Executive Summary ofCharity Detox

Excellence in Giving

by: Robert D. Lupton

Prepared by:Excellence in Giving

ExecutiveSummaryof

CharityDetoxWhatCharityWouldLookLikeIfWeCaredAboutResults

RobertD.Lupton

Preparedby:ExcellenceinGiving

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CharityDetoxCopyright2015byRobertLuptonAcopyofthisbookcanbepurchasedonAmazon.ExcellenceinGiving℠isafull-servicephilanthropicadvisoryfirmdesignedtoincreasethejoyofthehigh-capacitygiverthroughapersonalizedprocessofdiscovery,evaluation,participation,andcelebration.ThroughtheExcellenceinGiving℠processclientsareabletogiveconfidentlyandmaximizetheimpactoftheirphilanthropy.ThismodelprovidessuperiorvalueforclientsasExcellenceinGiving℠partnerswiththemtotransformtheburdenofwealthintothejoyofgenerosity.

ExcellenceinGiving℠201E.LasAnimasSt

Suite101ColoradoSprings,CO80903

719.329.1515info@excellenceingiving.comwww.excellenceingiving.com

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CHAPTERONE

TheBadNewsAboutGoodWorks Thepremiseofthisbookstatesthatonecanneverreallyhelppeopleoutofpovertythroughcharity.

TheDoctorWillKillYouNow

Mosteffortsofcharityinpoorcountriesandsocietiesendupmakingthosehelpedpoorerorcompletelydependent.Untilgermswerediscoveredascausesfordisease,bloodletting,inordertodrainoutbadbloodwasconsideredtheonlycureforavarietyofdiseases.Resistancetothisnewdiscoverywasrampantandyetitwasthedoctorwhowaskillingthepatientandhedidn’tevenknowit.Toxiccharityissimilarinthatitharmsmorethanhelpsandthisthoughtismetwithsimilarresistance.

JustFollowingGod’sOrders

Thechurchisoneofthemostchronicoffendersincreatingdependencyoncharitywithitsmanysocialactionprograms.However,itiscrucialtodistinguishbetween,“crisisandchronicneed”(9).While,criseslikenaturaldisastersneedintervention,oncetheimmediatecrisisisover,charitythenneedstoshiftfocusandconcentrateonrebuildinglivesandnotonmakingdependents,“Thestrategyofcrisisinterventionmustthenshifttoastrategyofdevelopment”(9).Unfortunately,thisisalongdrawnoutandinvolvedprocess,forwhichthereareveryfewwhogiveandevenfewerwhovolunteer.

ConvertingtoResultsBasedCharity

Charitableorganizationsarebeginningtorealizethatpovertyalleviationcanhappenonlythroughdevelopmentandnothand-outsandsops.ExamplesofsuchaparadigmshiftcanbeseenincenturiesoldGospelRescueMissionandKARM(KnoxvilleAreaRescueMission).Thesemissionsmakesureeachresidentintheirshelterscontributesinsomewaytotheoperationofthemission,thereby“earning”theirfreestay.Themissionalsoprovidesfinancialmanagementclasses,clothesforjobinterviews,etc.Themeasurementoftheirsuccessliesinnothowmanymealswereserved,ratherhowmanyoftheirresidentswereabletogetbackontheirfeetandlivedrug-free,productivelives.Themainpremisebehindthisshiftis,“…thateveryonehassomeGod-givencapacitytohelpbothselfandothers”(15).

MovingthePovertyNeedle

Povertyspawnsdevaluationanderodesself-worthamongotherthings(17).Lackofeducation,andthereforejobs,andaseeminglyendlesscycleofpoverty,leadstohopelessness,and“povertyofspirit”(17).Waystoalleviatepovertyshouldinclude,“educationaladvancementandimprovedself-sufficiency”(18).However,totrulytacklepovertyistogetinvolvedineconomicandcommunitydevelopment.(18).Anescapefrom

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povertywhileitmightbeginwithagoodjob,itcertainlydoesnotendthere.Thereneedstobecommunitydevelopmentthatgoeshand-in-handwithanindividual’sescapefrompoverty—atruemeasureofholistichelp.

CapitalismandtheKingdom

Amongthemanyeconomicsystemsintheworld,capitalismhasitsflawsanddetractors,andeventhoughitisgenerallyseenasself-serving;benevolentcapitalismisprobablythebestfoiltopoverty.Creatingbusinessesthatcangenerateincomeforentirecommunitiesinpovertystrickenareascantrulyhelpliftthosecommunitiesoutofthegripofpoverty.ThisisdoneeffectivelybyDylanandAnnaWilkwholaunchedabeautyandcosmeticcompanyinthePhilippinesbysourcingallnaturalingredientsindigenouslyandthensellingthoseproductscheaperthanimportstothelocalmarkets.Thecompanyapartfromofferingjobs,alsotrainspeopleinotherareasofcommerceinordertomaximizetheprofitsofthelocals.

Thismodelofsocialactionthatcreatessustainablejobswillneedamajorshiftinthewaycharitableinstitutionsfunction.Thechaptersthatfollowwillexplainhowtomakethisshiftpossible.

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CHAPTERTWOPartneringwithBusiness

Aftercountlesshoursofservicetothepooroneofthelessonslearnedisthatwhenactsofcharityaredoneforpeoplewhotechnicallycanhelpthemselves,moreharmthangoodisdone. Onekeycomponentofpovertyalleviationisfindingandkeepingdecentjobs;andtheonlypeoplewhocreatedecentjobsarethebusinesspeople.Freeenterpriseorthecreationofwealthiskeytoliftingpeopleoutofpovertyandyetcapitalistsareseenasgreedypeoplebythosenot-for-profitorganizations,despitethefactthatthesesamecapitalistsunderwritethenon-profits.

Charity’sBottomLine

Meetingwithbusinessesandnon-profitsthedisparityonhowtheyviewedthegoalofmakingprofitsandeconomicdevelopment,becameevident.However,discussionsledtoanagreementthat,“Wealthcreationisthebedrockofeconomicvitalityforanycommunity…”(30).Itisthereforeimportantforboth“for-profit”and“not-for-profit”toco-exist. Tradeisthebedrockofanyeconomyandhelpsgeneratewealthaswellasusehumanabilities,skills,andingenuity.Italsohelpsinmovingpeopletowork.Itisnotagoodideatosubsidizenon-workthroughwelfareandsimilarprograms.Ahealthywealthgeneratingandjobcreatingsocietyismoreofarighteouspursuitthanhandingoutsopstocreateunhealthydependencies.

ThePowerofSelf-Interest BusinessmanBillMalloryandhiswifemovedtoCebu,Philippinestosetupmanufacturingunits.Theyhiredalocalworkforceatfairwages,givingbenefits,etc.andspurredancillarybusinesses,thatinturnhelpedgrowthatregion.Sowhilegarneringprofitstheyalsodidandcontinuetodoalotofgoodforthesocietywiththeirearnings.Self-interestthenbecomesahighmotivatorandthatshouldbehighifacommunityhastoclimboutofpoverty.Thisisbestdonethroughsmalltomid-sizebusinessesthatthriveandhelpcreateamiddleclassthatinturnhelpswitheconomicdevelopment.

HowtoThrive,NotJustSurvive

TwosmallcottageindustrytypeofbusinesseswereworkinginNicaraguatocreatejobsandhelptheeconomy,however,theywerenotreallybeingabletoreachtheirgoalofpovertyalleviation.Themainreasonwasthatthewealthcreatorsweremainlyministersandnotbusinesspeoplewhounderstoodwhatitmeanstosetupproductionunitsforprofit.So,inorderforthesemicro-businessestothriveandnotjustsurviveitisimportantforthoseministeringtoincludewealthcreatorstohelpthemormaybetakeontheworkofmakingthosebusinessventuresviableandprofitable.

InvitingWealthCreatorsinasPartners

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TheneedofthehouristogiveacalltotheMBA’ssittinginthepewstousetheirexpertiseincreatingbusinessenterprisesthataresuccessfulandprofitabletherebycreatingjobs,andtherippleeffectwillhelpcreateandgrowaviableself-sustainingeconomy.

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CHAPTERTHREESocialEntrepreneurs

DavidBornsteinhascoinedthetermsocialentrepreneurs;andtheirinnovativesolutionstosocialproblemssocialenterprise.Hesuggeststhattheyhavestarteda“quietglobalmovement”thatwillfind“sustainablesolutionstotheworld’sperplexingsocialproblems”(45).Thesearepeoplewhocaninhabitbothprofitandnon-profitworlds.

JohnCoorsofCoorsTek,venturedintoprovidingcheapstovesandelectricitytosub-SaharanAfrica.However,itsoonshutitsdoorsasthepeopleweretoopoortoevenpaythenominalamountforreplacementofpropanetanksandbatteries.TheonlywayitwouldhavesurvivedwouldhavebeenforittobeheavilysubsidedbyAmericancharitymoney.Coorsdidnotwanttodothatandshutitdown.Themajortake-awayfromthefailedventurewasthatpeopleneedsustainingjobsthatcanthenhelpthecommunitymovefromitssubsistenceexistencetoathrivinglife.

CoorseventuallysetupaninvestmentfundtohelpbusinessesinAfricagrowandbecomeviableinordertoofferjobstotheirownpeople.EachfamilyfromtheUSinvestinginthisfund,“…makesathree-dimensionalcommitment:relationalcapitalthatleveragesfamilyconnectionsandreputation,intellectualcapitalthatleveragestheirbusinessandindustryknowledge,andpatientfinancialcapitalthatprovidesthelonger-termfunding…”(50).

TheMissionofBusiness

Astheworldrecognizesthatonlystableandgrowingeconomiescanmovetheneedleofpoverty,itisalsoimperativethatchurchrecognizesthatwithinitsranksaresuccessfulwealthcreatorswhocanhelpgrowstableeconomies.Severalvisionarybusinessmenhavestartedandrunsuccessfulcompaniesindepressedareasoftheworld,usingthelocaltalentofthepeople.Thereisamovementtoward“B-Corp”organizations,or“ethicalbusinesses”thatmarrythebenefitsofnon-profitswiththemoneymakingof“for-profit”businesses,inturnbenefitingeconomic,socialandenvironmentalareasofdepressedsocieties.

ThechurchinAmericacontributes$10billionayeartoreligioustourismwithshort-termmissionscontributingone-thirdofthatamount.However,thismoney,unlikeregulartourismdoesnothelpeconomies.Short-termmissionariesbringbagsoffreeclothes,andshoesfortheneedy.However,mostofthose“free”thingsendupfloodingthelocalmarkettherebyunwittinglyundercuttingthefragilesubsistenceeconomy.ReligioustourismcanhelpsustainalargereconomylikeIsrael,however,inorderforthattohappenacreativeapproachtomissiontripsshouldbetakenthatwouldhelpgenerateandundergirdmicrobusinesses.

UsingSocialEnterprisetoBecomeBetterMissionaries

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Amissiontripwouldhavegreaterimpactifwecouldofferbusinessacumentotheunderdevelopedcommunitywhohavetheresourcesbutdonothavethetrainingorthecapitalneededtobuildabusiness.“Makingmoneywiththepoor,afterall,isthehighestformofcharity”(62.)Itwouldbeworthwhileforchurchestolookatputtingtogetheran“investmenttrip”ratherthanjustamissionstrip.AchurchlikePhoenixCommunityofAtlantahasbuiltasuccessfulcoffeebusinessthatnotonlygivesjobsandincometothefarmersinCentralAmerica,italsogeneratesincomeforthechurchandforotherpartnerchurches.Itisimperativethatthechurch,“intentionallyengagethebusiness-giftedsaintsinthemission”(65).

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CHAPTERFOURReturnonInvestment

Theworldaboundswithheart-warmingstoriesofhowcharityhelpedmeetaneedofsomeoneattherighttime.Thesestorieswhilenicetolistentoarefewandfarbetweenasitisawellknownfactthatthepooraregettingpoorer.Charityismotivatedbythewayitmakesthegiverfeeloverandabovewhatthedesiredoutcomesmaybe. Soup-kitchenstohomelessshelterstoChristmastoydrives,tendto,“offerpityinsteadofopportunity,”astheytendtodevaluetheindividualandthecommunityratherthanempowerit(68).Thesuccessoftheseprogramsisnotmeasuredintermsofthemovingofthepovertyneedle(69).BusinessesrecordtheirsuccesswithReturnonInvestment(ROI)calculator.Theideaistoanswerthequestionswhethertheinvestmentmadeisprofitableornotandwhattherateofreturnis?(69)Takingthisintothecharitablework,onewaytomonitorthe“ROIisbymonitoringself-reliance”(69).Thismeanstakingunskilledworkersandgivingthemskillsenoughforthemtogetasustainablejob. AsecondwayofassessingROIischeckingonthequalityoftherelationshipbetweenthegiverandtherecipient.Itshouldinsomewaybeabarteringsortofrelationship.Arelationshipthatismutuallybeneficial(70). AthirdwayistoseethenumberofconversionsandgrowingchurchattendancetothespreadoftheGospelthroughcharity. Alloftheseandotherassessmentcriteriarequirerelationshipbuildingandtime,whichnovolunteercancommittoforthelong-haul.Technologycouldbeusedtohelpkeepdataondistributionofgoodsandservicesbypoolingallthedataofallthecharitablecausesinacommunitytogether;butthiscanprovetobeaherculeantask. Everyonedeepdownarebornwithadesiretobeuseful,andevenifmenialworkmaynotliftsomepeopleoutofmisery,workdoesgiveonedignityandthatshouldbethebestROI.

ActivitiesorOutcomes

ReturnonInvestmentcanbemeasuredbywhatismostimportant—activitiesoroutcomes?Askingthepastorofasuccessfulmega-churchthequestion,“…wouldthecommunitymissthechurchifitshutdown?”gotthepastorthinkingofhischurch’simpactonthecommunity.Theresultofmajorresearch,creativethinkingandplanningtomeetthegoalsofracialreconciliationandincreasedmembervolunteerismbecamejustanotherseriesofactivitiesthatthechurchwouldinvolveitselfinratherthanlookatitsoutcomes.

DifferentiatingbetweenActivitiesandOutcomes

Themeasurementofoutcomesisveryimportanteventhoughthesearenotastangibleincommunityimpactandpovertyalleviation.Outcomemeasurementhelpsinaccountability,inbeingfocused,inmakingplansanddreamspracticalanddoable,andtheyhelpincreatingstrategiesofwhatworksandwhatdoesn’t.

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Someministriesintoughenvironmentslikejuvenilehallsandprisons,ordrugrehabcenterscallforlong-haulrelationshipsthatmayormaynotreachthedesiredgoalsandinsuchcasesmeasuringoutcomescouldbecomeverydifficult.Yetthoserelationshipsandtheeffortsmadeshouldbeconsistentandlongterm.The“ministryofpresence”thatsimplymeansbeingagood,engagedneighborinthecommunitycanhaveafargreaterimpactthanthousandsofvolunteersdoingcharityasthatthenisthekeydifferencebetweenanotherchurchactivityorsomethingthatisameasureableoutcome.

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CHAPTERFIVEMeetingMarketDemands

Itisoftenseenthatinthepoorestofpoorsocieties,whenawell-meaningchurchgrouporserviceorganizationprovidesawayoutofsqualidconditions,ormeetsaperceivedneedlikegivingofablanketwhenthereisnone;thecommunityortheindividualwillusuallygobacktotheirsqualidconditionsorselltheblanket.Thequestionoftenisaskedis,“Whatiswrongwiththem?”Insteadmaybeitstimetolookatwhatiswrongwithourownmethods.Itisimportantthentoknowwhatthepoorwantandwhentheywantit,andnotgivethemthingsonourperceptionoftheirneed.Itisessentiallikeanymarketingstrategistwilltellus,tolistentotheconsumerandmeettheneed. Wetendtoover-promisetheoutcomesofshort-termmissiontripstoouryoungpeople.Itneedstobetoldthatthemissiontrips,especiallyfortheyoutharemoreforthemthantheonestheyaregoingtoserve.Theyalsoneedtobetoldthathandingoutfreestuffpromotesbegging,butasmissiontouriststheyneedtoactuallyspendmoneyinthatcommunityandpayforlodgingandservicesandbuylocalproducts.Theyoungpeoplemustgopreparedbyreadingandlearningaboutthecountryandcommunitytheyaretobeinsertedintoforafewdays. Marketingofthesemissiontripsneedsintegrityanddonewelltheycanbeasourceoftrainingforfuturefull-timemissionaries.

MisallocationofFunds

Fulltimemissionariesareata“hundred-yearlow”(99).Yetitisinterestingtonotethatthemissions’budgetsareatthehighesttheyhaveeverbeen.Alargechunkofthisbudgetisspentjustonairfaresforapproximatelytwomillionshort-termmissionarieseveryyear.Unfortunately,thereislittletangiblefruittoshowforallthemoneyspent.Handingoutfreebiesonlymakesthepoordependentanddoesnothingintermsofpovertyalleviation. Ontheotherhand,misappropriationoffunds,differentethicalstandards,andlackoftrust,oftendiscourageschurchesintheWestfromhandingoverthemoneydirectlytotheindigenousmissionpartners.However,thiscanbeovercomewitheffectiveaccountabilitystructures,andtechnologylikeSkypecanhelpkeepandstrengthenthoselong-distancerelationships.

HowtoMeetMarketDemands

Missionspastorsarefacedwithafinebalancingactofcomplyingwiththechurch’smissionsdirective,whilealsorealizingthatmoreharmthangoodisbeingdonethroughtheseso-calledmissiontrips.Yet,thedemandtoprovide“mission”activities,whilebeingconvincedthatthejobofmissionsistomeetmorecomplex,deeperspiritualneedsisaproblemthatneedstobedealtwithdeftly.Itisimperativeforthemissions’pastortore-educateandre-toolthemissionscommittee,aswellasthechurchinlightofthecurrentdiscussionpresentedinbookslikeToxicCharity.Missionsneedstobeaboutspreadingofthegospelandpovertyalleviationcouldbeaconduitforthatasitcannotandshouldnotbe

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theprimaryfocusofamissionspastororaprogram.Changingthenarrativewilltaketime,butitneedstobedoneanddoneurgently.

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CHAPTERSIXReciprocalExchange

Food

Inafoodcrisislikeafamineornaturaldisasters,starvationbecomesamatteroflifeanddeathforlargenumbersofpeople,atthatpointfreefooddistributionassoonaspossibleiscrucialandnecessary.Hungerontheotherhandisadifferentstoryandneedstobedealtwithdifferently.DealingwithhungerintheUnitedStateshastobeonadifferentlevelthandealingwithstarvation.TheUShasmanysubsidiesandgovernmentprogramstohelphunger,sohandingoutfreefoodharmsmorethanhelps.PeopleinAmericamayhave“food-insecurities”butitisnotacrisisassomeorganizationswouldhaveusbelieve.Theneedforfoodisabasichumanneedanditslackelicitsaheart-response;however,inordertohelppeoplebecomefoodsecure,oneneedstohelpinheart-changes.Thisusuallyisnotaresultofdistributingfreefood.HeartchangeshelpapersontrulydependontheLordforprovisionandnotjustlookoutforoneselfbutothersalso.ThekingdomofGodismuchmorethanfreefood.

InnovativeModelsofExchange

Everyonelikestogetsomethingforfree,however,timeandtimeagainitisseenthatthemomentsomethingisfreeitsvaluediminishes.Insteadofbecomingasourceofhelp,freedistributionoffoodandclothesoftendissolvesintochaosandafeedingfrenzy. “Legitimateexchange,however,isdifferent.…Onepersonhassomethingofvaluethatisdesiredbyanother.Eachhopestogainfromthedeal.…Whenafairexchangeisnegotiated,bothleavewithafeelingofsatisfaction.That’showthemarketworks”(116).Withthatasabasis,manynon-profitsandchurchesarecreatingco-opsororganizationsthatgivefoodandotherservicesforahighlysubsidizedpriceandusethegiftsandskillsofthosesamepeopletoruntheseprograms.HarvestFoodandOutreachCenterinFlorida,BirchCommunityServicesinPortland,areacoupleofexamplesofthislegitimateexchange.Forfifty-dollarsamonthandaninvestmentofvolunteerhours,aneedyfamilygetsfood,clothingandfinancialtraining(119).Everyonehassomethingtooffer,ittakesabitoftime,effortandinnovationtoengagepeopleinthisway(117-122).

HowtoChangetheProgram?

Tochangewhatthechurcheshavebeendoingfordecadesandtotelltheircongregationsthattheircharityisharmingmorethanhelpingisanuphilltask.Anypastorandchurchleaderofintegritywillhavetofacethisissueatsomepoint.Giveawayprogramstendtobemoreforthegiverstofeelgoodratherthanforthosewhoarebeinghelped.Inorderforchangetohappen,itwouldbegoodtogetallleaderstoreadbookslikeToxicCharityandstartdiscussionsonhowchangecanbebroughtabout.ItwillalsobehelpfultoshowtheleadersorganizationslikeBirchCommunityServicesandthenencouragesometoattendChristianCommunityDevelopmentAssociation’sannualconferencethatassistsministriesinempoweringthepoor(126).Finally,itmaybeabetter

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ideatooverlapthenewwiththeoldandslowlyphasetheoldout.Bythattime,moststakeholderswillseethevalueofthenewprogramandthechangewillnotbesovolatile. Theparadigmshiftisfrom“doingforthepoor”to“doingwiththepoor.”Theoutcomesofthesewillthenmakeforshiftsinotherareasaswelllikeamajorre-lookatshort-termmissiontrips.

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CHAPTERSEVENTheThreeR’sofCommunityDevelopment

Alleviationofpovertyandcommunitydevelopmenthavevariedprogramsthatattractavarietyofadvocates,fromincreasingofminimumwagetogovernmentsubsidesofallkindstovariousotherideas.Educationisoneoftheseideasthatisseenasawayoutofpoverty.Whileitdoespavethewayforindividualstomoveupinlife,itdoesnotdomuchforcommunitydevelopmentasthosewhoarenoweducatedandfindbetterjobsmoveawayfromthepoorcommunitiestheygrewupin.Inorderthenforcommunitiestobenefitonthewhole,youngpeoplehavetobegivenavisionthatextendsbeyondthemtothewholecommunity. JohnPerkinsthefounderofChristianCommunityDevelopmentAssociationhaschallengedseveralfamiliestoliveincommunitiesthataredepressed.Hisbeliefisthatjustbeingagood,engagedneighborhasfargreaterimpactthananyformofcharity.ItisfromthisthatthethreeR’sofcommunitydevelopmentemerge.

Reneighboring

Livinginpoorneighborhoods,withitslackofresources,perpetuatesthecycleofpoverty,dependency,andisolation.Itisimportanttohavemixed-incomeneighborhoodsasthosebringinideasandcloutasaconduitofchange.Programsdonothelpraisetheprofileofneighborhoods,onlypeoplewholivetherecanchangethem.Insertingnewmiddleincomeneighborsintodeterioratingones,infusesthecommunitywithnewlifeandshouldenergizeittoimproveitsschools,getridofdrugsandcrime.This,however,canonlyhappenwhentherelocatingneighborsareengagedineveryaspectofthecommunitylife,likeneighborhoodwatches,PTA,communitygovernmentetc.Inorderforaneighborhoodtoflourishithastohave,“indigenousleaders(remainers),attractfreshleaders(relocators),anddrawachievers(returners)backtothecommunity”(137). Whenlifeislivedonadaily-basiswithinaneighborhoodanditissharedonadeeperlevelonadailybasis,itisthenthattransformationhappens.

Reconciliation

Livinginneighborhoodsthatincludeeconomic,cultural,language,andracialdiversitycanbeaconduitofreconciliationandbreakingdownofbarriers.Thisisaplaceweregiveandtakeofideasandalearningfromeachothercanhelpinbuildingofbridgesthatcanchangecommunities.Diverseneighborhoodsthathaveabuy-infromallitsneighborscanalsoactasacorrectiveandhelpriditofitsdangerousandillegalactivities.Forexample,adrugdealerneighborwasconfrontedjointlybyhisneighborstoshutdownhisactivitiesbecausetheydidnotwanttheirchildrencaughtinacross-fireifadealwentbad.Thedrug-dealingstoppedandtheneighborwentontobecomeanactivememberoftheneighborhood.Thisisaverypracticaloutworkingofbeingsaltandlightintheworld.

Redistribution

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Thebasisofthis“R”isthateveryonehassomethingtoofferandthereforeitisgoodtoexchangeratherthangivefree.Livinginaneighborhoodwherepeopleareengagedwitheachothermakesitpossibleforonetocallontheotherforhelpandassistanceinvariousways.Acarmechaniclivingnearbycanhelpwithacarthatwon’tstart,eventhe“hangers-on”atacornerstorefrontcanbeofhelpbykeepinganeyeonthegoings-oninthecommunity.Livinginmixedneighborhoodscanbeaproblemforsomewhohavelessthanothers.Thistheniswheretruestewardshipandlettinggoofpossessionstakesplace.Borrowingandlendingispartofthewaythepoorsurviveandinmixedneighborhoodsthiscanbecometrueexchangewherecharitythenbecomesatwo-waystreet.Boththegiverandtherecipientlearnvaluablelessonsastheyforgerelationships.

PracticingTheThreeRs

ToseethesuccessofreneighboringonehastotakealookattheEastLakedevelopmentprojectofAtlanta.Aonceeliteneighborhoodlostitsshineandwithagovernmenthousingdevelopmentbuiltwhereagolfcourseusedtobeturnedintoanotoriouslydangerousneighborhood.TomCousins,arealestatedeveloperwithacreativeplandecidedtorestorethe1920’sgolfcourse,teardownthegovernmenthousing,insteadbuildmixedincomeapartmentswherethoseintheprojectswouldbegiventheopportunitytoliveinthesubsidizedhousing.Havingtoovercomemanyobstacles,Cousinsmanagedtorevivetheneighborhoodwithsuchdramaticoutcomesthatthegovernmenttoredownallitsotherhousingprojectsandisbuildingmixed-incomeapartmentsinstead. EastLakewassuccessfulbecauseitfocusedonsixmajorthings,namely—vision,focus,location,safety,justice,andqualityeducation.ItwasveryimportantforEastLakevisionariestoconvincemiddletohigherincomerelocatorsaboutthesafetyoftheneighborhood,aswellastoofferqualityeducation.AllthesefactorscontributedinmovingthepovertyneedleinEastLakeandcreatingahealthyvibrantcommunity. ImplementingthethreeRsisnoteasy,ittakesvisionariesandfamilies,manyofwhomaremotivatedbyfaithtoliveamongthepeopletheyhopetoserveandmakeadifferencefromwithin.

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CHAPTEREIGHTGentrificationwithJustice

EDUCATIONANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

Everyoneseemstoberepeatingthesamemantraof“education”asawayoutofpoverty.Whileonthesurfacethatseemstobeagoldenticketofsorts,itamountstonothingifeconomicdevelopmentofthecommunityisnotconnectedtoit.Povertystrickenneighborhoodstendtohaveinferioreducationandthatinturnperpetuatesthecycleofpoverty.Ontheotherhand,bettereducationcreatesopportunitiesforthestudentstoventureouttotheoutsideworld.Theproblemthenisthatthosewholeaveseldomcomebackintothecommunity.LawndaleCommunityChurchinaroughneighborhoodofChicagoisanexampleofrootingachurchintheneighborhoodsothatitbecomessuchanintegralpartofthesocialfabricofitscongregation,thateventhoughmanymemberscouldmoveouttobetterlocales,theychoosetocomebackandgivebackbyvolunteeringascounselorsandmentors.Thechurchhascreatedjobs,providedtraining,givenscholarshipsforcollege,amongahostofotherthings,“allthewhileinstillingavisionfortheircommunitywithinanewgenerationofyouth”(157). ThestoryofOpportunityNicaraguaisalsoonewhereeconomicdevelopmentandeducationarehelpinginpovertyalleviationlikeneverbefore.WithnaturalresourcesthatrivalanyothercentralAmericancountryandafledgingtourismindustry,Nicaragualackedaneducatedtaskforcetofilljobsinboththesesectorsoftourismandagriculture.ThisiswhereOpportunityNicaraguaopenedatechnicalschoolthatgiveshands-ontraininginboththesesectorsandisequippingthemforjobsthatwillhelpinthedevelopmentofacommunityandanation.

Education:KeytoPovertyAlleviation

Educationaloneisnotsufficienttofightpoverty;justassocialserviceprogramsalonecannoteradicateit(161).Ittakesaneconomicallyviablecommunitytosupporteducationthroughsustainingjobs.TherecentsadheadlineoftheAtlantaPublicSchoolsystem’sfocusonimprovingtestscoresatanycostmadeonewonderwhathappenedtothepublicschoolsysteminthiscountrythatwassosuccessfulandcreatedahighlycreativeandcompetentworkforcethatbuiltthisnation(163)?Therehoweverishopeasthereisagentrificationhappeningaswellasayoungergenerationofprofessionalswhoareembracingdiversity(164).

HowtoGentrifywithJustice

Thereisaresurgenceofderelictneighborhoodsclosertourbancitycentersthesedays.Upscaleapartments,restaurantsandotherculturalcentersareattractingyoungupwardlymobilepeopletothesere-donespaces.This“gentrification”doesnotnecessarilymovethepovertyneedle;however,ifthisgentrificationisplannedasamixed-incomecommunityandthepoorarenotphasedoutofthenewdevelopment;thenthiskindofgentrificationhasapositiveimpact(165).Whenthepoorhaveasayintherevitalizationoftheirneighborhoodtheybenefitfromit.Newaffluentresidentsmeannewbusinesses,

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restaurants,jobsandschools.Italsogetsthecitytopayattentiontocrumblinginfrastructureandfixit.Everyonebenefitsinthisplannedgentrification.WithanewreorderingofdemographicsofurbanAmerica,themoreaffluentwhomoveintothere-doneneighborhoods,bringwiththemanacceptanceofdiversityandbettereducation.Onlyeducationthatleadstojobsistheonethatcantrulyhelpingentrificationaswellaspovertyalleviation.

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CHAPTERNINEFor-ProfitMissions

INTERNATIONALDEVELOPMENT

Therearemanyexternalcircumstanceslikewars,repeatednaturaldisastersandmisguidedaidthatkeepanationpoor(169).However,thereisnocountryandnopeoplethatdonothavethepotentialto“riseoutofpoverty”withalittlehelp(170).Itwasthoughtthatmicroloanswouldhelponeoutofpoverty,however,ithasjustmadethemicrobusinessindividualindebtedtopayoffseveralofsuchloans.Theseloansaremostlyusedtobuyconsumeritemsasitisnoteasytogofromsubsistencebusinesstoonethatbecomescommerciallyviable.Thisrequiresalotofskillsthattheindividualmaynotpossess.Businessskillsrequireonetohavehadexperienceinthesector,aswellashaveaccesstocapitalandmarkets.Withoutthesethe“roadside”businessremainsjustthatanddoesnotreallymakeonethrive. Localbusinessgrowthhelpsprovidejobsthatsustainandhelppeoplethrive;helpsgrowtheeconomyandthecommunities.AsuccessfulexampleofthisisseeninOpportunityNicaragua’syuccaproductionandprocessingthatwentfromatwelvefarmerbuy-intoaonethousandfarmerprocessingandshippingunit.Apartfrom“commercial”successitledtogrowingofleaders,improvementsinhousingandeducationandmanyotheraspectsoflife(174).

IsBusinessDevelopmentEnough?

Businessdevelopmentneedstogohand-in-handwithhumandevelopment.Numbersareimportanttomeasurebusinesssuccess,butontheotherhanditisalsoimportanttogaugethepositive,upwardgrowthofthecommunity.Isitrisingbeyondjustsubsistence?Isthereanimprovementinthequalityoflife?Areleadersemergingfromwithinthecommunity(177)?Thesearesomeofthequestionsthatneedtobeanswered.Itisthereforeimportanttohavebothfor-profitandnon-profitgoalsinordertotrulyseeacommunityemergefrompoverty. ItisimportantaswellfortheentrepreneursittinginthechurchpewtobeassuredthatcreatingbusinessesforprofitthathelpcommunitiesandnationsgrowoutofpovertyisministryuntotheLord,justlikeanyfull-timeministrylikemissions.

HowDoWeRunFor-ProfitMissions?

ThewordShalomcontainswithinitnotjusttheideaofpeace,butpeacealongwithprosperity(184).Itistimetosendfromourchurchespeoplewithbusinessskillswhowillgrowfor-profitcommercialbusinessesthatcreatejobs,areethical,andtakecareoftheirworkers.Thereareanewgenerationofyoungentrepreneurswhowanttocreatebusinesseswithasocialbenefit.Whiletheymayneedstart-upcapital,theywillbeabletoeventuallygenerateenoughtobeabletosustainthemselvesandtheirfamilies,thusbecominglessofaburdenonthesendingchurchasopposedtotraditionalnon-profitmissionaries.Itistimeto,“reexamineourperceptionsofwealthandtorealignour

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thinkingwiththedivinedesignofshalom:peaceandprosperityforallofGod’sfamily”(184).

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Conclusion

Acompellingquestiontoaskourselvesis,“Dowereallywantthepoortomoveoutofpoverty?”Whateverourcompulsioninengagingwiththepoor,beitpurelysocialneedbased,likebuildingschools,ormedicalfacilitiesorpurelyspiritualforthespreadoftheGospel;itisdonewithagenuineloveanddesiretoserve. However,noonecan,“servepeopleoutofpoverty”(187).Thepremisethatwehavelongboughtintoisthat,“ourvolunteerservicealleviatespoverty.Wehaveacceptedthisasfact.Thisiswrong”(187).Onlysustainablejobsthathelpineconomicdevelopmentofcommunitiesandnationsareananswertopovertyalleviation. Somethingsthatchurchescandoare:

1. Encouragereligioustourism.Shorttermmissionariesneedtospendmoneyintheeconomytheyarevisitingtobolstermicro-businesses.

2. Stopundercuttinglocalbusinessesbydistributingsuitcasesfullofclothing,shoes,candy,andothergiveaways.Whilethisseemslikeaneedthatisbeingfulfilled,itendsupfloodinglocalmarketsandkillingthelocalproductionoftextileandclothing.

3. Supportlocalself-sufficiencybyofferingtechnicaltraining.Chick-fil-AstaffvolunteertohelptrainlocalNicaraguansinthefood-processingplants.

4. Providebusinessloanstoentrepreneurs.Thisshouldbedoneinalegitimatewaybysettingupaccountabilityandareasonableinterestonthatloan.

5. Investwithlocalsinfor-profitbusinesses.Abetterformofcharityisnotjustgivingawaymoneytothepoor,butcomingalongsidetomakemoneyalongwiththem.

6. Hireunemployed/underemployedworkers.Thismeanstakingalittleriskonpeoplewhomayhavehadablemishontheirrecordbuthaveeitherbeenwronglydealtwithorhavehadachangeofheart(190).

7. Startfor-profitbusinessesthatemploylocalresidents.Jobcreationiskeytoendingofpovertyanditistimeforchurchestoorganizeinvestmenttripsandcommissioneconomicmissionaries(191).

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AbouttheAuthor

BobLuptonHASINVESTEDoverfortyyearsofhislifeininner-cityAtlanta.InresponsetoacallthathefirstfeltwhileservinginVietnam,heleftabuddingbusinesscareertoworkwithdelinquenturbanyouth.Bob,hiswife,Peggy,andtheirtwosonssoldtheirsuburbanhomeandmovedintotheinnercitywheretheyhavelivedandservedasneighborsamongthoseinneed.Theirlife’sworkhasbeentherebuildingofurbanneighborhoodswherefamiliescanflourishandchildrencangrowintohealthyadults.BobisaChristiancommunitydeveloper,anentrepreneurwhobringstogethercommunitiesofresourcewithcommunitiesofneed.ThroughFCSUrbanMinistries—anonprofitorganizationthathefounded—hehasdevelopedtwomixed-incomesubdivisions,organizedamultiracialcongregation,startedanumberofbusinesses,createdhousingforhundredsoffamilies,andinitiatedawiderangeofhumanservicesinhiscommunity.HeistheauthorofthebooksTheirsIstheKingdom;ReturnFlight;RenewingtheCity;Compassion,Justice,andtheChristianLife;ToxicCharity;andthewidelycirculated“UrbanPerspectives,”monthlyreflectionsontheGospelandthepoor.BobhasaPh.D.inpsychologyfromtheUniversityofGeorgia.Heservesasaspeaker,strategist,andinspirerwiththosethroughoutthenationwhoseektoestablishGod’sShalominthecity.