Imagine you’re giving $100,000 dollars away to help alleviate poverty somewhere in the world. How would you decide where you’re going to send those funds? What would you research? What questions would you have for charity leaders? What do you need to know?
Chances are you’d start by investigating things like an organization’s history, their strategy for using the funds to make an impact, their previous financial reports, or their support of local leaders on the ground. The list could go on and on.
But ultimately, those questions don’t give you the whole picture. They’re all hinting at a bigger, deeper question: What is their story of change?
Recognizing stories of change
This is the way Dr. Brian Fikkert, founder of the Chalmers Center and professor of economics and community development at Covenant College, explains the story of change guiding every charity.
“Understanding an organization’s story of change will help you answer two big questions,” Dr. Fikkert says. “First, what’s their goal? And second, how can that goal be achieved?”
Think about it in terms of poverty alleviation, as Dr. Fikkert says.
“Organizations working toward that specific goal have a clear idea of how it can be achieved. They walk an individual or community from one situation to another that they hope will be better overall. That work fosters positive change, both for the individual and the community,” he says.
That’s their story of change, and it’s what Dr. Fikkert wants you to consider when you’re deciding where to give.
“You want to find an organization whose story of change aligns with the story you want to tell with your giving,” Dr. Fikkert says.
How stories shape us
The problem is we’re all operating with different stories.
“Humans have long been shaped by stories,” Dr. Fikkert says. “In fact, we’re all living out our own stories of change every single day. As we lean into those stories, we see our lives, our perspectives, and our goals change along with them.”
In other words, stories change us. Eventually, they change our communities, too.
Everybody – donors, organizations, and people in poverty alike – are shaped by stories. Because of that, we all tend to default to the stories that have shaped us. We lean into the ones we know, the ones we’ve experienced, and the ones we’ve seen get results. In our giving, whether we realize it or not, we’re imposing these stories on those our funds serve.
“We see this play out in the Western world’s story of change all the time,” Dr. Fikkert says. “For us, it’s all about the ‘American Dream.’ That story tells us that happiness comes from achievement and consumption. The goal is to get more, to earn more, to be more.”
That’s the narrative that dominates our worldview, and, as a result, it’s usually the story that dominates our giving toward poverty alleviation in the world. Without even realizing it, we give with the goal of seeing impoverished communities impacted by things like handouts or economic empowerment.
Sadly, it doesn’t work… at least not in the way we thought it would.
“That kind of giving can increase consumption and material growth in an impoverished community, but at the end of the day, is that the story of change that best suits that community? Or is it simply the story of change we’re most comfortable with in our community?”
As Christians, we often choose a different version of this same story, as Dr. Fikkert explains.
“For us, it’s more of the ‘Baptized American Dream.’ We focus on getting people’s souls to heaven, but we still aren’t sure how to fully address their physical needs here on Earth.”
As a result, many Christian poverty alleviation ministries tend to pursue the same handout or economic empowerment strategies as secular organizations, just with a sprinkle of evangelism over the top.
Though well intentioned, the problem remains.
“We’re operating out of the wrong story,” Dr. Fikkert says, “and in doing so, we’re imposing a solution on an impoverished community that may do more harm than good.”
Living into God’s story
So, what do we do?
If we want to help without hurting, we change the story that inspires our generosity.
“We have to choose a better narrative to guide our giving,” Dr. Fikkert says. “We’ve got to get into God’s story. This is the only story we know to be universally true; it’s the only one that should motivate our generosity.”
That story tells us that we are all humans created in the image of our Creator. God is a relational being, and as humans made in his image, so are we. We’re designed for relationship with God, ourselves, and others. In the Garden of Eden, we see this play out as it was intended. Humankind existed in deep community with God, and they found a deep sense of worth and dignity from their relationship with him alone.
This has been our story since the beginning of time.
But, as we know, sin disrupted that story, opening the door for poverty and brokenness.
Now, as givers, it’s our call to use our generosity to facilitate the work of God’s people seeking to live out God’s story. This is the one that should inspire and direct our giving toward ministries that understand the reality that all of us, both people in poverty and people in wealth, are longing to be restored to the fullness of what God has designed us for.
“In this story, it’s not just about us,” Dr. Fikkert explains. “It’s about impacting the people we serve in a way that helps them physically and serves them spiritually.”
Aligning stories
With that in mind, think back to that first question. You have $100,000, and you have to give it away to alleviate poverty somewhere in the world.
How are you going to decide where to give?
Where are you going to direct your generosity?
What story of change are you going to tell through your giving?
“My challenge to you is this: Think about the story of change that ministries you’re giving to are living into through their programs and practices,” Dr. Fikkert says. “Is it shaping the people they serve, their staff, and their supporters into the likeness of Christ?”
As you consider how to help without hurting, think about the organizations you give to and support. Then, consider the following:
- What is their story of change?
- What are their goals?
- How can your giving help achieve them?
When you know their story, your generosity changes. Giving based on that story is how you make an impact. It’s how you live into God’s story.
It’s how you help without hurting.
Learn more about Helping Without Hurting in Generosity, a new online course created by The Chalmers Center and NCF.
