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

Release date: October 20, 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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; 1 edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310293596
• ISBN-13: 978-0310293590
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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 <br><br>

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; 1 edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310293596
• ISBN-13: 978-0310293590
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,987 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 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

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! October 13, 2009

By M. Allen

Format: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 VINE™ VOICE

Format: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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Join the Revolution January 4, 2010

By Gary R. Glass

Format:Hardcover

So have you thought about the poor today at all? I know for me, I woke up this morning in my warm bed with multiple layers of blankets. I pulled my vehicle out of my 2-car garage and headed to a local restaurant to meet with a friend to have a hot breakfast that I have the monies to pay for. ...and I'll eat lunch and dinner too along with probably a couple of snacks. It's cold outside so I turn up the heat in the house, and I put on a warm coat before heading outside. Well, you get the picture... That's a quick snapshot of my day, and to be honest, I didn't give too much thought to "the poor."

I just finished reading "The Poor Will Be Glad" - joining the Revolution to lift the World out of Poverty. It's a book that is well written and has some great photographs to help us visual people see a glimpse of another world other than the suburban USA that I live in. The book gives a clear explanation through the expertise of Peter Greer and Phil Smith of micro-finance. "Micro-finance" seems like a big word although starting with the prefix micro. This is not a economics book but a book of stories. Stories of real people, like you and me, just living in the poorest places in the world. It's the stories that makes this book a easy, and engaging book that explains how we as individuals, or we as the church can make a difference in the Revolution to lift the World out of poverty.

A must read book, and join the Revolution...the poor will be glad!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars First Do No Harm November 15, 2009

By Alan Carlton

Format:Hardcover

"First, do no harm" is a concept that should be equally applied to healing efforts directed toward poverty as to physical healing. "The Poor Will Be Glad" gives a practical discussion of why this has not always been so, especially within the realm of Christian poverty relief. The book should be read by all Christians who have a missions calling. It gives wise counsel about the need for balancing spiritual and physical efforts in sharing the Gospel. Additionally, it tells much about what kinds of poverty relief can be truly lasting and effective, and how providing such relief contributes to credibility in sharing the good news. "I want to give you help" is a very different vision from "I want to help you help yourself". The latter avoids the harm that often results from the former. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book with Specific Suggestions on Addressing Poverty December 30, 2009

By P. LaBelle

Format:Hardcover

This is an amazing book. The subtitle is "Joining the revolution to lift the world out of poverty," and the authors give great detail on how to do that.

And that is what is most exciting about this book. Often when we talk about poverty, illness, the lack of education and other issues plaguing so many in the 3rd World, our hands seem somewhat shackled, or we feel that this is not much we can do as individuals. Not so with this book. It's hands-on, and an in-depth look at how charitable giving can be used in more effective ways for those in need, remembering the adage that there is a significant difference between handing out fish for free and showing someone how to use bait and tackle.

And that difference is seen in micro-finance. Green and Smith look at the ways small businesses can flourish with the added injection of a little capital-and they do mean a little, loans from $50 to $1,000. They tell real stories, like a man who runs a small pharmacy who needed to close multiple times a day to run out a get more supplies because he had only enough money to buy a few things. With a small loan, he could buy more supplies for a cheaper price, cut down his traveling to once a week, and keep his store open for longer hours. He easily paid back his loan and expanded his business.

Green and Smith also focus on the spiritual impact these programs can have. These run the gamut from being explicit about faith in the weekly or bi-weekly repayment meetings in the community (community building is central to all micro-finance programs, Christian or not), to living out a faith through business practices and care.... More often than not--and the authors greatly suggest this--micro-finance opportunities and others like them (like the nifty Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) rely on local churches to assist in being an active part of the community. This is another strong focus of the book, that local administrators of these programs are far better than a Westerner coming in with "American know-how" to solve problems that might not exist.

And the key to all of this is building relationships. By listening to local leaders, we can understand what the greatest need might be, where the greatest interest might lie, and how help can be offered, not in the form of handouts, but in assistance that leads to self-sufficiancy.

The authors list a number of places where individuals can help, either by providing capital for such loans to using their gifts and skills from their work lives, devoting about 100 pages in their book to Part III: Joining the Revolution.

A must read for anyone who desires to do something about alleviating poverty from a Christian perspective, and a great resource on the ins and outs of micro-finance for the everyday reader. Read more ›