Working With the Poor: New Insights and Learnings from Development Practitioners

by Bryant L. Myers (Editor)

How do Christian practitioners express authentically holistic transformational development?This is the challenge to World Vision development practitioners and to all nongovernment organizations concerned about community development that addresses the whole person and the entire community. This dilemma is rooted in the western assumption that the physical and spiritual realms are separate and distinct from one another. Such a dichotomy leads to a belief among practitioners that restoring peoples relationship with God has nothing to do with restoring just political, social and economic relationships among people. Even Christians often believe Gods redemptive work takes place in the spiritual realm, while the world is seemingly left to the devil. But the Bible never separates the physical from the spiritual the rule of God permeates both. In this volume, development practitioners struggle to overcome the problem of dualism and find a way toward a more genuinely holistic approach to helping the poor. Experienced development practitioners reflect on Understanding poverty Participatory learning and action Appreciative inquiry The Bible and transformational development Sustainable economic development Community transformation in the urban context Community development and peacebuildingEveryone wanting to engage in transformational development will find new insights and essential learnings from these handson practitioners.

164 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2006

About the author

Bryant L. Myers is professor of transformational development at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. A lifelong activist dedicated to Christian relief and development work around the world, Myers served as vice president for international program strategy at World Vision International. He resides with his family in Southern California.

Reviews

[Ashley Wiersma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first learned about appreciative inquiry from this book, some ten years ago, and I find its approach the noblest one still.

[Sara]

The second text for my Principles of Development class. This offers various practitioners' perspectives on issues in development. I really liked the global range of the contributors and the even more global range of their experiences. Some of the chapters were a bit short and left me wanting a more flushed-out description of their main point, but it's a good beginning look at several key issues.

[Mark Kaech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more practical then Walking with the Poor. Provides some excellent Case studies

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Not as good as Walking with the Poor, but you can definitely see how that book depends on this one.