Book Review: Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies
Henry Martinez In Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies, Holmes attempts to better understand the “social and symbolic context of suffering among migrant laborers” (29). The book begins with a personal account of a dangerous border crossing, then records his work alongside...
My Friend’s House and Pebbles Phillips
Ryan P. Cumming “If you hold your hand out clenched, you can’t give or receive. But if your hand is open, you can give and receive.” Pebbles Phillips, a vocalist and musician who has performed with top acts, lives...
Contracts, Covenants and Charity
Ryan Cumming Much ink has been spilled critiquing the difference between the simplistic act of donating to the poor and the more complex ministry of accompanying those in poverty. On the one hand, it seems a good thing to...
At the Gate: A look at accompaniment in Acts 3:1-10
Henry Martinez Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what...
Review of Robert Lupton’s Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help
Ryan P. Cumming January 9, 2014 Robert D. Lupton, Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help. New York: HarperOne, 2012. Recently, a friend who does ministry in an urban area expressed his frustration with “mission...
Martin Luther’s Top Ten Quotes about Ministry among People in Poverty
10 “According to this passage [Matthew 25:41-46] we are bound to each other in such a way that no one may forsake the other in his distress but is obliged to assist and help him as he himself...
Top 10 Bible Verses about Hunger and Poverty
10. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind,...
Occupying and Attending the World Food Prize
Two weeks ago, I traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the World Food Prize’s Borlaug Dialogues series. The prize is based on the vision of Norman Borlaug, founder of the “green revolution,” whose work focused on increasing the...
Book Review: Courage to Think Differently
By Lily R. Wu “To make a difference in solving the problem of hunger and poverty, we need to think differently,” says George S. Johnson, former director of the American Lutheran Church’s hunger program. “Jesus was constantly encouraging people to...
The Gospel in Syria
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to...