Executive Summary of
Charity Detox
by: Robert D. Lupton
Prepared by:
Excellence in Giving
Excellence in Giving
ExecutiveSummaryof
CharityDetox
WhatCharityWouldLookLikeIfWeCaredAboutResults
RobertD.Lupton
Preparedby:ExcellenceinGiving
CharityDetox
Copyright2015byRobertLupton
AcopyofthisbookcanbepurchasedonAmazon.
ExcellenceinGiving℠isafull-servicephilanthropicadvisoryfirmdesignedtoincreasethe
joyofthehigh-capacitygiverthroughapersonalizedprocessofdiscovery,evaluation,
participation,andcelebration.
ThroughtheExcellenceinGiving℠processclientsareabletogiveconfidentlyand
maximizetheimpactoftheirphilanthropy.Thismodelprovidessuperiorvalueforclients
asExcellenceinGiving℠partnerswiththemtotransformtheburdenofwealthintothejoy
ofgenerosity.
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2
CHAPTERONE
TheBadNewsAboutGoodWorks
Thepremiseofthisbookstatesthatonecanneverreallyhelppeopleoutofpoverty
throughcharity.
TheDoctorWillKillYouNow
Mosteffortsofcharityinpoorcountriesandsocietiesendupmakingthosehelped
poorerorcompletelydependent.Untilgermswerediscoveredascausesfordisease,blood
letting,inordertodrainoutbadbloodwasconsideredtheonlycureforavarietyof
diseases.Resistancetothisnewdiscoverywasrampantandyetitwasthedoctorwhowas
killingthepatientandhedidn’tevenknowit.Toxiccharityissimilarinthatitharmsmore
thanhelpsandthisthoughtismetwithsimilarresistance.
JustFollowingGod’sOrders
Thechurchisoneofthemostchronicoffendersincreatingdependencyoncharity
withitsmanysocialactionprograms.However,itiscrucialtodistinguishbetween,“crisis
andchronicneed”(9).While,criseslikenaturaldisastersneedintervention,oncethe
immediatecrisisisover,charitythenneedstoshiftfocusandconcentrateonrebuilding
livesandnotonmakingdependents,“Thestrategyofcrisisinterventionmustthenshiftto
astrategyofdevelopment”(9).Unfortunately,thisisalongdrawnoutandinvolved
process,forwhichthereareveryfewwhogiveandevenfewerwhovolunteer.
ConvertingtoResultsBasedCharity
Charitableorganizationsarebeginningtorealizethatpovertyalleviationcan
happenonlythroughdevelopmentandnothand-outsandsops.Examplesofsucha
paradigmshiftcanbeseenincenturiesoldGospelRescueMissionandKARM(Knoxville
AreaRescueMission).Thesemissionsmakesureeachresidentintheirshelters
contributesinsomewaytotheoperationofthemission,thereby“earning”theirfreestay.
Themissionalsoprovidesfinancialmanagementclasses,clothesforjobinterviews,etc.
Themeasurementoftheirsuccessliesinnothowmanymealswereserved,ratherhow
manyoftheirresidentswereabletogetbackontheirfeetandlivedrug-free,productive
lives.Themainpremisebehindthisshiftis,“…thateveryonehassomeGod-givencapacity
tohelpbothselfandothers”(15).
MovingthePovertyNeedle
Povertyspawnsdevaluationanderodesself-worthamongotherthings(17).Lack
ofeducation,andthereforejobs,andaseeminglyendlesscycleofpoverty,leadsto
hopelessness,and“povertyofspirit”(17).Waystoalleviatepovertyshouldinclude,
“educationaladvancementandimprovedself-sufficiency”(18).However,totrulytackle
povertyistogetinvolvedineconomicandcommunitydevelopment.(18).Anescapefrom
3
povertywhileitmightbeginwithagoodjob,itcertainlydoesnotendthere.Thereneeds
tobecommunitydevelopmentthatgoeshand-in-handwithanindividual’sescapefrom
poverty—atruemeasureofholistichelp.
CapitalismandtheKingdom
Amongthemanyeconomicsystemsintheworld,capitalismhasitsflawsand
detractors,andeventhoughitisgenerallyseenasself-serving;benevolentcapitalismis
probablythebestfoiltopoverty.Creatingbusinessesthatcangenerateincomeforentire
communitiesinpovertystrickenareascantrulyhelpliftthosecommunitiesoutofthegrip
ofpoverty.ThisisdoneeffectivelybyDylanandAnnaWilkwholaunchedabeautyand
cosmeticcompanyinthePhilippinesbysourcingallnaturalingredientsindigenouslyand
thensellingthoseproductscheaperthanimportstothelocalmarkets.Thecompanyapart
fromofferingjobs,alsotrainspeopleinotherareasofcommerceinordertomaximizethe
profitsofthelocals.
Thismodelofsocialactionthatcreatessustainablejobswillneedamajorshiftin
thewaycharitableinstitutionsfunction.Thechaptersthatfollowwillexplainhowtomake
thisshiftpossible.
4
CHAPTERTWO
PartneringwithBusiness
Aftercountlesshoursofservicetothepooroneofthelessonslearnedisthatwhen
actsofcharityaredoneforpeoplewhotechnicallycanhelpthemselves,moreharmthan
goodisdone.
Onekeycomponentofpovertyalleviationisfindingandkeepingdecentjobs;and
theonlypeoplewhocreatedecentjobsarethebusinesspeople.Freeenterpriseorthe
creationofwealthiskeytoliftingpeopleoutofpovertyandyetcapitalistsareseenas
greedypeoplebythosenot-for-profitorganizations,despitethefactthatthesesame
capitalistsunderwritethenon-profits.
Charity’sBottomLine
Meetingwithbusinessesandnon-profitsthedisparityonhowtheyviewedthegoal
ofmakingprofitsandeconomicdevelopment,becameevident.However,discussionsledto
anagreementthat,“Wealthcreationisthebedrockofeconomicvitalityforany
community…”(30).Itisthereforeimportantforboth“for-profit”and“not-for-profit”tocoexist.
Tradeisthebedrockofanyeconomyandhelpsgeneratewealthaswellasuse
humanabilities,skills,andingenuity.Italsohelpsinmovingpeopletowork.Itisnota
goodideatosubsidizenon-workthroughwelfareandsimilarprograms.Ahealthywealth
generatingandjobcreatingsocietyismoreofarighteouspursuitthanhandingoutsopsto
createunhealthydependencies.
ThePowerofSelf-Interest
BusinessmanBillMalloryandhiswifemovedtoCebu,Philippinestosetup
manufacturingunits.Theyhiredalocalworkforceatfairwages,givingbenefits,etc.and
spurredancillarybusinesses,thatinturnhelpedgrowthatregion.Sowhilegarnering
profitstheyalsodidandcontinuetodoalotofgoodforthesocietywiththeirearnings.
Self-interestthenbecomesahighmotivatorandthatshouldbehighifacommunityhasto
climboutofpoverty.Thisisbestdonethroughsmalltomid-sizebusinessesthatthriveand
helpcreateamiddleclassthatinturnhelpswitheconomicdevelopment.
HowtoThrive,NotJustSurvive
TwosmallcottageindustrytypeofbusinesseswereworkinginNicaraguatocreate
jobsandhelptheeconomy,however,theywerenotreallybeingabletoreachtheirgoalof
povertyalleviation.Themainreasonwasthatthewealthcreatorsweremainlyministers
andnotbusinesspeoplewhounderstoodwhatitmeanstosetupproductionunitsfor
profit.So,inorderforthesemicro-businessestothriveandnotjustsurviveitisimportant
forthoseministeringtoincludewealthcreatorstohelpthemormaybetakeontheworkof
makingthosebusinessventuresviableandprofitable.
InvitingWealthCreatorsinasPartners
5
TheneedofthehouristogiveacalltotheMBA’ssittinginthepewstousetheir
expertiseincreatingbusinessenterprisesthataresuccessfulandprofitablethereby
creatingjobs,andtherippleeffectwillhelpcreateandgrowaviableself-sustaining
economy.
6
CHAPTERTHREE
SocialEntrepreneurs
DavidBornsteinhascoinedthetermsocialentrepreneurs;andtheirinnovative
solutionstosocialproblemssocialenterprise.Hesuggeststhattheyhavestarteda“quiet
globalmovement”thatwillfind“sustainablesolutionstotheworld’sperplexingsocial
problems”(45).Thesearepeoplewhocaninhabitbothprofitandnon-profitworlds.
JohnCoorsofCoorsTek,venturedintoprovidingcheapstovesandelectricitytosubSaharanAfrica.However,itsoonshutitsdoorsasthepeopleweretoopoortoevenpaythe
nominalamountforreplacementofpropanetanksandbatteries.Theonlywayitwould
havesurvivedwouldhavebeenforittobeheavilysubsidedbyAmericancharitymoney.
Coorsdidnotwanttodothatandshutitdown.Themajortake-awayfromthefailed
venturewasthatpeopleneedsustainingjobsthatcanthenhelpthecommunitymovefrom
itssubsistenceexistencetoathrivinglife.
CoorseventuallysetupaninvestmentfundtohelpbusinessesinAfricagrowand
becomeviableinordertoofferjobstotheirownpeople.EachfamilyfromtheUSinvesting
inthisfund,“…makesathree-dimensionalcommitment:relationalcapitalthatleverages
familyconnectionsandreputation,intellectualcapitalthatleveragestheirbusinessand
industryknowledge,andpatientfinancialcapitalthatprovidesthelonger-termfunding…”
(50).
TheMissionofBusiness
Astheworldrecognizesthatonlystableandgrowingeconomiescanmovethe
needleofpoverty,itisalsoimperativethatchurchrecognizesthatwithinitsranksare
successfulwealthcreatorswhocanhelpgrowstableeconomies.Severalvisionary
businessmenhavestartedandrunsuccessfulcompaniesindepressedareasoftheworld,
usingthelocaltalentofthepeople.Thereisamovementtoward“B-Corp”organizations,or
“ethicalbusinesses”thatmarrythebenefitsofnon-profitswiththemoneymakingof“forprofit”businesses,inturnbenefitingeconomic,socialandenvironmentalareasof
depressedsocieties.
ThechurchinAmericacontributes$10billionayeartoreligioustourismwith
short-termmissionscontributingone-thirdofthatamount.However,thismoney,unlike
regulartourismdoesnothelpeconomies.Short-termmissionariesbringbagsoffree
clothes,andshoesfortheneedy.However,mostofthose“free”thingsendupfloodingthe
localmarkettherebyunwittinglyundercuttingthefragilesubsistenceeconomy.Religious
tourismcanhelpsustainalargereconomylikeIsrael,however,inorderforthattohappen
acreativeapproachtomissiontripsshouldbetakenthatwouldhelpgenerateand
undergirdmicrobusinesses.
UsingSocialEnterprisetoBecomeBetterMissionaries
7
Amissiontripwouldhavegreaterimpactifwecouldofferbusinessacumentothe
underdevelopedcommunitywhohavetheresourcesbutdonothavethetrainingorthe
capitalneededtobuildabusiness.“Makingmoneywiththepoor,afterall,isthehighest
formofcharity”(62.)Itwouldbeworthwhileforchurchestolookatputtingtogetheran
“investmenttrip”ratherthanjustamissionstrip.AchurchlikePhoenixCommunityof
Atlantahasbuiltasuccessfulcoffeebusinessthatnotonlygivesjobsandincometothe
farmersinCentralAmerica,italsogeneratesincomeforthechurchandforotherpartner
churches.Itisimperativethatthechurch,“intentionallyengagethebusiness-giftedsaints
inthemission”(65).
8
CHAPTERFOUR
ReturnonInvestment
Theworldaboundswithheart-warmingstoriesofhowcharityhelpedmeetaneed
ofsomeoneattherighttime.Thesestorieswhilenicetolistentoarefewandfarbetween
asitisawellknownfactthatthepooraregettingpoorer.Charityismotivatedbytheway
itmakesthegiverfeeloverandabovewhatthedesiredoutcomesmaybe.
Soup-kitchenstohomelessshelterstoChristmastoydrives,tendto,“offerpity
insteadofopportunity,”astheytendtodevaluetheindividualandthecommunityrather
thanempowerit(68).Thesuccessoftheseprogramsisnotmeasuredintermsofthe
movingofthepovertyneedle(69).BusinessesrecordtheirsuccesswithReturnon
Investment(ROI)calculator.Theideaistoanswerthequestionswhethertheinvestment
madeisprofitableornotandwhattherateofreturnis?(69)Takingthisintothe
charitablework,onewaytomonitorthe“ROIisbymonitoringself-reliance”(69).This
meanstakingunskilledworkersandgivingthemskillsenoughforthemtogetasustainable
job.
AsecondwayofassessingROIischeckingonthequalityoftherelationshipbetween
thegiverandtherecipient.Itshouldinsomewaybeabarteringsortofrelationship.A
relationshipthatismutuallybeneficial(70).
Athirdwayistoseethenumberofconversionsandgrowingchurchattendanceto
thespreadoftheGospelthroughcharity.
Alloftheseandotherassessmentcriteriarequirerelationshipbuildingandtime,
whichnovolunteercancommittoforthelong-haul.Technologycouldbeusedtohelp
keepdataondistributionofgoodsandservicesbypoolingallthedataofallthecharitable
causesinacommunitytogether;butthiscanprovetobeaherculeantask.
Everyonedeepdownarebornwithadesiretobeuseful,andevenifmenialwork
maynotliftsomepeopleoutofmisery,workdoesgiveonedignityandthatshouldbethe
bestROI.
ActivitiesorOutcomes
ReturnonInvestmentcanbemeasuredbywhatismostimportant—activitiesor
outcomes?Askingthepastorofasuccessfulmega-churchthequestion,“…wouldthe
communitymissthechurchifitshutdown?”gotthepastorthinkingofhischurch’simpact
onthecommunity.Theresultofmajorresearch,creativethinkingandplanningtomeet
thegoalsofracialreconciliationandincreasedmembervolunteerismbecamejustanother
seriesofactivitiesthatthechurchwouldinvolveitselfinratherthanlookatitsoutcomes.
DifferentiatingbetweenActivitiesandOutcomes
Themeasurementofoutcomesisveryimportanteventhoughthesearenotas
tangibleincommunityimpactandpovertyalleviation.Outcomemeasurementhelpsin
accountability,inbeingfocused,inmakingplansanddreamspracticalanddoable,andthey
helpincreatingstrategiesofwhatworksandwhatdoesn’t.
9
Someministriesintoughenvironmentslikejuvenilehallsandprisons,ordrug
rehabcenterscallforlong-haulrelationshipsthatmayormaynotreachthedesiredgoals
andinsuchcasesmeasuringoutcomescouldbecomeverydifficult.Yetthoserelationships
andtheeffortsmadeshouldbeconsistentandlongterm.The“ministryofpresence”that
simplymeansbeingagood,engagedneighborinthecommunitycanhaveafargreater
impactthanthousandsofvolunteersdoingcharityasthatthenisthekeydifference
betweenanotherchurchactivityorsomethingthatisameasureableoutcome.
10
CHAPTERFIVE
MeetingMarketDemands
Itisoftenseenthatinthepoorestofpoorsocieties,whenawell-meaningchurch
grouporserviceorganizationprovidesawayoutofsqualidconditions,ormeetsa
perceivedneedlikegivingofablanketwhenthereisnone;thecommunityortheindividual
willusuallygobacktotheirsqualidconditionsorselltheblanket.Thequestionoftenis
askedis,“Whatiswrongwiththem?”Insteadmaybeitstimetolookatwhatiswrongwith
ourownmethods.Itisimportantthentoknowwhatthepoorwantandwhentheywantit,
andnotgivethemthingsonourperceptionoftheirneed.Itisessentiallikeanymarketing
strategistwilltellus,tolistentotheconsumerandmeettheneed.
Wetendtoover-promisetheoutcomesofshort-termmissiontripstoouryoung
people.Itneedstobetoldthatthemissiontrips,especiallyfortheyoutharemoreforthem
thantheonestheyaregoingtoserve.Theyalsoneedtobetoldthathandingoutfreestuff
promotesbegging,butasmissiontouriststheyneedtoactuallyspendmoneyinthat
communityandpayforlodgingandservicesandbuylocalproducts.Theyoungpeople
mustgopreparedbyreadingandlearningaboutthecountryandcommunitytheyaretobe
insertedintoforafewdays.
Marketingofthesemissiontripsneedsintegrityanddonewelltheycanbeasource
oftrainingforfuturefull-timemissionaries.
MisallocationofFunds
Fulltimemissionariesareata“hundred-yearlow”(99).Yetitisinterestingtonote
thatthemissions’budgetsareatthehighesttheyhaveeverbeen.Alargechunkofthis
budgetisspentjustonairfaresforapproximatelytwomillionshort-termmissionaries
everyyear.Unfortunately,thereislittletangiblefruittoshowforallthemoneyspent.
Handingoutfreebiesonlymakesthepoordependentanddoesnothingintermsofpoverty
alleviation.
Ontheotherhand,misappropriationoffunds,differentethicalstandards,andlack
oftrust,oftendiscourageschurchesintheWestfromhandingoverthemoneydirectlyto
theindigenousmissionpartners.However,thiscanbeovercomewitheffective
accountabilitystructures,andtechnologylikeSkypecanhelpkeepandstrengthenthose
long-distancerelationships.
HowtoMeetMarketDemands
Missionspastorsarefacedwithafinebalancingactofcomplyingwiththechurch’s
missionsdirective,whilealsorealizingthatmoreharmthangoodisbeingdonethrough
theseso-calledmissiontrips.Yet,thedemandtoprovide“mission”activities,whilebeing
convincedthatthejobofmissionsistomeetmorecomplex,deeperspiritualneedsisa
problemthatneedstobedealtwithdeftly.Itisimperativeforthemissions’pastortoreeducateandre-toolthemissionscommittee,aswellasthechurchinlightofthecurrent
discussionpresentedinbookslikeToxicCharity.Missionsneedstobeaboutspreadingof
thegospelandpovertyalleviationcouldbeaconduitforthatasitcannotandshouldnotbe
11
theprimaryfocusofamissionspastororaprogram.Changingthenarrativewilltaketime,
butitneedstobedoneanddoneurgently.
12
CHAPTERSIX
ReciprocalExchange
Food
Inafoodcrisislikeafamineornaturaldisasters,starvationbecomesamatteroflife
anddeathforlargenumbersofpeople,atthatpointfreefooddistributionassoonas
possibleiscrucialandnecessary.Hungerontheotherhandisadifferentstoryandneeds
tobedealtwithdifferently.DealingwithhungerintheUnitedStateshastobeona
differentlevelthandealingwithstarvation.TheUShasmanysubsidiesandgovernment
programstohelphunger,sohandingoutfreefoodharmsmorethanhelps.Peoplein
Americamayhave“food-insecurities”butitisnotacrisisassomeorganizationswould
haveusbelieve.Theneedforfoodisabasichumanneedanditslackelicitsaheartresponse;however,inordertohelppeoplebecomefoodsecure,oneneedstohelpinheartchanges.Thisusuallyisnotaresultofdistributingfreefood.Heartchangeshelpaperson
trulydependontheLordforprovisionandnotjustlookoutforoneselfbutothersalso.
ThekingdomofGodismuchmorethanfreefood.
InnovativeModelsofExchange
Everyonelikestogetsomethingforfree,however,timeandtimeagainitisseenthat
themomentsomethingisfreeitsvaluediminishes.Insteadofbecomingasourceofhelp,
freedistributionoffoodandclothesoftendissolvesintochaosandafeedingfrenzy.
“Legitimateexchange,however,isdifferent.…Onepersonhassomethingofvalue
thatisdesiredbyanother.Eachhopestogainfromthedeal.…Whenafairexchangeis
negotiated,bothleavewithafeelingofsatisfaction.That’showthemarketworks”(116).
Withthatasabasis,manynon-profitsandchurchesarecreatingco-opsororganizations
thatgivefoodandotherservicesforahighlysubsidizedpriceandusethegiftsandskillsof
thosesamepeopletoruntheseprograms.HarvestFoodandOutreachCenterinFlorida,
BirchCommunityServicesinPortland,areacoupleofexamplesofthislegitimateexchange.
Forfifty-dollarsamonthandaninvestmentofvolunteerhours,aneedyfamilygetsfood,
clothingandfinancialtraining(119).Everyonehassomethingtooffer,ittakesabitoftime,
effortandinnovationtoengagepeopleinthisway(117-122).
HowtoChangetheProgram?
Tochangewhatthechurcheshavebeendoingfordecadesandtotelltheir
congregationsthattheircharityisharmingmorethanhelpingisanuphilltask.Anypastor
andchurchleaderofintegritywillhavetofacethisissueatsomepoint.Giveaway
programstendtobemoreforthegiverstofeelgoodratherthanforthosewhoarebeing
helped.Inorderforchangetohappen,itwouldbegoodtogetallleaderstoreadbookslike
ToxicCharityandstartdiscussionsonhowchangecanbebroughtabout.Itwillalsobe
helpfultoshowtheleadersorganizationslikeBirchCommunityServicesandthen
encouragesometoattendChristianCommunityDevelopmentAssociation’sannual
conferencethatassistsministriesinempoweringthepoor(126).Finally,itmaybeabetter
13
ideatooverlapthenewwiththeoldandslowlyphasetheoldout.Bythattime,most
stakeholderswillseethevalueofthenewprogramandthechangewillnotbesovolatile.
Theparadigmshiftisfrom“doingforthepoor”to“doingwiththepoor.”The
outcomesofthesewillthenmakeforshiftsinotherareasaswelllikeamajorre-lookat
short-termmissiontrips.
14
CHAPTERSEVEN
TheThreeR’sofCommunityDevelopment
Alleviationofpovertyandcommunitydevelopmenthavevariedprogramsthat
attractavarietyofadvocates,fromincreasingofminimumwagetogovernmentsubsidesof
allkindstovariousotherideas.Educationisoneoftheseideasthatisseenasawayoutof
poverty.Whileitdoespavethewayforindividualstomoveupinlife,itdoesnotdomuch
forcommunitydevelopmentasthosewhoarenoweducatedandfindbetterjobsmove
awayfromthepoorcommunitiestheygrewupin.Inorderthenforcommunitiestobenefit
onthewhole,youngpeoplehavetobegivenavisionthatextendsbeyondthemtothe
wholecommunity.
JohnPerkinsthefounderofChristianCommunityDevelopmentAssociationhas
challengedseveralfamiliestoliveincommunitiesthataredepressed.Hisbeliefisthatjust
beingagood,engagedneighborhasfargreaterimpactthananyformofcharity.Itisfrom
thisthatthethreeR’sofcommunitydevelopmentemerge.
Reneighboring
Livinginpoorneighborhoods,withitslackofresources,perpetuatesthecycleof
poverty,dependency,andisolation.Itisimportanttohavemixed-incomeneighborhoods
asthosebringinideasandcloutasaconduitofchange.Programsdonothelpraisethe
profileofneighborhoods,onlypeoplewholivetherecanchangethem.Insertingnew
middleincomeneighborsintodeterioratingones,infusesthecommunitywithnewlifeand
shouldenergizeittoimproveitsschools,getridofdrugsandcrime.This,however,can
onlyhappenwhentherelocatingneighborsareengagedineveryaspectofthecommunity
life,likeneighborhoodwatches,PTA,communitygovernmentetc.Inorderfora
neighborhoodtoflourishithastohave,“indigenousleaders(remainers),attractfresh
leaders(relocators),anddrawachievers(returners)backtothecommunity”(137).
Whenlifeislivedonadaily-basiswithinaneighborhoodanditissharedona
deeperlevelonadailybasis,itisthenthattransformationhappens.
Reconciliation
Livinginneighborhoodsthatincludeeconomic,cultural,language,andracial
diversitycanbeaconduitofreconciliationandbreakingdownofbarriers.Thisisaplace
weregiveandtakeofideasandalearningfromeachothercanhelpinbuildingofbridges
thatcanchangecommunities.Diverseneighborhoodsthathaveabuy-infromallits
neighborscanalsoactasacorrectiveandhelpriditofitsdangerousandillegalactivities.
Forexample,adrugdealerneighborwasconfrontedjointlybyhisneighborstoshutdown
hisactivitiesbecausetheydidnotwanttheirchildrencaughtinacross-fireifadealwent
bad.Thedrug-dealingstoppedandtheneighborwentontobecomeanactivememberof
theneighborhood.Thisisaverypracticaloutworkingofbeingsaltandlightintheworld.
Redistribution
15
Thebasisofthis“R”isthateveryonehassomethingtoofferandthereforeitisgood
toexchangeratherthangivefree.Livinginaneighborhoodwherepeopleareengagedwith
eachothermakesitpossibleforonetocallontheotherforhelpandassistanceinvarious
ways.Acarmechaniclivingnearbycanhelpwithacarthatwon’tstart,eventhe“hangerson”atacornerstorefrontcanbeofhelpbykeepinganeyeonthegoings-oninthe
community.Livinginmixedneighborhoodscanbeaproblemforsomewhohavelessthan
others.Thistheniswheretruestewardshipandlettinggoofpossessionstakesplace.
Borrowingandlendingispartofthewaythepoorsurviveandinmixedneighborhoodsthis
canbecometrueexchangewherecharitythenbecomesatwo-waystreet.Boththegiver
andtherecipientlearnvaluablelessonsastheyforgerelationships.
PracticingTheThreeRs
ToseethesuccessofreneighboringonehastotakealookattheEastLake
developmentprojectofAtlanta.Aonceeliteneighborhoodlostitsshineandwitha
governmenthousingdevelopmentbuiltwhereagolfcourseusedtobeturnedintoa
notoriouslydangerousneighborhood.TomCousins,arealestatedeveloperwithacreative
plandecidedtorestorethe1920’sgolfcourse,teardownthegovernmenthousing,instead
buildmixedincomeapartmentswherethoseintheprojectswouldbegiventhe
opportunitytoliveinthesubsidizedhousing.Havingtoovercomemanyobstacles,Cousins
managedtorevivetheneighborhoodwithsuchdramaticoutcomesthatthegovernment
toredownallitsotherhousingprojectsandisbuildingmixed-incomeapartmentsinstead.
EastLakewassuccessfulbecauseitfocusedonsixmajorthings,namely—vision,
focus,location,safety,justice,andqualityeducation.ItwasveryimportantforEastLake
visionariestoconvincemiddletohigherincomerelocatorsaboutthesafetyofthe
neighborhood,aswellastoofferqualityeducation.Allthesefactorscontributedinmoving
thepovertyneedleinEastLakeandcreatingahealthyvibrantcommunity.
ImplementingthethreeRsisnoteasy,ittakesvisionariesandfamilies,manyof
whomaremotivatedbyfaithtoliveamongthepeopletheyhopetoserveandmakea
differencefromwithin.
16
CHAPTEREIGHT
GentrificationwithJustice
EDUCATIONANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENT
Everyoneseemstoberepeatingthesamemantraof“education”asawayoutof
poverty.Whileonthesurfacethatseemstobeagoldenticketofsorts,itamountsto
nothingifeconomicdevelopmentofthecommunityisnotconnectedtoit.Povertystricken
neighborhoodstendtohaveinferioreducationandthatinturnperpetuatesthecycleof
poverty.Ontheotherhand,bettereducationcreatesopportunitiesforthestudentsto
ventureouttotheoutsideworld.Theproblemthenisthatthosewholeaveseldomcome
backintothecommunity.LawndaleCommunityChurchinaroughneighborhoodof
Chicagoisanexampleofrootingachurchintheneighborhoodsothatitbecomessuchan
integralpartofthesocialfabricofitscongregation,thateventhoughmanymemberscould
moveouttobetterlocales,theychoosetocomebackandgivebackbyvolunteeringas
counselorsandmentors.Thechurchhascreatedjobs,providedtraining,given
scholarshipsforcollege,amongahostofotherthings,“allthewhileinstillingavisionfor
theircommunitywithinanewgenerationofyouth”(157).
ThestoryofOpportunityNicaraguaisalsoonewhereeconomicdevelopmentand
educationarehelpinginpovertyalleviationlikeneverbefore.Withnaturalresourcesthat
rivalanyothercentralAmericancountryandafledgingtourismindustry,Nicaragualacked
aneducatedtaskforcetofilljobsinboththesesectorsoftourismandagriculture.Thisis
whereOpportunityNicaraguaopenedatechnicalschoolthatgiveshands-ontrainingin
boththesesectorsandisequippingthemforjobsthatwillhelpinthedevelopmentofa
communityandanation.
Education:KeytoPovertyAlleviation
Educationaloneisnotsufficienttofightpoverty;justassocialserviceprograms
alonecannoteradicateit(161).Ittakesaneconomicallyviablecommunitytosupport
educationthroughsustainingjobs.TherecentsadheadlineoftheAtlantaPublicSchool
system’sfocusonimprovingtestscoresatanycostmadeonewonderwhathappenedto
thepublicschoolsysteminthiscountrythatwassosuccessfulandcreatedahighlycreative
andcompetentworkforcethatbuiltthisnation(163)?Therehoweverishopeasthereisa
gentrificationhappeningaswellasayoungergenerationofprofessionalswhoare
embracingdiversity(164).
HowtoGentrifywithJustice
Thereisaresurgenceofderelictneighborhoodsclosertourbancitycentersthese
days.Upscaleapartments,restaurantsandotherculturalcentersareattractingyoung
upwardlymobilepeopletothesere-donespaces.This“gentrification”doesnotnecessarily
movethepovertyneedle;however,ifthisgentrificationisplannedasamixed-income
communityandthepoorarenotphasedoutofthenewdevelopment;thenthiskindof
gentrificationhasapositiveimpact(165).Whenthepoorhaveasayintherevitalizationof
theirneighborhoodtheybenefitfromit.Newaffluentresidentsmeannewbusinesses,
17
restaurants,jobsandschools.Italsogetsthecitytopayattentiontocrumbling
infrastructureandfixit.Everyonebenefitsinthisplannedgentrification.Withanew
reorderingofdemographicsofurbanAmerica,themoreaffluentwhomoveintotheredoneneighborhoods,bringwiththemanacceptanceofdiversityandbettereducation.
Onlyeducationthatleadstojobsistheonethatcantrulyhelpingentrificationaswellas
povertyalleviation.
18
CHAPTERNINE
For-ProfitMissions
INTERNATIONALDEVELOPMENT
Therearemanyexternalcircumstanceslikewars,repeatednaturaldisastersand
misguidedaidthatkeepanationpoor(169).However,thereisnocountryandnopeople
thatdonothavethepotentialto“riseoutofpoverty”withalittlehelp(170).Itwas
thoughtthatmicroloanswouldhelponeoutofpoverty,however,ithasjustmadethe
microbusinessindividualindebtedtopayoffseveralofsuchloans.Theseloansaremostly
usedtobuyconsumeritemsasitisnoteasytogofromsubsistencebusinesstoonethat
becomescommerciallyviable.Thisrequiresalotofskillsthattheindividualmaynot
possess.Businessskillsrequireonetohavehadexperienceinthesector,aswellashave
accesstocapitalandmarkets.Withoutthesethe“roadside”businessremainsjustthatand
doesnotreallymakeonethrive.
Localbusinessgrowthhelpsprovidejobsthatsustainandhelppeoplethrive;helps
growtheeconomyandthecommunities.Asuccessfulexampleofthisisseenin
OpportunityNicaragua’syuccaproductionandprocessingthatwentfromatwelvefarmer
buy-intoaonethousandfarmerprocessingandshippingunit.Apartfrom“commercial”
successitledtogrowingofleaders,improvementsinhousingandeducationandmany
otheraspectsoflife(174).
IsBusinessDevelopmentEnough?
Businessdevelopmentneedstogohand-in-handwithhumandevelopment.
Numbersareimportanttomeasurebusinesssuccess,butontheotherhanditisalso
importanttogaugethepositive,upwardgrowthofthecommunity.Isitrisingbeyondjust
subsistence?Isthereanimprovementinthequalityoflife?Areleadersemergingfrom
withinthecommunity(177)?Thesearesomeofthequestionsthatneedtobeanswered.It
isthereforeimportanttohavebothfor-profitandnon-profitgoalsinordertotrulyseea
communityemergefrompoverty.
Itisimportantaswellfortheentrepreneursittinginthechurchpewtobeassured
thatcreatingbusinessesforprofitthathelpcommunitiesandnationsgrowoutofpoverty
isministryuntotheLord,justlikeanyfull-timeministrylikemissions.
HowDoWeRunFor-ProfitMissions?
ThewordShalomcontainswithinitnotjusttheideaofpeace,butpeacealongwith
prosperity(184).Itistimetosendfromourchurchespeoplewithbusinessskillswhowill
growfor-profitcommercialbusinessesthatcreatejobs,areethical,andtakecareoftheir
workers.Thereareanewgenerationofyoungentrepreneurswhowanttocreate
businesseswithasocialbenefit.Whiletheymayneedstart-upcapital,theywillbeableto
eventuallygenerateenoughtobeabletosustainthemselvesandtheirfamilies,thus
becominglessofaburdenonthesendingchurchasopposedtotraditionalnon-profit
missionaries.Itistimeto,“reexamineourperceptionsofwealthandtorealignour
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thinkingwiththedivinedesignofshalom:peaceandprosperityforallofGod’sfamily”
(184).
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Conclusion
Acompellingquestiontoaskourselvesis,“Dowereallywantthepoortomoveout
ofpoverty?”Whateverourcompulsioninengagingwiththepoor,beitpurelysocialneed
based,likebuildingschools,ormedicalfacilitiesorpurelyspiritualforthespreadofthe
Gospel;itisdonewithagenuineloveanddesiretoserve.
However,noonecan,“servepeopleoutofpoverty”(187).Thepremisethatwe
havelongboughtintoisthat,“ourvolunteerservicealleviatespoverty.Wehaveaccepted
thisasfact.Thisiswrong”(187).Onlysustainablejobsthathelpineconomicdevelopment
ofcommunitiesandnationsareananswertopovertyalleviation.
Somethingsthatchurchescandoare:
1. Encouragereligioustourism.Shorttermmissionariesneedtospendmoneyinthe
economytheyarevisitingtobolstermicro-businesses.
2. Stopundercuttinglocalbusinessesbydistributingsuitcasesfullofclothing,shoes,
candy,andothergiveaways.Whilethisseemslikeaneedthatisbeingfulfilled,it
endsupfloodinglocalmarketsandkillingthelocalproductionoftextileand
clothing.
3. Supportlocalself-sufficiencybyofferingtechnicaltraining.Chick-fil-Astaffvolunteer
tohelptrainlocalNicaraguansinthefood-processingplants.
4. Providebusinessloanstoentrepreneurs.Thisshouldbedoneinalegitimatewayby
settingupaccountabilityandareasonableinterestonthatloan.
5. Investwithlocalsinfor-profitbusinesses.Abetterformofcharityisnotjustgiving
awaymoneytothepoor,butcomingalongsidetomakemoneyalongwiththem.
6. Hireunemployed/underemployedworkers.Thismeanstakingalittleriskonpeople
whomayhavehadablemishontheirrecordbuthaveeitherbeenwronglydealt
withorhavehadachangeofheart(190).
7. Startfor-profitbusinessesthatemploylocalresidents.Jobcreationiskeytoendingof
povertyanditistimeforchurchestoorganizeinvestmenttripsandcommission
economicmissionaries(191).
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AbouttheAuthor
BobLuptonHASINVESTEDoverfortyyearsofhislifeininner-cityAtlanta.Inresponseto
acallthathefirstfeltwhileservinginVietnam,heleftabuddingbusinesscareertowork
withdelinquenturbanyouth.Bob,hiswife,Peggy,andtheirtwosonssoldtheirsuburban
homeandmovedintotheinnercitywheretheyhavelivedandservedasneighborsamong
thoseinneed.Theirlife’sworkhasbeentherebuildingofurbanneighborhoodswhere
familiescanflourishandchildrencangrowintohealthyadults.
BobisaChristiancommunitydeveloper,anentrepreneurwhobringstogether
communitiesofresourcewithcommunitiesofneed.ThroughFCSUrbanMinistries—a
nonprofitorganizationthathefounded—hehasdevelopedtwomixed-income
subdivisions,organizedamultiracialcongregation,startedanumberofbusinesses,created
housingforhundredsoffamilies,andinitiatedawiderangeofhumanservicesinhis
community.HeistheauthorofthebooksTheirsIstheKingdom;ReturnFlight;Renewing
theCity;Compassion,Justice,andtheChristianLife;ToxicCharity;andthewidelycirculated
“UrbanPerspectives,”monthlyreflectionsontheGospelandthepoor.BobhasaPh.D.in
psychologyfromtheUniversityofGeorgia.Heservesasaspeaker,strategist,andinspirer
withthosethroughoutthenationwhoseektoestablishGod’sShalominthecity.
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