Customer Reviews

101 Ways to Help People in Need

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This is a book of ideas for helping "those in need", not "the poor" - the term "the "poor" implies a certain group that will remain in given place in life with no hope of transition out. My experience is that is by and large not the case.
This is a book with tons of creative ideas that indeed to work in connecting with a variety of those in need - the "underemployed" - "the homeless" - and the most common form of those in need in the U.S. "single moms" who are being under financed.

The ideas here are a combination of showing low cost but extravagent care for those in need.

Some have asked about emptying the church's coffers. The question comes up, "What is our strategy to those in need?" I.E., is this group a high priority, medium or small matter? Spend accordingly. Spending is not an issue from that point forward - other than a matter of obiedience to Jesus' call.

The first third of the book is a clearly laid out philosophy of ministry toward those in need that is well worth the purchase price of the book in itself - the ideas that follow are a bonus.

No single book, philosophy of ministry or methodology will work in every situation, but this author has inspired our church and transformed the way we do ministry. I recommend it if you are tired of sitting in the pews with the lights on and doors open just waiting for your community to walk in.

Ideas were innovative, fun and easy to do. All are practical and some require very little money to implement.

My youth group was looking for some outreach projects and this book gave them several good ideas.

Not very creative...and frankly, disappointing. Nearly every idea stated involves churches pouring out their coffers to market Jesus and his love. Not many of his ideas are a leap beyond mainstream evangelical thought. I didn't think they challenged Christians to make themselves vulnerable in their expression of his love. Buy this book used if you remain interested in reading it.