LITERATURE, LINKS and RESOURCES for LEARNING
Understanding the complexity of Aid and Development work, Poverty Reduction, Holistic Missions, and cultural differences can be enriching to mission partnerships. MBA is on a journey of figuring out the implications of ownership, reaching long term sustainability and what that means for our partnerships. Partners who invest in learning can be better able to support us. Thoughtful writers have addressed these challenges and share best practices. A volunteer has compiled these recommended resources from respected ministries. We hope they stimulate your journey.
Poverty and Justice
When Helping Hurts, How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting The Poor, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
More than tell us what not to do, the book moves from foundational concepts, to principles, to strategies. www.whenhelpinghurts.org
Empowering the Poor, Robert C. Linthicum. Follow Jesus’ example as he worked with the poor and consider a Christian strategy for going beyond the superficial attempts of the past at serving and developing among the poor and moving towards strategies of empowering the poor through faith based community organizing. Effective principals for work in urban slums in the developing world.
Walking With The Poor, Bryant Meyers. For all who want to learn more and deepen their effective practice of compassionate service among the under resourced. A must for those contemplating full time cross cultural service in the developing world.
The Skeptic’s Guide to Global Poverty, Dale Hanson Bourke
Inside the Third World: The Anatomy of Poverty; Third Edition, Paul Harrison
Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, E.F. Schumacher
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else, Hernando De Soto
Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian D. McLaren Read about the book here and Ideas for discussion and teaching
Sharing God’s Heart for the Poor: Meditations for Worship, Prayer and Service, Amy Sherman. This is a devotional booklet that offers bite sized balanced and biblical food for your soul.
In His Name, Henri Nouwen. A classic. Short but strong, and written in his best pastoral pose, Nouwen presents an appropriate answer to the WWJD question. Read it, digest it, and then share.
Helping The Poor, Kevin Dyer. This book helps answer the questions of: Who Are the Poor? What Does the Bible Says About the Poor? Where are the Poor? How Can I Help at Home and Overseas? HarborPublications.com
Influential books
These books are currently challenging the Philanthropies, Academic world, Government, Mission organizations and Development Communities. They each bring different and important perspective to poverty reduction and aid. They have stimulated a lively debate which continues in articles and gatherings.
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, by Jeffrey Sachs. Article with a summary Article: Excerpt from the Book
The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, by William Easterly
The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It, by Paul Collier
Biblical Holism
If Jesus Were Mayor, by Bob Moffit with Karla Tesch. This book addresses the question, ‘How would your community change if Jesus were mayor?’ addressing God’s intended role for the local church to impact their communities. Harvest Publishing www.harvestfoundation.org
Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works, by R.J. Sider, P.N. Olson and H.R. Unruh. This is an interactive tool designed to help churches transform into holistic congregations that share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and carryout social outreach programs with equal fervour. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI.
Short Term Missions / Preparing a Team
Designed for short-term mission groups with helpful information in mindset preparations.
jubileecentre.org/support/visit/visitorinfo/ (Compiled by a ministry in Ndola we partner with)
www.stmstandards.org/standards/ (International standards in Short Term Missions)
www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/standardsinmissionpractice/CBP/
www.globalconnections.co.uk/codesandstandards/
Book: Short-Term Missions: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens, by Tim Dearborn
Material Roundtrip Summary (PDF) och description and film
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Operation World: 21st Century Edition, by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk. This book is an informational and prayer guide to the nations of this world. It serves as a great resource for individuals or families to expand their worldview. Patemoster Publishing.
Becoming A World Changing Family, by Donna S. Thomas. This book is full of fun and practical ideas to expand your family’s worldview. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI.
International Humanitarian Quality Assurance Codes
Internationally recognized humanitarian quality assurance mechanisms:
Sphere standards www.sphereproject.org
Red Cross Code of Conduct www.ifrc.org/publicat/conduct
Humanitarian Accountability Partnership www.hapinternational.org
People in Aid Code of Good Practice www.peopleinaid.org/code
LINKS AND ARTICLES
- The Girl Effect
- Micah Challenge Declaration of Integral Mission
- Integral Mission booklist compiled by TearFund
- Bread for the World: Background papers and Biblical Basics on Justice
- Free Resources Global Poverty and Aids Forum
- Article Beyond Charity: Living a Life of Compassion and Justice
- TED talks on Rethinking Poverty
- Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness
- Global Call to Action Against Poverty
- Short Term Mission standards
- UNDP
- YOUTH Transform (TearFund)
Swedish links:
- Böcker om mission på Örebro Missionskola Guide till biblioteket Mission 2008.pdf
- Rättvisemärkt
- Svenska Missionsrådet
- Sida
- Diakonia
- Speak
- Zenit (Sida för unga)
OTHER SOURCES
If this is your first time to Zambia current reports are available on many international aid agencies’ and embassies’ websites.
World Vision info on Zambia
Country Profile from US CIA Fact book
Country profile from UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UK in Zambia FOC ukinzambia.fco.gov.uk/en/
Embassy of Sweden, Lusaka http://www.swedenabroad.com/Start____11682.aspx
American Embassy, Lusaka zambia.usembassy.gov/
US State Department Traveler’s information travel.state.gov/
Zambia Lonely Planet travel guide is a good place of general information also. Check your local library.
Aids in Africa
The aWAKE Project: Uniting against AIDS in Africa by various contributors A collection of articles by significant Evangelicals and world leaders dealing with the issue of HIV/AIDS in ways that encourage education and action.
AIDS in the Twenty-First Century: Disease and Globalization by Tony Barnett & Alan Whiteside A study of the relationship between poverty, inequality and infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.
The Secret Epidemic: The Story of AIDS and Black America by Jacob Levenson A very readable investigative report of the plight of HIV/AIDS among African Americans in the United States, also drawing attention to race and class issues.
The Hope Factor: Engaging the Church in the HIV/AIDS Crisis Tetsunao Yamamori, David Dageforde, and Tina Bruner (editors) A collection of articles by Evangelical leaders seeking to draw the Church to action in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.
Children of AIDS: Africa’s Orphan Crisis by Emma Guest This book tells the personal stories of many AIDS orphans and those who care for them in South Africa, Zambia and other sub-Saharan countries.
The Skeptics Guide to the Global AIDS Crisis by Dale Hanson Bourke This easy-read intelligently educates the reader on complicated aspects of the HIV/AIDS crisis in a question and answer format.
We Are All the Same: A Story of a Boy’s Courage and a Mother’s Love by Jim Wooten The amazingly personal story of a young, South African boy with AIDS who challenged a nation and the world to stop ignoring the devastating effects of the disease, written by an award-winning senior correspondent at ABC News.
Black Death: AIDS in Africa by Susan Hunter A medical anthropologist documents the history of HIV/AIDS in Africa, arguing that racism against Africans in the developed world has exacerbated the disease.
AIDS & South Africa: The Social Expression of a Pandemic by Kyle Dean Kauffman, et al This book details how South African became the country with more people suffering from AIDS than any other country in the world and what can be done to prevent its spread even further in South Africa and beyond.
The Children of Africa Confront AIDS: From Vulnerability to Possibility by Arvind Singhal & W. Stephen Howard (editors) Fifteen articles that explore the impact HIV/AIDS has had on children in Africa, highlighting some programs that have brought hope.
Moving Mountains: The Race to Treat Global AIDS by Anne-Christine D’Adesky A journalist investigates the obstacles to providing antiretroviral drugs made in developed countries to AIDS sufferers in the Third World.
Global AIDS: Myths and Facts, Tools for Fighting the AIDS Pandemic by Alexander Irwin, Joyce Millen and Dorothy Fallows This book tackles common myths of the AIDS pandemic arguing that issues of poverty and political instability in undeveloped countries spread HIV/AIDS more than personal “risky behavior”.
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The opinions expressed by the authors and organizations may not reflect those of MBA. The books provide an understanding of development issues and may stimulate thinking and discussion. The list is compiled from several trusted Faith Based Aid Organisations.