A Field Guide to Becoming Whole: Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries

by Brian Fikkert, Kelly M. Kapic

This is not a how-to manual… (it’s a field guide) We all want to know, "How can I help without hurting in this specific situation?" But there’s no one answer, and there’s definitely no short cuts, but there are key principles—or ministry design principles. Think of these like the rules an improvising actor learns—the principles are crucial—but the actor must decide how to put them into practice based on the complexities of the situation. This book contains and explicates 20 ministry design principles developed over decades of observing, studying, and experimenting. They’re in no way perfect, but they represent the very best ideas we have to date for how to do effective poverty alleviation in the kingdom of God.

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

About the author

Brian Fikkert is an Professor of Economics at Covenant College and the Founder and Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. Brian received a Ph.D. in Economics with highest honors from Yale University, and a B.A. in Mathematics from Dordt College. Specializing in Third World Development and International Economics, Brian has been a consultant to the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the United States Agency for International Development. He has published articles in both leading academic and popular journals and has been a contributor to several books. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.

Reviews

[Manny Prieto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great next step after 'Becoming Whole.' Puts more practical meat on the ideas covered in Becoming Whole. I think everyone involved in mercy ministry/poverty alleviation or doing evangelistic work in materially poor contexts should read both this and Becoming Whole. The concepts and practical steps put forth are so helpful and biblically grounded. Books like this can sometimes lean too heavily either toward the theological underpinnings without helping readers understand how to apply OR toward practical solutions without any theological grounding. Fikkert and Kapic weave both into a cohesive whole here that is incredibly useful and challenging.

[Peter Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually read these books backwards. There is the book, Becoming Whole by Brian Finkert and Kelly M. Kapic, followed by their book, A Field Guide to Becoming Whole: Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries. I am reviewing the latter here. At a later time, I will review the former.

In the Field Guide, Finkert and Kapic look at twenty principles for ministry with the goal of poverty alleviation (13).

Thet draw a fascinating distinct between “tradition religion” – in which the participants believe the world is controlled by spiritual forces, “Western Naturalism” – in which the participants believe the material world is basically all there is (24), and “historic Christianity” – in which the participants believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are other perspectives that mix two or more of these perspectives – and extremely popular right now is the mix of Western Naturalism and historic Christianity which morphs into what the authors call “Evangelical Gnosticism” – the believe that we should live the “good life” now and we will enjoy a purely spirit life in Heaven after we die (25),

From there, they discuss the five causes of poverty: false gods, destructive practices, broken systems, broken people, and demonic forces. The twenty principles are divided into these five causes (30).

At the end of each principal, there are questions for discussion. So, this book could be read alone or in a group setting.

The book ends with endnotes – which are always helpful.

I found numerous ideas and passages which could be helpful in addressing the needs of those poverty. However, near the end of the book – where they are addressing things outside of the person that case poverty, they mention “systemic racism” as a problem (163). I was crestfallen.

Do I believe that there are racists? Yes, I do, and they should be called out and stopped from racist action.

Do I believe there are racist systems? Yes, a system like Jim Crow was racist and was rightly done away with and outlawed.

Do I believe that every system in all of the United States is racist? I do not. And that is where the expression “systemic racism” comes down.

I am disappointed the authors put this forward. It taints the whole book, so I cannot recommend it – unless you are willing to filter through it for the helpful things.

[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book as soon as I got an eARC off Netgalley yesterday and it provides a Biblical insight on poverty, with more focus on people and systems. It's amazing that more often than not, we seek to fix what's on the surface and forget that at the core of poverty are people who have aspirations, challenges and like this book phrases it "broken" and need guidance to improve their perception, livelihood and ultimately transition from one status to another.
However, I'll state that I read it in one go and would have more opinions had I taken more time reading this.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a book that summarizes and builds on his earlier works, Fikkert, along with co-author Kapic, fleshes out his theoretical framework with many practical, multi-layered examples. What I especially liked was that they try to avoid cookie-cutter prescriptions for ministries, instead focusing on thought-provoking questions that those involved in poverty alleviation can ask themselves about the work they are doing. This is a book I suspect I will reread and refer to often.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with such practical advice and wisdom looking at the variety of causes of poverty and what it looks like for all of us to become whole. I can't recommend it enough for any type of poverty alleviation ministry. It's challenging in so many different ways.

[Melvin Kauffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very insightful and biblically informed model of poverty alleviation and also relevant to anyone who is mired in the false Western story of material consumption as positive change. I wish I had read this years ago before spending time overseas.

[HCC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chalmers’ materials continue to get more practical and more helpful.

[Hannah Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great breakdown, ideas, and questions!

[Matt Sones · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent companion to Becoming Whole. Be sure to read Becoming Whole first. Having read it a while ago, the field guide was a great refresher.

[Jeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent