The Compassion Coalition in Knox County, Tennessee hosted the “When Helping Hurts” Seminar on Saturday, Jan 15, 2011. Reverend Grant Standefer, Executive Director of the Compassion Coalition and Shepherding the Next Generation member, reports that there were almost 200 in attendance, a majority coming from local churches. Representatives of the local social service community, including government agencies and non-profits working with those living in poverty, were also in attendance.
Steve Corbett of the Chalmers Institute for Economic Development at Covenant College provided 3 hours of training, followed by an a Q and A time over lunch. The material for the seminar came from the book he co-authored with Dr. Brian Fikkert entitled, “When Helping Hurts, How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself.” The book is published by Moody Publishers in Chicago, IL.
Reverend Standefer reports that the seminar challenged the pervasive view of poverty as being defined almost exclusively in material terms, which has lead to poverty alleviation strategies that can damage both those being served and those serving. Furthermore, Mr. Corbett encouraged the group to see poverty alleviation from the biblical perspective of reconciliation, Reverend Standefer added, “the message was challenging, thought-provoking, and could change the way we love and serve the poor.”
Compassion Coalition is made up of Christians in Knox County, Tennessee who are committed to moving beyond the walls of church buildings to be the loving, serving, merciful, compassionate presence of Christ in the midst of the pain, brokenness, darkness, and poverty in Knox County. Compassion Coalition has been in Knoxville for eleven years and now, with almost 200 partner churches, they continue to connect believers with places of meaningful service within the community such as local ministries, non-profits, and government agencies. Compassion Coalition exists to inform, prepare (equip), and unite (connect) churches to transform lives and communities through the love of Christ.
For more information please go to their website at www.compassioncoalition.org.