Theology, spirituality, and social science are synthesized in this definitive book on how Christian mission can contribute to overcoming poverty and dismantling systematic social evil. Myers explores Christian views of poverty, its causes, and how it is experienced differently in different cultures. Especially designed for use in classes or field education, Walking With The Poor contains a unique series of charts and can be made into overheads and well as a bibliography and a scriptural index.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
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3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Morsan McSweeney (Hollywood, CA), June 11, 2009
"Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development" by Bryant L. Myers looks at transformational development in positive material, social and spiritual change from a Christian perspective. He looks closely at the relationship between poverty and the poor, and their relationship to social power (the lack of), the causes of poverty, the four dimensions of sustainability, and finally a framework for transformation. A key principle for looking at the community’s story is to look at it in the context of God’s story, then our story and the community’s story merging together to form a shared story. Participating in their story leads to empowerment, whereby a marred identity of the poor is overcome by participating in their own restoration locally (Myers, 147). Christian witness focuses more on its relationship with God, rather than evangelism by focusing on discipleship (210). Evaluating and doing what is right keeps in mind the following framework: preserving human life, working for justice, preserving human freedom, and ensuring staff safety (187). The author challenges us to follow Jesus by embracing the poor.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joel Shenk (Pasadena, CA), May 31, 2009
Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers is a practitioner’s guide to transformational development. Its aim is to integrate a biblical theology with insights from international development.
Myers begins by thinking theologically about poverty. He defines poverty as a network of broken relationships with self, others, the community, the environment, and with God that entrap people. Because poverty distorts the image of God in people, he argues that poverty is inherently spiritual.
Next, Myers charts a course for transformational development, which he defined as seeking positive material, social, and spiritual change in people’s lives. Taking a narrative approach to the bible and theology, he envisions an approach in which the poor and non-poor align themselves with God’s story and work together to overcome the web of lies that keep people in poverty. The goal is to change people and change relationships in order to move toward the better future of shalom envisioned in the Kingdom of God.
In conclusion, Myers relates Christian witness, defined as sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, to transformational development. He argues that witnessing must be done through life, deed, word, and sign in order for holistic transformation to occur. In doing this, Myers seeks to overcome the “great divorce” in the Western worldview which separates the spiritual and the physical. Development from a Christian perspective involves both without distinction.
Walking with the Poor integrates social sciences and biblical theology in a way that challenges Christians to think holistically about development as well as mission and witness. Perhaps Myers’ greatest contribution is that he does not stay at the theoretical level, but imparts practical knowledge and skills which can be applied in a variety of setting. Because of this, the book is as valuable to pastors, community leaders, and concerned citizens as it is to the development professional.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by AJ (Pasadena), May 31, 2009
Walking with the Poor, utilizes theoretical insights from anthropology, international development, and biblical studies, to build a comprehensive framework for transformational development.
Myers argues development cannot be limited to the secular and technological as poverty is more than a lack of resources, skills, or access, and more than entanglement, it is the result of unjust relationships caused by sin and evil. Therefore, the goal of development is people who have recovered their identity and discovered their vocation, living together in just relationships. The key element in the process is the biblical story of transformation, which engages our personal and corporate stories, and transforms them.
The chapters on the nature of poverty and a biblical framework for development were very helpful. Myers adapts Hiebert’s worldview conceptualization, to explain why the spiritual cannot be dismissed. When people regard the spirit world as having causal influence in the material world, this has to be considered. His insistence that the non-poor also experience poverty when they assume the role of God in the lives of the poor, calls for a much more respectful engagement.
The book is practical. In chapter 7 there is a tool kit for practitioners that offers a community-driven approach to development, starting with the facilitated, self-assessment of felt needs or assets. Community organizing is also highlighted. Then in the final chapter, Myers sensitively argues for Christian witness, not proselytization, to be demonstrated in the life, deeds, words, and signs of the worker.
Myers acknowledges the need for Church engagement, calling for development practitioners to help the Church be what it is intended to be. However, he falls short in explaining how the Church can be centralized in the process. Regardless, Walking with the Poor, is a must read for any Christian development worker and should be a treated as a handbook by every Mission agency.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Paul (Loma Linda), May 27, 2009
Dr. Bryant Myers book, Walking With The Poor, analyzes the way that we have fallen short in fighting poverty and gives insights on how to do transformational development.
Dr. Myers gives the reader an in-depth look on how modernity has affected how people view poverty and its solutions. This was one of Dr. Myers first major arguments in the book as he explains that sometimes the person coming from the development world is operating from a modernist starting point while the person in the developing world starting point is traditional. In the modernist perspective, things can be broken down into categories, while with traditional lenses everything is intertwined including the spiritual and the physical world. If someone is going to effectively work in the developing world, the person must first know what their starting point is, how that affects the way they view poverty and the poor. Dr. Myers argues that in order to work effectively with the poor one must be able to both address the traditional world view and respond to a modernist world view from a Christian perspective.
Dr. Myers also speaks about the nature and causes of poverty. He gives insights on theories such as "Poverty of Entanglement" by Robert Chambers which are material poverty (Lack of assets), vulnerability (lack of reserves & choices, easy to coerce), powerlessness (lack of influence and social power, easy to exploit), isolation (lack of credit and education, excluded from the system), physical weakness (lack of strength and too many dependents) and Myers added Spiritual poverty (broken relationship with neighbor and God).
Dr. Myers does a good job in dissecting the subject of poverty and giving insights on how our preconceived notions affect not only how we view poverty but also how we view its solutions. This is a worthwhile book for the inquisitive mind that desires to explore solutions to the issue of poverty in the world.
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