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Steve Corbett, Brian FikkertMoody Publishers / 2014 / ePubOur Price$9.594.7 out of 5 stars for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions: Leader's Guide / New edition - eBook. View reviews of this product. 3 ReviewsRetail Price$11.99Save 20% ($2.40)Availability: In StockStock No: WW63888EB
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Annette HarrisonSalem, OregonAge: 45-54Gender: female5 Stars Out Of 5Valuable for any short term team: knowledgeable, straight-forward, balanced, humbleAugust 18, 2015Annette HarrisonSalem, OregonAge: 45-54Gender: femaleQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5This review was written for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions: Leader's Guide.Corbett and Fikkert move beyond the argument that short-term mission trips are harmful to communities and demonstrate poor stewardship, to a careful explanation of how these trips harm. Then they lay out a comprehensive solution and provide a set of resources for short trips that includes a Leaders Guide, Participants Guide and online videos.
The Leaders Guide is divided into four sections of short, thought-provoking chapters that conclude with Takeaways so that the reader can immediately apply what was learned. In the brief introduction, the authors explain the why of the book and give suggestions about how to use it. Part One: A Different Sort of Trip guides the reader through an assessment of short term trips, describing both positive and less-than-positive outcomes. The authors argue that the cumulative effect of approximately 1.6 million adult Americans attempting to alleviate poverty in one to two week chunks is actually harmful to the visited communities, as well as to long term mission and development efforts. (This material is a condensed and slightly reorganized version of a chapter from When Helping Hurts by the same authors.) The next chapters present a vision for how to participate in Gods mission to reconcile the world to Himself in wholeness, including an explanation of poverty, again drawn from When Helping Hurts. Finally, the authors lay a foundation for brief trips that will do the most good and least harm based on the principles outlined in preceding chapters. The new paradigm is three parts discipleship to one part trip. The goal of the trip is to promote fellowship between the sending and receiving communities. Participants build understanding and demonstrate good-will as they discover resources, needs and priorities for service together.
The third section of the book consists of concrete and practical guidance for discovering potential partners on the field, deciding upon an approach, sharing vision, identifying leaders, gathering a team, and designing a program of discipleship around the trip. More pages of the book are dedicated to the implementation of the new approach to short trips than to theory. The emphasis is on providing guidance and practical tools in order to apply concepts of healthy and effective cross-cultural work. The final section of the book is a replica of the Participants Guide that includes notes for the leader on effectively guiding interactive training sessions.
The Participants Guide provides brief readings to accompany the videos, along with questions to provoke reflective self-discovery and group discussions. It covers some pre-trip training, though more pages are dedicated to facilitating reflection and processing during the trip and post trip segments. The focus of the Participants Guide is on informing, encouraging and holding participants accountable with the goal of a transformational experience.
The videos repeat essential points also covered in the Leaders Guide, as well as some thoughts that echo ideas in When Helping Hurts. A video format is well-suited to a generation who are more accustomed to taking in information through video than through printed materials. On the other hand, some viewers may become bored with shots of each of the authors presenting points from the book against a black backdrop. While the Participants Guide includes QR codes for the online resources, it would be helpful to make DVDs available as well for those who lack the appropriate apps and/or reliable internet access.
The books are written in personable and non-judgmental tones. The reasoning and explanations are clear and focused. Statistics and credible sources make convincing arguments. The authors suggest enough resources to guide and satisfy the person who wants to know more without overwhelming him or her. Suggestions and recommendations for developing and carrying out a trip are immensely practical. It is readily apparent that the authors put their real life knowledge and experience to work so that their audience will not have to reinvent the wheel or make the same mistakes.
Corbett and Fikkert are knowledgeable and experienced guides explaining complex realities and carefully reviewing relevant details of the terrain ahead. Straight-forward, balanced, kind, and humble, their writing demonstrates that these men have the best in mind for all parties involved short term teams, sending churches, donors, long term workers, receiving communities, and most importantly God and His honor and glory. Though Helping Without Hurting resources were specifically developed for short-term teams in poverty alleviation contexts, the authors descriptions of paternalism and typical cultural misunderstandings of short term visitors, along with the questions provided for reflection and discussion are valuable for any short term team.
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Bob McCoy5 Stars Out Of 5Helping Without Hurting Leader's GuideJuly 27, 2015Bob McCoyQuality: 5Value: 5Meets Expectations: 5This review was written for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions: Leader's Guide.I have been involved in overseas mission work for over 25 years and really appreciated "When Helping Hurts"; so I jumped at the chance for a free review copy by the publisher. I was not disappointed in the least. It is an excellent resource for leading and facilitating short term missions trips. The considerations this book presents are applicable to short and long term missions.
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Edgar Moser4 Stars Out Of 5"Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions"June 15, 2015Edgar MoserQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4This review was written for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions: Leader's Guide.Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert addresses the convicting and often misinterpreted motivation behind the increasingly popular evangelic movement of short-term missions, brief interludes of Christian charity funded and performed by churches. With honesty and encouragement, authors Corbett and Fikkert address the underlying adaptive challenge of spiritual poverty not only within targeted countries and locations, but also without the church striving to make social change and spread the Gospel through STMs. Encouraging readers to reject the materialistic notion that poverty and need is generated through a lack of assets, the authors offer a fresh perspective of short-term missions that focuses on the true needs of those ministered to on a vital spiritual level. Both the Leaders Guide and Participants Guide in this curriculum are valuable tools for churches and small groups seeking refreshment and a theologically sound, charitable approach to an often controversial and problematic evangelic practice.
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