The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty [Hardcover]

Peter Greer (Author), Phil Smith (Author), Jeremy Cowart (Photographer), Rob Bell (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2009

A compelling call to carry God's mercy and compassion to the hurting people of this world This eminently practical book by two leading experts in the field of poverty reduction offers a clear plan to help ordinary Christians translate their compassion into thoughtful action. Authors Peter Greer and Phil Smith draw on their personal experiences to provide proven solutions for effectively reducing poverty. With photographs by Jeremy Cowart included throughout, The Poor Will Be Glad examines the pitfalls of traditional approaches and outlines a new model of economic development aimed at breaking the cycle of dependency. Through microfinance and employment-based solutions, people who share God's heart for the poor can reorient their efforts from giving handouts to offering a hand up, helping others provide for their families and regain their dignity. This book provides straightforward guidance for individuals and groups eager to carry God's justice, mercy, and compassion to the hurting people in our world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's unusual to discover an engaging, detailed and affecting manual delineating a Christian approach to alleviating global poverty. That's what Greer and Smith have given readers in this resource-rich guide to how individuals, businesses, churches and denominational groups can use the basics of microfinance—the provision of financial services to the poor—to partner with communities and find employment-based solutions with proven results for effectively reducing poverty and extending the kingdom of God. Greer, president of the Christian relief organization HOPE International, and Smith, a retired businessman and philanthropist, are enthusiastic realists, aware of the challenges facing those who are severely poor; the difficulties, new skills and patience required in churches that want to be catalysts for change; and the complexities of partnering with corporations that may have other, sometimes conflicting, agendas. The book works in large part because of the real-life experience, passion and dedication that both men, who write different chapters, bring to the table. Their biggest achievement may be helping to push skeptical readers off the fence about the potential of religiously funded microfinance—and giving interested parties plenty of practical tools to get started. (Nov.)
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Review

'[Microfinance is] changing things on a massive scale. And every one of us can be a part of it. For a small amount of money, entire families can be empowered to create new tomorrows.' -- Rob Bell, from the Foreword

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; 1 edition (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310293596
• ISBN-13: 978-0310293590
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter Greer is President of HOPE International, a global non-profit organization focused on alleviating both physical and spiritual poverty through microenterprise development. Peter also co-founded the Hope Global Investment Fund and serves as its executive director.

Peter was formerly employed by World Relief, serving as a microfinance advisor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and director of URWEGO Community Banking in Rwanda.

Peter received his undergraduate education in International Business from Messiah College, completed a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School and participated in executive education at Harvard Business School.

Peter resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with his wife, Laurel, and three children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theory and practice. Just what I needed, November 8, 2009

By 

Andrew J. Perkins "liberiandy" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty (Hardcover)

Earlier this year I read "When Helping Hurts" by Corbett & Fikkert which gave me answers to a lot of the questions I was asking about why help to the poor is so often ineffective. Now comes "The Poor Will Be Glad" which gives a lot of "how to" answers. The book is in three parts which I would characterize as "Why", "How" and "Participate". I recommend this book to anyone who is working in a church, a mission, a nonprofit charity, or in any way trying to help someone else out of poverty. In fact, I would consider it a must read for people in those situations.

I thought the third section was particularly helpful in giving an excellent understanding of why business as missions works. In the past we have separated the spiritual and secular, meaning ministry is different from relief or development. The third section of the book shows how the two must work hand in hand. In fact, the church is by far the most effective distribution system for lasting help to the poor. Nicely and clearly put together.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, October 13, 2009

By 

M. Allen (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty (Hardcover)

The Poor Will Be Glad is an incredible, nontechnical, overview of the current state of microfinance. If you want to read how MF got started pick up Yunus, but if you want to know whats happening now - read Greer. The authors do a tremendous job incorporating their faith throughout the text, and give great insight into how the church should be involved in MF.
Visually the book is stunning- full color photographs from the developing world are woven into nearly every page! This book deserves a place on your bookshelf but also could give your coffee table texts a run for their money!

A must read for anyone who is interested in microfinance.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging and Empowering, November 11, 2009

By 

E-Cowboy - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the Revolution to Lift the World Out of Poverty (Hardcover)

I've often felt like the problem of poverty is an insurmountable challenge - something that without a doubt is huge issue in the world, but almost too large to do anything about individually. In many ways, "The Poor will be Glad" completely changed and challenged my thinking about global poverty. And beyond that, I finished the book and felt empowered to make a difference in the fight against poverty through supporting microfinance efforts.

While microfinance isn't the magic solution to all the problems of poverty, it's an incredibly powerful tool as Greer and Smith effectively explain in this book. Who says the poor aren't entrepreneurial? That they will, without fail, default on loans? Microfinance and the work of organizations like HOPE International - the one that Greer leads - are steadily changing those presuppositions.

Though it may sound like a book explaining the benefit, function, and details of microfinance wouldn't be an engaging read, I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case with this book.