Make Poverty Personal: Taking the Poor as Seriously as the Bible Does (emersion: Emergent Village resources for communities of faith) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: make poverty personal, jubilee laws, facing poverty, Klong Toey, Pastor Suwot, Hebrew Bible (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is not a book for the casual reader. Barker (Surrender All), founder of a missionary order working among the poor, asks the question: how should Christians respond to poverty? And the compelling answers he extracts from often-ignored passages in the Bible—both Old and New Testaments—will push most readers out of their comfort zones. It is certainly a punch in the gut to prosperity gospel, which purports that Gods design includes personal riches. As the author writes: This book is aimed particularly at those who have a sneaking suspicion that the Christian faith is more than a cultural ornament, that it is a call to follow Jesus as he stands in solidarity with the poor. Barker is not a great writer and some of his fictional parables fall flat, but his stories of life in the slums of Bangkok, where he and his family have chosen to live, have considerable moral authority, as do his wonderful exegeses of Moses being called to stand with his people and the rich young man confronting Christ. Designed as a study guide with thoughtful exercises and a foreword by activist Shane Claiborne, it is an excellent tool for small groups of Christians ready to take their religious practice to the next level. (Feb.)
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Product Description

Poverty is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. But poverty is not new. And neither is God's deep concern for the poor--it is a theme deeply woven throughout the Bible. Yet sadly, churches and individual Christians have too often been blind to this emphasis, or they have been paralyzed into inaction by feelings of helplessness. In this urgent, provocative book, Ash Barker offers both challenge and hope. Pulling out and reflecting on significant passages from both testaments, he reveals what the Bible says about both the nature of poverty and about how God calls his people to respond. These studies, ideal for either individual or small group use, are interlaced with personal reflections--first-hand accounts from fifteen years of ministry among the poor.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books; Reprint edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801071895
• ISBN-13: 978-0801071898
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,615 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Make Poverty Personal, April 8, 2009

By	Doug Priest "FOA (Friend of Ash)" (Indianapolis, INDIANA USA) - See all my reviews

Ash Barker and his family live smack dab in the middle of the urban poor of Bangkok, Thailand, where they are loved for their activism, listening and care. The stories of this revolutionary book are interspersed with solid theological content. As you read, you will be forced to examine your presuppositions about consumerism, the majority world, AIDS, and your own parochialism! A solid read by a solid guy.

Doug Priest

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Every Christian Should Read, March 16, 2009

By	Stewart D. Perry (Bangkok, Thailand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ash's book is a lot like Ron Sider's classic, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger". Ash's writing and life reminds me of a young Tony Campolo, but from Australia living in Bangkok.

The combination of personal stories, imagination and serious biblical study makes this a must read for Christians. It is also a great read for non-Christians as it takes seriously the spiritual dimensions of poverty.

And the great thing is that Ash writes not from the hallowed halls of academia or the rose colored glasses of a church office, but he writes from an unairconditioned office in the middle of Klong Toey slum. His stories have the ring of truth to them because they are real.

This would be a great book to do as part of a small group study.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book by Ash Barker, January 29, 2009

By	Mary P. Barker "Mother Bear" (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the best book Ash has written.

Challenging, personal, and hopeful that others will help the poor personally