Poverty Unlocked

World poverty is not OK with God, and it shouldn't be OK with us. 18,000 children die every day of preventable causes, but many of us wonder if we can make a difference in the face of such a grim number.  Listen to this episode to learn how people like you can actually make an impact on world poverty. We'll answer: What small and simple steps can help one person living in poverty? What is a graduation plan and why is it important? Is it better to focus on one issue or many problems at once? Download the free eBook on this topic, The Remarkable Truth About Ending World Poverty. 

In this special episode of Poverty Unlocked, we're featuring the recording of a conference call between U.S. church leaders and the President and CEO of Food for the Hungry, Gary Edmonds. During the call, Gary shared his heart for the Church and a vision for ending poverty.  Gary Edmonds has come to FH with a strong background of church leadership. He has planted and led churches both in the United States and abroad. He served as Senior Associate Pastor of Mariners Church, a multi-campus church based in Irvine, California. He also led Crossroads Church in Geneva, Switzerland. He has served with Churches Together as well as leading other organizations. Gary served on the board of FH for eight years before accepting the role of President and CEO in 2014. To learn more about church partnerships at FH or to learn about future conference calls and webinars, email our Church Engagement team at c2c@fh.org.

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert’s new book, Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, takes the ideas of When Helping Hurts and applies them to short-term missions. In this audio interview, co-author Steve Corbett discusses why short-term missions do not always have the positive impact that participants expect. He suggests ways to improve the short-term missions experience so that both parties truly benefit. This is Part Two of the interview. If you missed Part One, find it here. View the show notes for this episode on povertyunlocked.com

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert’s new book, Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, takes the ideas of When Helping Hurts and applies them to short-term missions. In this audio interview, co-author Steve Corbett discusses why short-term missions do not always have the positive impact that participants expect. He suggests ways to improve the short-term missions experience so that both parties truly benefit. View the show notes for this episode on povertyunlocked.com

Today I’m going back to one of the most basic lessons about poverty--one that everyone needs to understand but very few people actually get. It’s the infamous issue of dependency. Listen to this 20-minute episode to become an instant expert on the topic—or at least to get started with what you need to know.   I also took some time to address the question that everyone seems to ask: What should I do instead? It’s not hard to avoid dependency—it’s really not!—after you grasp a few basic concepts.   Let me know what you think of this episode! What else would you add?

Check out the show notes on povertyunlocked.com Subscribe in iTunes

Is there a positive purpose to poverty? Marty Martin shares his thoughts on the purpose of the poor, which he says is for “the elevation of all humanity.”   The story of Lazarus and the rich man, told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, illuminates the idea that the opportunity to respond to people in poverty is actually an invitation from God.   Marty also responds to these other common questions.   Can we use the story of Lazarus and the rich man to determine who is going to heaven? Are rich people forbidden from going to heaven? How are the poor elevated through their poverty?   Marty Martin serves with Food for the Hungry as Chief Operating Officer for the Global Service Center, Phoenix. Marty has over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, relief and development operations, and corporate management in Africa, Asia and North America. Trained as an Air Force pilot he also possesses a Masters degree from Covenant Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Humanities degree from Colorado Christian University. Marty has been with Food for the Hungry since 2005.   In the message, Marty challenges listeners to become involved with Food for the Hungry. Check out some of the opportunities for involvement: church partnerships, sponsoring a child, running with FH World Sports, Hunger Corps (long-term service), and careers. Subscribe in iTunes.

An interview with Amanda Cox, coordinator for the Faith to Action Initiative. Amanda focuses on best practices in orphan care, emphasizing that God’s plan for children involves families. She discusses times when orphanage care is a necessary option, and other times when family-based options for orphans can be found. View the full show notes at povertyunlocked.com

When we walk with people living in poverty, communicating God’s love is one of the most important messages we bear. For those who feel forgotten by God and devalued by the world, the truth of God’s love can transform everything.

Is clean water the solution to poverty? Or is it health care? Education, perhaps? In this audio episode, Wendy McMahan speaks from years of experience in serving vulnerable communities and observing transformational development through the work of Food for the Hungry.

Mission trips can be unpredictable, but following a few simple guidelines can take the guesswork out of the experience. In this interview, Heidi Hatch shares seven standards that every short-term team leader needs to know. These principles apply to any Christian mission team, whether they are planning a building project, medical mission, service team, or vision trip.

World AIDS Day is December 1, 2010.  In this audio episode, Kim Buttonow answers questions about progress made towards preventing and treating HIV/AIDS. Kim Buttonow is HIV/AIDS Programs Coordinator for Food for the Hungry.

In Zeway, Ethiopia, over 100 orphans have lost both of their parents. With no social safety net for children, orphans are often left to care for themselves. They feel alone and forgotten. But God has not forgotten them.

All too often, women are the face of poverty and injustice. More women and girls have been killed in the last 50 years by the hands of gender-injustice than men were killed in military battles in the last 100 years. At least one in every three women globally has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

Anne Brown reveals the invisible causes of poverty: ideas. Examples from Guatemala, Zimbabwe, and India show the transformational effects that biblical ideas can have on impoverished communities—and the tragic consequences of destructive ideas.

Why do people remain poor? This episode addresses six obstacles to positive change for people living in poverty. When all six of these obstacles are lifted, the change process can occur.

Good intentions aren’t always enough in missions. When churches and individuals go on short-term teams to communities in developing countries, they need to think carefully about the messages they send – not just verbally, but also through their actions. In this interview, Steve Corbett shares three mistakes to avoid when participating in short-term missions.

World AIDS Day is December 1, 2009. In this interview, Carolyn Wetzel shares the story of 36 African women who turned away from prostitution when they were shown a way out.

HIV/AIDS is not only a subject of global concern–it’s an issue embodied by real people every day. In this interview, Kim Buttonow tells the story of a teenager named Claire and the courageous woman who saved her life.

There are 132 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. In some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa,  one of every ten children is an orphan. The need for orphan care is staggering. In this interview, Chad Mower shares about a unforgettable 13-year-old he met in Ethiopia while on an open team. It’s a story of finding hope in a tragic situation.