Customer Reviews

When Charity Destroys Dignity: Overcoming Unhealthy Dependency in the Christian Movement

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A compilation of some of Schwartz's legacy of work in eliminating dependency caused by the Western church in mission contexts, this work will provide some challenging insights to those who work in church missions and Christian relief agencies. This work doesn't provide pat answers but gives concepts that should inform our work with the poor around the world. Mostly coming from African contexts, he gives lots of solid illustrations, many from personal experience. What is most appreciated is the spiritual nature in which the discussion is handled. I bought a copy for every person on my missions committee and will be working through the implications of this book with them for quite some time.

Helpful in rethinking the unintended consequences of our well meant actions. The author repeatedly states that his observations are limited but goes on to share similar examples from other parts of the world. This book is a must read for NGOs and their supporters to get us to look beyond our initial good intentions to the broad impact that our actions have on the other.

"When Charity Destroys Dignity: Overcoming Unhealthy Dependency in the Christian Movement" by Glenn J. Schwartz is a book with a lot of food for thought. It reads like a textbook which is understandable since it is a compilation of talks and shorter articles given over several years which have been gathered together. But it is readable. Mr. Schwartz uses his extensive experience and contacts with the African church to illustrate his thesis. He also recommends supplemental readings. I have never been to Africa but I have read a lot about failed development projects in Africa by Christian missions and secular NGOs. One would think that by now they would have figured out that local initiative and local funding would be the only way to see a successful project but apparently outsiders keep on imposing and funding ideas and projects which are just not wanted or sustainable.

In short, local initiative and local funding seem to be Mr. Schwartz's solution to this problem. This seems to be a no brainer. However, it isn't always so simple. Such projects as clinics or schools, even in developed countries always are fund raising, writing for grants, looking for loans, etc. In a country where there is no stable government, minimal infrastructure, rampant corruption, and extreme poverty, funding for these types of things has to come from somewhere.

He gives examples of churches which have overcome dependency which is very good. Some of it seems unrealistic though. One church for example which had only unemployed women and children came up with this solution. 1. Teach the women how to care for their families. 2. Teach them how to bring their husbands to the Lord. 3. Teach them how to make something with their hands so they can earn a living. 4. Teach them to give some of it back to God in thanksgiving.

It apparently worked for that particular church but think of women you know who have been praying and trying to bring their husbands to the Lord for years with no success. In the US 9 out of 10 new business startups fail. I personally am in the midst of a business startup and it is taking years to get off the ground so I have a full time paid job to live on in the mean time.

However, this book is well worth reading, more than once in fact. I intend to read it again myself.