Watch out, New Orleans and ELCA Youth Gathering—Biking Bishops coming through! Earlier in the spring, a small group of ELCA World Hunger staff members attended an introductory community organizing event here in Illinois. At this event, we had the pleasure of making many great acquaintances, but this post is about Bishop Jeff Barrow.

Bishop Barrow is bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA, but you know what else? Bishop Barrow is a father, a husband, a baseball lover and a dog owner. He’s a real guy doing real work, because he’s called to it. We met Bishop Barrow in passing at the event, and then had the chance to share lunch with him. We wanted to learn more about him, but in the end, he ended up learning a lot about our stories, too. We’ve been Facebook friends ever since!

By Louis Tillman

Let me ask you, when was the last time that you fasted for a long amount of time? Here’s a stronger question, when was the last time that you chose not to eat just to show others around the world that you know their pain and suffering on a daily basis? Have you done this recently?

In the summer of 2010, I was a district campaign leader (CDL) for the ONE Campaign of Southeastern Wisconsin. We had a booth at the Juneteenth celebration in Kenosha, WI where we did a world hunger awareness event to raise funds and awareness to end poverty and world hunger. During the event, we participated in fasting. The only thing that we could drink was water, and most of us drank snow cones without the syrup because it was a cool and refreshing treat to keep us well hydrated in that harsh climate. We had an ultimate goal of raising $3,500 to give to the ONE campaign at the end of the event so that we could show the world that Kenosha, WI cares greatly about what is going on in the world and will do anything that they can to help out. I, along with a strong team of 17 members, ended up raising an astonishing $4,700 while fasting for 15 hours that day in 95 degree weather! At the young age of 19, I felt that my team and I had truly accomplished a great amount of work and made a significant difference in the city of Kenosha and the world that day.

In the duration of my internship here with ELCA World Hunger, I have seen the ways in which we do similar things to help in ending world hunger and poverty. One of our most recent fundraising challenges and examples of ending hunger would be our 100 Wells Challenge. This is a challenge that ELCA World Hunger is leading, where they are trying to raise $250,000 to financially help them build 100 water wells in countries all over the world that do not have sustainable drinking water. Another great example of ELCA World Hunger trying to help and fight poverty, is by teaching congregations how to conduct a microenterprise lending program and help prospective entrepreneurs in their areas start or grow their small businesses. A detailed article of this can be read in the Spring 2012 issue of Lifelines.  I truly feel that all of these remunerations towards ending hunger all hold a strong and positive weight on our overall goals in ending poverty and world hunger. There are several things that differentiate ELCA World Hunger and ONE.org; but one great thing that they all have in common is the fact that they are doing their best daily to find ways to ultimately stop and permanently prevent poverty and world hunger.

So folks, I leave you with pending questions as you go throughout your days. What will you do to try and prevent poverty and world hunger today? What’s the link between environmental deterioration and poverty? What can you do to ensure that the economies of poor nations be set on a path of sustained economic growth?

Louis Tillman is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

By Kristyn Zollos    

           I recently finished the book, When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development.  Both contributing authors are professors in the department of economics and community development at Covenant College and are experienced practitioners and researchers, domestically and internationally. The book is organized into four main sections:

1. Foundational concepts for helping without hurting
2. General principles for helping without hurting
3. Practical strategies for helping without hurting
4. Getting started on helping without hurting

Each of these sections is then broken into three focused chapters that begin with “initial thoughts” questions and ending in “reflection questions and exercises”.  I really appreciated these questions and the thoughts they provoked throughout my reading.  It was interesting to return to my thoughts written down during the earlier chapters and see how they differed from my thoughts closer to the end.

This book would be a great read with your church, community group, or friends.  I believe that I would have benefited by reading through the material with another individual just to have someone with whom I could discuss my thoughts and insights.  I personally process information better through discussion and I found myself wanting to talk through many of the ideas with others during the times I was overwhelmed by the content. So much of what was said challenged me and what I had believed to be true.  There are three specific challenges or questions that came to my mind while reading When Helping Hurts that I would like to share.

First, I’ve always thought that supporting or giving money to a non-profit or charity was all the same, no matter which organization I chose.   I was helping those in need and I walked away feeling good about it.  I viewed the work of some organizations as more beneficial than others, but I thought there was no harm in supporting any charity that came my way asking for help….Or was there? From the start, Corbett and Fikkert explained how volunteering, charitable work, or ill-informed giving choices could be unsustainable and actually end up doing more harm than good.  Had all those times I had been intending to aid others been of no help at all?  Or worse, were they negatively affecting the lives of those I was trying to help in the long run?

 Second, When Helping Hurts explains that poverty is a result of broken relationships, whether with self, others, the rest of creation, or with God.  These broken relationships are the base from which the book builds.  To put things in perspective the authors make the statement, “We are all broken, just in different ways” (p. 61).  We all face broken relationships, and therefore we all face poverty, just in different ways, not all relating to materials and finances. 

Third, When Helping Hurts showed me that the needs of the poor are often very complex and we must take the time to understand those needs before deciding upon a solution.  If we do not take this time, we may mistake the problem for something that it is not and as a result offer a solution that only exacerbates the original problem. 

Fourth, poverty and its root causes are complex. Poverty is the outcome of some root problem.   You can’t fix the situation long-term if you do not know what is at its root.  Most poverty in the world cannot be truly fixed by handing out money or material things.  It varies everywhere that it exists, and therefore there is not one common cure.  The book explains what poverty is to those facing it, who the poor are, and the misconceptions often involved.  It also explains the root causes of poverty and what can be done in its alleviation.  Stories used throughout the book give better insight into “wrong” methods of poverty alleviation and successful, sustainable methods.

All this information built up in my mind through my reading and I was plagued by internal questions as I thought back to where my time and money had gone in the past.  However, in the end I decided that as with so many other things in my life, I must give it up to God.  All I can do now is use what I have learned as I move forward and make choices in the future.  I have to tell myself that those past choices were in God’s hands, so while they may not have supported the most effective methods of poverty alleviation, the Lord was still in control. 

               Reading When Helping Hurts only caused me to grow in appreciation for the work being done by ELCA World Hunger.   A focus is put on development, while also understanding the immediate needs of those around the world, especially in times of disaster.  “Accompaniment” is a word so often used around the office (see Audrey’s previous post ).  ELCA World Hunger is a ministry of our church.  We know the churches and companions we work with and through.  We work alongside groups that look at the long-term, deep-rooted changes within communities.  For a better understanding of this accompaniment model, visit www.elca.org/accompaniment. 

               After reading the book, I also appreciated the fact that through the work of ELCA World Hunger, we do not enter a community thinking we know the solution to people’s needs without taking time to understand the situation and be in relationship with the individuals involved.  Many times teams or organizations go into situations with a “God-complex” thinking that they have the one-size-fits-all solution and that they are saving the people or communities involved, forgetting to give glory to the one who mends the brokenness in all lives, non-poor included.  God alone saves, but may just work through us in some situations.  I think ELCA World Hunger acknowledges that fact.

               Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.  I think everyone can learn from the knowledge and expertise of Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert on the issue of poverty.  I can honestly say that When Helping Hurts has reshaped my views on poverty, the poor, and methods for poverty alleviation.  So, happy reading with your own congregation or book club.  Let me know how it’s going and your personal thoughts on the book!

When Helping Hurts

Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett

Moody Publishers 2012

ISBN: 0-8024-5705-3

Kristyn Zollos is an ELCA World Hunger intern.

By Louis Tillman

As part of my summer internship with ELCA World Hunger, I was assigned to read a book written by Roger Thurow called The Last Hunger Season: A Year in an African Farm Community on the Brink of Change. The book is primarily about Thurow’s experiences and journeys as he witnessed four separate farmers and their families during the hunger season in Kenya.

Let me ask you this: what would you do if you had two children to feed and pay their tuition to go to high school to have a better future, but all you had was a small farming business that received little to no income? How would you survive throughout a drought if farming was your career? What would you do first and who would you take care of first?

I recently attended a forum held by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs at the Chicago Club where Roger Thurow was the keynote speaker. He briefly talked about his encounters with these families during his time in Kenya and spoke about challenges that they had to go through to get to where they are now. He made valid points stating that the existence of hungry, small-hold farmers is an oxymoron. Small-hold farmers grow and harvest crops year round, yet they are still the hungriest individuals in Africa. He adds that two-thirds to three-fourths of these farmers are women.

This focus on women reminds me of the 100 Wells Challenge that ELCA World Hunger is promoting for the 2012 ELCA National Youth Gathering. Take a few minutes and watch the 100 Wells Challenge video. It speaks about how the average woman walks 3.7 miles to fetch the water for her daily household needs, — approximately 48 gallons for a family of four in the Global South. Three out of the four farmers that Thurow followed were women, which makes me wonder if women are the main ones raising their households throughout the year…Where are the men? Have they left? Why?

The 2009 Bread for the World hunger report states that women are more likely than men to spend their income on the well-being of their families, including more nutritious foods, school fees for children, and health care. The report also says that women in these deprived areas are taking the lead in providing for their families and researchers estimate that rural women produce half the world’s food and, in developing countries, between 60% and 80% of food crops (page 60). This is an astronomical amount of work and responsibility that is thrown on women’s plates where they become the primary support for their families in order to survive throughout the year. Even more startling, when women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 percent for a man (Chris Forston, “Women’s Rights Vital for Developing World,” Yale News Daily, 2003).  

I find it fascinating and admirable that single mothers and women in general are doing the bulk of the work to sustain a better life for their families. I still ask, “How can they do this?” What is the motivation and why haven’t they given up? As Americans we go through arduous tasks in our daily lives but it is nothing in comparison to the difficulties that I have read about in Thurow’s book.

After meeting the author Roger Thurow at his forum he asked a vital question that I feel everyone should ponder. He looked me in the eye and asked, “Mr. Tillman, how will you lead the way to the last hunger season?” So, friends, how will we lead the way toward the last hunger season?

–Respectfully submitted by Louis Tillman, ELCA World Hunger intern and Senior at Carthage College pursuing BA in Business Management and Public Relations

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

–Acts 2: 1-4

I feel a bit fiery today…No, it’s not the blazing wildfires out west—though our thoughts and prayers are with you. No, it’s not the 100+ degree temperature here in Chicago. I’m burning up internally over the issue of just participation.

First, something you know about me. I am a student of political science. I studied political science, because I believe that people should be able to understand, access, participate in and change the systems that govern their lives and communities.

That’s the foundation of how ELCA World Hunger reaches out to companions around the world and around the corner. One definition we use is “Walking together in solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality.”
     Accompaniment has been written about by theologians and missiologists for years – but we laypeople can benefit from understanding it too. Let’s talk about what accompaniment might look like in practice.
     Let’s say there are two people in the local food pantry, one behind the counter and the other choosing things to take home. How do the two people see themselves and each other? How does each one of the two people see what they’re doing together in that shop? Why do they see themselves and each other that way?
     How do the two people in the food pantry see themselves in relationship to God? How does each one see the other person’s story fitting with God’s story? Is one person closer to God than the other person? Does one person have a bigger part in God’s story than the other one does? Why or why not, and if so, who?
      In the accompaniment model, the two people in the food pantry see themselves and each other not as anonymous members of categories like The Poor or The Do-Gooders, but as individuals – companions, neighbors, equal members of God’s household, with common interests and complementary gifts. They see their individual stories not as completely separate, but as partly overlapping – and their individual stories and their shared stories are all part of God’s story.
     It can take some time and intentionality to get in the habit of seeing people around us according to that accompaniment model, but it’s worth the effort. Give it a try. See if the world looks different that way.
  Audrey Riley is associate program director – ELCA World Hunger.

By Colleen Peterson

With an interest in poverty and development throughout college, I have read several books related to the topic and I was curious to read the book Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty. In this relatively new book (2011), authors Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo present numerous studies, statistics, and conclusions on various topics related to the lives of those living in poverty. In contrast to other books I have read on the topic, the authors provide an extensive number of case studies and research on various factors related to poverty. While many authors base their claims on a few studies, Banerjee and Duflo present numerous studies in each chapter to support their conclusions. Not only do they provide interesting and unique case studies to read but they also present information in a way that connects the reader to those living in poverty. Instead of “othering” the poor, the authors describe the similarities between all people through the use of stories that explain why people living in poverty make the decisions they do, which is oftentimes the same process a person with financial stability would use. If we are going to create sustainable change in the lives of the poor, we must see the similarities between us in order to work with them rather than over them.

Although some readers may be overwhelmed by the number of case studies presented in the book, the authors adequately portray the fact that there are several interrelated factors that lead one into and/or keep one living in poverty. For each sub-topic, such as education, hunger, and policy, the authors raise multiple questions and provide the challenges and solutions for various communities in the world. The different cases do not leave the reader with a universal solution to eradicate global poverty but the authors succeed at displaying the uniqueness of each case of poverty. In addition, they give hope to the reader that there are many ways to alleviate this global problem but we must take the time to understand the current circumstances of each case.

Regardless of one’s academic background and knowledge, the various topics covered in the book ensure that the reader will connect with at least one or multiple sections. Despite the authors’ use of economic-based studies that highlight per capita growth, the book is easy to follow and understand without an economic background.

While I could elaborate more about specific frustrations or points of interest in the book, it appears more important to understand the overall message that one can gain from this book: While eradicating poverty may seem like an impossible goal to achieve, we must think critically about the ways in which we can work together—as elected officials, non-governmental organizations, communities, and individuals—to empower and help those most in need. While one may believe or assume they are radically different than the poor, we are much more similar than many authors tend to portray.  There may not be one solution to prevent or pull all people from poverty but progress can be made by using a patient, step-by-step approach in which sustainable change can occur.

Colleen Peterson is an ELCA World Hunger intern.

By Kristyn Zollos

Recently, I have found myself faced with some reflective and often overwhelming thoughts very similar to Colleen’s entry on this blog (“Are Good Intentions Good Enough,” June 18, 2012). These thoughts weighed heavily upon my mind as I considered the causes that I had supported in the past.  However, I found comfort in the idea that at least my intentions were good if not often misplaced, but were they?

Matthew 6:3-4 states, “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” I look back at so many times when I have supported different causes and think to myself, “Would I have given if it was done in secret? If there were not something in it for myself?” In the situations where I want something in return, whether it is a material item or praise of others, I’m choosing an earthly reward over the rewards given by the Lord. What a mistake that is, since I’m pretty sure the blessings of the Lord are far greater than any material reward or compliment I may receive when giving for the benefit of myself. As the ultimate question so often ends up being, to whom does the glory belong?

The last paycheck I received, I took the time to budget my savings and expenses to find how much spending I would have for the following weeks. I was excited to find that I had more than I had expected leftover, and was immediately plotting out purchases that I could make. I’m ashamed to say that my heart sunk slightly when I suddenly realized I had forgotten to subtract out my tithe. It almost pained me to dismiss the thoughts of the backpack that would have carried my stuff so nicely around town or the book at the store that I had been wanting to read. Needless to say, in that instance I was not a prime example of Biblical giving when compared to the model laid out before us by people throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Quite the standard was set when you look at the fellowship of the Christ-followers in the book of Acts. Acts 2:42-47 gives us an amazing example of what it means to be a community of believers.  These people were devoted to the Lord and his teachings, and they were devoted to one another. Verse 45 states, “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” They sold property and possessions. Something tells me it was not the clothes that had been sitting in the back of their closets unworn for the past three years or the rugged land unable to be farmed that they sold.  I get the feeling that it was much more than that. But they made this choice, this sacrifice, for the benefit of those in need. And with this “they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (46-47).” The people gave joyfully and with the purest of hearts and they were showered with God’s blessings, just as the Lord said would happen back in Matthew. 

Giving should not be about jumping on the “bandwagon cause” that seems to come around every few months for that bracelet or pair of shoes to show what a good and conscientious person I am.  Giving should not be about a name on a building or the compliments of peers. Giving should be about praising and worshipping the Lord not just physically and emotionally, but financially as well.  Our giving should be an outpouring of our love for God into the community around us and around the world, just as it was in Acts. For when we give out of love and without expectations of personal benefits that is when we receive the blessings of the Lord, the greatest of rewards imaginable.

By Louis Tillman

Last week I read an article on JournalStar.com which mentioned that in the city of Omaha, Nebraska there has been talk from legislators to advance a bill called LB543. This bill is purposefully meant to help in eliminating an “asset test” for eligibility of food stamp benefits. Thus, if voted on then Nebraska would join the other 36 states that don’t require an “asset test” for applicant to apply for food stamps. An “asset test” is when applicants are required to list all of their assets when applying for food stamps.

Snapnetwork.org mentions that food stamps, also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), help in feeding over 46 million people with healthy food each and every month.  The purpose of SNAP is to provide the means to increase food purchasing power to raise the nutritional level among low income households and is the first line of defense against hunger for millions of families. JournalStar.org mentions that typically speaking; to qualify for Food Stamps family household resources cannot exceed $2,000 per year, or $3,000 a year for those who are elderly or disabled. The resources that are being identified are things such as the following: checking accounts, savings accounts, personal property, vehicles, tangible assets, intangible assets, recreational properties, IRA’s, stocks, bonds, and or cash on hand. There is however a loophole in this system where there are 29 exemptions that includes such things as: applicant’s homes and surrounding property, pets, and or clothing.

This bill was introduced by Omaha’s Senator Tanya Cook in 2011. She let legislators know that even though the program had great benefits in helping those who were less fortunate, that it also had very severe repercussions for those who violated any parts in the system. Thus this should help in administrating the people whose intent is to “cheat” the system by any means necessary. The bill passed on a 35-2 vote, making Nebraska the 37^th state in the U.S. to be able to eliminate an “asset test” for those who wanted to apply for food stamps.

I personally think that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a phenomenal benefit provided by the government for those who are in dire assistance of this program. There are many positive benefits when it comes to SNAP. Poverty is all around us, wherever we look on a daily basis, and I myself always wonder how people got there to begin with. There are many of those who were born into it, and that makes it quite arduous for them to somehow make a positive future for themselves while they are coming from nothing. Thus I believe that helping those in need of food stamps is a strong benefit by our nation to aid those in need.

For those who were born into poverty or are elderly and cannot provide for themselves, I feel that SNAP is a great program that is definitely intended for them. I mainly say this because there are many elderly senior citizens in the U.S. that have their Social Security check as their only income, and they can never afford to solely live off of that in the long run. With SNAP being in place, it can help them by being able to provide them with more nutrition so that they can live longer and provide for themselves longer. This could raise a serious question: “Could we be one step closer in ending poverty and hunger in the United States?” My answer to that question would be yes, because we now have 37 states on board with this plan which is almost seventy five percent of the nation. I feel that once we get to ninety percent we will soon see an astronomical change in the amount of poverty and hunger that we see in the nation.

I am in favor of this decision by the state of Nebraska because I feel that it isn’t right for those who were born into poverty, those who are mentally or physically ill, and/or those who are elderly to have to go through such a rigorous task in order to receive food stamps just to survive for the month. I feel as though these individuals are those who should be able to easily apply for food stamps to some degree. In essence, I would strongly recommend that everyone who is actively seeking employment should be able to easily apply for food stamps with little to no problems at all.

–Respectfully submitted by Louis Tillman, World Hunger Intern, and Senior at Carthage College pursuing BA in Business Management and Public Relations

By Colleen Peterson

Within the past two weeks, I have been encouraged and inspired by the World Hunger team as well as reminded of a lesson I recently learned in my last semester at college. Through numerous conversations with co-workers in the office, a common theme that came up was the comprehensive approach that ELCA World Hunger uses to assist people in need. While this approach may not seem remarkable to people who have primarily worked for this organization, I recently took a course that explored the various methods of development organizations, many of which harm the most vulnerable people. Although most of these groups have good intentions to assist those in need, I have recently realized that good intentions are not always good enough.

In a time where people are often praised for their good intentions and international service trips, I invite you to think critically on who benefits from your good intentions. Can you think of a time you focused on the personal growth you experienced and failed to see the greater implications of your actions? I do not pose this question in hopes of making you feel hopeless but rather to empower you to see the ways that we can better help those in need. If we are unwilling to humble ourselves and see the ways we may be inflicting harm on those we mean to help, how can we expect to empower and assist the most vulnerable people? I admit that there are numerous incidences in my life where I have spent more time reflecting on the personal growth I experienced rather than seriously contemplating the impact of my actions on those I meant to help. It has been a difficult journey to see the ways in which my actions have likely harmed a community but I am learning to appreciate the uncomfortable reality that good intentions are not always good enough. While ignorance may be bliss, it is much more fulfilling and satisfying to know your actions are indeed helping those you intend to assist.    

If you are interested in reading more about this topic, I encourage you to read Ivan Illich’s speech, “To Hell with Good Intentions,” and look at the blog “Good Intentions Are Not Enough.” There is a good chance you may disagree or feel uncomfortable with the different perspective that is given in the speech and/or blog but it is likely to provide you with a new lens to view your actions and impact on the world.  

Colleen Peterson

ELCA World Hunger Intern