For several generations the “social service” model defined the nature of helping the poor in the Global South and elsewhere. In this model the development industry provides relief and development “services” to aid the poor. Development workers go into poor communities and ask, “What do you need?” Then they provide
It’s fashionable to consider “overpopulation” as a blight on a nation’s economic prospects. Ever since Malthus, elites have soberly warned us that too many people on too little land guarantees hunger and poverty. The recent death of Lee Kuan Yew is a fitting occasion to point out how mistaken the Malthusians are. Start with too little
Abundance can come from the most unlikely places. In the 27 years I worked for a relief and development organization, I heard two clear messages too often: From impoverished indigenous peoples the message was, “We have no resources, we are poor and there’s nothing we can do about it.” I heard
People often ask us, “Can you really disciple a nation? Is it really true that nations can be transformed, desolate lands can become gardens?” Our answer is a resounding “Yes!” But there’s a vital piece that must be in place, a key, if you will: God is the primary worker
GDP, believe it or not, is an indicator of a nation’s progress in discipleship. I enjoy reading Mindy Belz’s daily global news update called “Globe Trot” at World Magazine online. In a recent post she provided a link to a Minneapolis Star Tribune article by Adam Belz that compared the relationship of
In November Pope Francis published Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). He characterized the paper as not a comprehensive document, but rather a simple sharing of his pastoral heart for the mission of the Church. In the midst of this exhortation he speaks of poverty and economic oppression of
Wendell Berry (born August 5, 1934) is a true intellectual. He’s also a farmer. He models what we will see someday in the garden city (see Revelation 22:1-5). Berry comes from a long line of Kentucky farmers. His life is uniquely balanced as an American poet and novelist, a cultural
Worldview has a powerful impact on a society, as we often say here at Darrow Miller and Friends. And as I was reminded by some recent correspondence. Occasionally someone will ask me to review a book they have written. Recently, an author asked me to read sections of a new
When I first began working for a relief and development organization, I began to wrestle with the question “Why are some nations rich and some poor?” I came to realize that poverty is not caused by a lack of resources. The root of poverty is found in a society’s worldview.
Thanksgiving is a great season to ponder the gift of time. Especially since time wasted can never be regained. Time is a gift from God. We are given 24 hours every day, 7 days every week, 52 weeks every year. Yet death can come as a thief in the night; none
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