive asset, which calls for the need to build friendships and partnerships across the globe. Helping well depends on a number of factors, yet this book looks into the impact of stereotype threat and its effects on intercultural identities, the perceptions of others, and performance in intercultural missions. Human interactions continue to suffer due to fears, anxious reactions about confirming negative stereotypes about a person's identity, abilities, and effectiveness in global missions. Stereotype threat happens when caricatures and negative understandings about people's identities are invoked. "Although When Helping Works addresses stereotype threats between America and Uganda, application will also be useful on a grassroots level. The American city has become reflective of global demography and mission workers must understand and appreciate those who live among them [in order] to be effective. Through the ethics of love and care, Badriaki insightfully presents practices that heal these cultural misunderstandings, thus promoting relational solidarity. It is a must-read for anyone who wishes to embrace the complexities of cross-cultural mission, both abroad and at home." --Deborah Loyd, author of Your Vocational Credo "With over twenty years of experience working in Africa, Asia, the UK, Haiti, and America, Michael Badriaki knows how to go deep into the areas vexing our own souls and consciences with a gentleness that perhaps only a person who has participated in both sides of Christian mission and international development work could accomplish." --Randy Woodley, from the foreword Michael Bamwesigye Badriaki is founding member and president of Global Leadership Community. He consults with various groups on intercultural partnerships and has taught at George Fox University. Michael is passionate about access to education and so he continues to guest teach and partner with various groups in the US to provide quality education to children in Uganda.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2017

Reviews

[Matthew C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Badriaki provides great insight for Westerners into the hearts and minds of non-Western Christians who feel that current Christian poverty alleviation efforts often fall short and repeat sins of past generations. This book is a critical must-read for those who care about helping and sharing resources in a manner that emphasizes Biblical relationship between Christians and minimizes the disparity in resources and cultural/racial perspectives that so often divide. I highly recommend the book!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful critique of When Helping Hurts. At times I found it a bit heavy-handed, but it offers an important pushback against a blind spot in the When Helping Hurts framework that I’ve often noticed myself. I would recommend reading it alongside When Helping Hurts for a more balanced perspective.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent things to say, and very relevant to current racial tension in the USA. Good information for mission groups or individuals to understand dynamics of entering another cultural setting.