Resources, Support, and Cooperation
Explore the different forms of relief provided by charitable organizations
Helping the poor is a teaching that appears again and again in the Bible. Proverbs reminds, “If it is in your hand to do good, do not refuse it, but do it to those who deserve it.” The Lord Jesus instructs, “These things (providing for the needy, visiting the imprisoned) you do the least of your brothers, that is, Do it to me."
於是例如世界展望會（World Vision International）、撒馬利亞救援會 （Samaritan’s Purse）、天使樹（Angel Tree）等福音機構，以長期助養或節慶禮物的 方式，給予經濟困乏者或邊緣、弱勢族群物質上的濟助。
Even if they are not founded on faith or out of a desire to preach the gospel, global or local charity organizations such as the Red Cross will always appear at the scene of disasters as soon as possible to provide emergency supplies.
Material donation is a channel of charity that most people are familiar with, but is it really the only or the best way to help the poor? What other forms can provide more long-term help to those in need?
讓我們一起來探索資力（handouts）、助力（hand-up）、協力（hand across），這些不同濟助形式的優勢及挑戰，並思考施與受之間的關係。
resources
This is the most direct and common way of relief. War makes people displaced and makes it difficult to make a living; institutions and culture cause economic and social stratification, making it difficult to turn over; earthquakes and floods make it difficult for people to lose everything. In developing countries alone, 140 million children are underweight and 2 billion are malnourished. 1 Even in the United States, a wealthy country, there are about 38 million poor people, accounting for 11.5%.
Many people donated money out of compassion to meet the most basic livelihood needs of the poor. When major disasters occur, money and supplies are indeed needed as humanitarian relief to meet urgent needs; regional food banks can provide some help to those in need. After all, food, water, and basic medical supplies can reduce the possibility of subsequent hunger, infectious diseases, etc.
How effective can these contributions be? Can wealth solve generational poverty caused by institutional or social mechanisms? Will long-term assistance make recipients dependent, or will it really give them the ability and opportunity to improve their living conditions? What long-term impact will these "gifts" from developed countries have on the local economy without creating any job opportunities and even reducing local consumption due to the receipt of foreign materials?
The book "Toxic Charity" (Toxic Charity, by Robert Lupton, temporary Chinese translation) says: Giving once creates gratitude; giving twice creates waiting; giving three times creates expectations; giving four times creates gratitude; five times, giving is a matter of course. times, dependence. Have you ever thought about the fruits of generous charity?
每年有許多教會與福音機構參與撒馬 利亞救援會的「聖誕鞋盒」（Operation Christmas Child）慈惠活動。有愛心的基督 徒在鞋盒裡放進小玩具、牙刷、襪子，還有一 張寫著經文和祝福的卡片。成千上萬的鞋盒裝 箱後，運到南美印地山區，或是非洲小鎮。當 孩子們興奮地打開，拿到從遙遠國家送來的禮物，感受到愛，因此認識神最大的禮物—聖誕孩童主耶穌。
Indeed, children who live in scarcity will be happy for a long time if they receive a gift, even if it is just a small thing. Letting children know that someone cares about them is a blessing and a Christian's desire to evangelize. But does this lead recipients to equate the gospel with material gifts?
The children received toothbrushes, socks, and stationery from outside, which saved their families some money. But what will be the impact on the local economy? Could it be that the child's parents run a small business selling daily necessities?
What about the giver? Could it be that while extending his hand, he unknowingly adopted a high profile and saw himself as a hero who rescued people from poverty? Or do you have certain expectations for the recipient of help, thinking that the recipient will be grateful and accept the gospel while receiving the material?
What do people need when they are in need? Give a fish to a hungry man, and he might be able to have a full meal; teach him how to fish, and you might be able to feed yourself in the future.
Help
Zhang Mu, who has served in charity organizations for many years, has participated in disaster relief and built community centers in refugee camps. He has seen from experience that giving help to those in need will bring about more profound and lasting changes. This requires more time and effort than giving directly, and the results cannot be seen immediately, but it can transform people's hearts, build their own ability to change, and allow the community to support each other.
One of the common ways to provide assistance is microfinance.
Doing business requires funds, and loans can help with turnover. However, those at the bottom of society who are most in need of funds to turn over may have difficulty in obtaining credit due to past mistakes and losses due to poor financial management, or due to restrictions on the lending system, which greatly limits the scale of their business.
1983年，雲納斯（Mahammad Yunus） 在巴基斯坦創設貴民銀行，在貧窮地區小額放款給其他銀行不願借貸的小生意人，希望幫助 他們，不但自己的企業得以發展，也能活絡本地經濟。此舉在當時得到相當好的結果，雲納斯因此也於2006年獲得諾貝爾和平獎。
Yunners ran a for-profit bank, but some charitable organizations used it as a model for ministry. Loaning money is equivalent to giving the poor a hand, supporting them to establish their own livelihood and no longer rely on charity. In addition to credit, it is supplemented with guidance on managing finances and running a business, as well as gospel Bible study and discipleship training, so that the truth can be rooted in life.
Could this be a more effective and sustainable way to alleviate poverty than financial resources?
Many refugees have opened tailoring, repair, mill, etc. shops in resettlement areas through small loans, and have opened a new chapter in their lives of stability and self-reliance. If you can get professional business management knowledge and have the accountability of a group community, you can not only teach people to fish, but even fish farming and management of fish farms. Microfinance seems to be the glimmer of hope in solving poverty.
However, no matter how good the system or method is, there are shortcomings and it is difficult to avoid the abuse of human nature.
Ideally, recipients of microloans will use the funds to run small businesses. When the turnover expands, it will create local employment opportunities and stable income. However, the areas that need small loans are already poor. If residents all take loans, they will start small businesses in droves, and similar enterprises will soon reach saturation. The original vision of poverty alleviation only made people fall deeper into poverty.
Of course, there are also people who just use too many small loans to make ends meet, or use debt to finance their debts, or even use easily obtained loans for gambling, which completely deviates from the original intention of alleviating poverty. Moreover, this model only applies to relatively stable areas. There is too much movement of people in war zones or disaster areas, and once the borrower leaves, it will be difficult to recover.
相信扶持會比單單施予財物更有長遠影響 的國際HOPE機構（HOPE International）， 便是在小額貸款的慈惠模式之外，加上存款小 組、經營輔導，及門徒培訓，期許借貸者不僅得到改善經濟的機會與方法，更要活出管家的身分和責任。
The institution maintains contact with its loan customers through savings groups and conveys true values and financial concepts. In such an environment, clients experience changes as a whole person. For example, in Congo, participants in 69% said that their lifestyles had changed because of the learning in the group.
HOPE believes that only in Christ can people find true satisfaction, have dignity and hope, and become providers of families and communities.
The kingdom of God is abundant. Apart from tangible material resources, what else can be used to satisfy people?
Cooperation
Whether they provide supplies or loans, most of the staff or missionaries in these organizations come from wealthier countries. Do they act as "airborne troops" and come to the so-called "backward" places in need? In a foreign cultural environment, can those who provide funding really understand and deal with local economic problems? Apart from differences in resources, is there a difference in status between those who serve and those who receive service?
When charity organizations invest resources in new regions, who will help them translate? Not only does it translate languages, but it also translates cultural characteristics and social unspoken rules, which is similar to the ancient "general affairs" position. If we can consider cooperating with local leaders and groups, through which they can gain a deeper understanding of the local system and culture, and seek their support, so that those who serve and those who are served can become friends who help each other, it may make charity ministry more effective. Effective.
Servers are not just wallets or power plants. They give too much and are too strong. Any assistance they provide seems to be just a transaction, so that the audience seems to only accept the service. If you provide advice, seek solutions together, and actually do it, then the giving and receiving parties will be like friends who share five loaves and two fishes, allowing each other to gain respect. The charity organization not only teaches people how to fish and raise fish, but also works with local people to find places to dig fish ponds and select materials to build ponds. For those who receive services, they also gain knowledge and experience while participating, and have a greater sense of accomplishment for the projects that they have invested time and effort into.
Zhang Mu, who has served in areas with different cultures for a long time, deeply feels that collaboration will bring about continuous transformation at the system and organizational levels. External charitable organizations can train local people and institutions with similar concerns and provide funds to establish larger-scale projects that are efficient, sustainable, and consistent with local context.
This takes time to find and contact the right candidates and train local ministry partners. They may have different values, professional capabilities, and experience, and it is difficult to control future development and supervision. However, if you do it well with patience, it will have a broad and far-reaching impact.
Three ways, three stages
Zhang Mu shared his experience. In 1996, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Lijiang, Yunnan, killing more than 300 people, injuring 16,000, and leaving 180,000 homeless. A few days later, an international Christian relief agency arrived on the scene and began to assess the extent of the disaster, especially the impact on children. The organization quickly delivered rice, blankets, and tarpaulins, which were provided free of charge to the victims over the next few months. This is the capital stage.
In the process of providing supplies, the agency observed that the lack of basic facilities such as regional roads and schools, as well as the sub-optimal education system and farming methods, have plunged local villagers into long-term poverty. Through its experience in distributing supplies, the organization has established good relationships with local governments and communities. From this, it can be seen that the 10-15 year development plan will have a more effective and sustainable impact. So we began to organize villagers into groups to share their resources and the resources that the organization could provide. Over the next few years, villagers took the initiative to build roads, women became community health workers, planted new varieties of crops, and started small businesses through microloans. This is the boosting stage.
After another five years, both the villagers and the government understood the importance of continuing operations rather than relying on external funding. With the assistance of the government, a non-governmental organization (NGO) was registered locally to continue the previous work. At this time, international organizations provide funds to help local NGOs, who work directly with villagers. This is the collaborative stage.
Where to invest resources?
Different charity methods can meet the needs of different situations and bring about different levels of impact. No one organization or method is the best. As a follower of Christ, how can we follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus and "do charity" in a way that suits His heart?
first principlesIt’s a call to seek God, knowing what kind of charity and what institution He wants you and me to contribute to. As 2 Corinthians 9 says, “Give cheerfully”; God has abundantly given us tangible and intangible resources, and we should share them with a grateful heart.
When sharing resources, we also need to adopt a kind, loyal and knowledgeable stewardship attitude, look for information or talk with colleagues in the organization to learn more about the purpose of the charity organization and how to use donations. When choosing, you can consider charity organizations that have small personnel and administrative expenses and invest a large proportion of their donations directly on the recipients. At the same time, organizations with small personnel and administrative funds will encounter another challenge, that is, it is difficult to retain good colleagues and it is difficult to expand the ministry. Therefore, it is necessary to further understand the financial structure and determine whether it is possible to strike a balance between institutional operations and actual service, so as to operate efficiently, effectively, and with integrity.
AlternativelyConsider often-neglected ministries, such as serving people with mental and physical disabilities. Even if the situation is difficult and the results are not easy to see after long-term investment, they still need dignity and support. In addition, you can choose an organization that empowers recipients and encourages them to find and implement solutions to their problems.
Are you deeply moved when you see or read about the "rescue" of suffering people such as hungry children and trafficked people from the promotional videos or copywriting of charity organizations? Are these organizations, and us who donate to them, telling stories about rescue heroes? However, "rescue" in reality may not be that dramatic. Most of the time it involves negotiating with the government and contending with culture and systems, which are not very exciting tasks.
Relief does not need to be limited to property; people's expertise, professional knowledge and experience can also be used as a means of charity. Habibi agency serving war-torn areas (https://www.habibi-international.org/), it requires the participation of medical staff, computer engineers, social workers, psychological counselors, etc.
Jesus walked as a slave and dwelt among people, living and eating with those who suffered. What He gives is His complete self. How can followers of Christ give their whole being and learn to be disciples from those who serve and those who are served as they share resources and help those in need?
I pray that you and I will learn more about the ways of mercy and also share our lives.
Notes
- Christian Microfinance Stays on a Mission, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/may/stayingonmission.html.
- https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/visualizations/2023/demo/p60-280/figure1.pdf.
- Why I Won't Be Filling a Shoebox This Christmas, by Brian Howell, https://trainingleadersinternational.org/articles/618/why-i-wont-be-filling-a-shoebox-this-christmas.
- Rethinking Microfinance, https://econreview.studentorg.berkeley.edu/rethinking-microfinance/.
- A Hand-out, Hand up, or Hand Across?, by Jean Johnson, https://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/a-hand-out-hand-up-or-hand-across.
Derek Lee currently works at the International Rescue Committee's Airbel Impact Lab, dedicated to helping people facing humanitarian crises survive, recover and rebuild their lives.
It rainsYu Xiang - I like to observe the dynamics of society, culture, and country, discover God's actions, and write about the hope that "winter is over and the rain will stop."
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