Ending Poverty Together

with guest Alison Williams, Christians Against Poverty (CAP)

Getting lost in debt can feel like a shameful thing. Yet many Canadians face the hardships of financial struggle every day. How can we break the cycle of shame to open these discussions and ask for help?

As the former Managing Director & Global Head of Strategy and Business Management for BMO Capital Markets, Allison Williams knows a thing or two about money. Now the board chair of Christians Against Poverty, Allison is using her extensive financial experience to help the underserved reclaim their lives by getting out of unmanageable debt. 

In this episode, Allison breaks down how the budgeting processes that make your eyes glaze over can actually be made simple and life-giving through the power of community, as well as offering practical tips for Canadians heading into tax season. When it comes to debt, a holistic approach can make all the difference.

Recommended Reading:

Nevertheless By John Kirkby

CAP Money Course

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Allison Alley, Compassion Canada

It’s difficult to keep caring. How can we remain compassionate in light of so much hardship?

Allison Alley is the President and CEO of Compassion Canada, a global development organization that exists to permanently end childhood poverty in all its forms. In this episode, Allison shares about the unexpected dimensions of poverty, the vulnerability of children, the devastating effects of COVID-19 on children on the margins, and how we can help. Allison challenges us to shine a light, wherever we’re planted, and wake up to the “poverty of the wealthy” in our own lives.

Allison holds a Master of Arts in Global Leadership with an emphasis in International Development and Urban Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master of Business Administration from Ivey Business School. Allison and her husband live in London, Ontario and have two daughters.

Recommended Reading:

Eyes to See – A journey that helps teens to discover the spiritual nature of poverty, God’s heart for those in need, and the Church’s unique role to address poverty

 Step Into My Shoes – An immersive digital experience and devotional for families, churches, and groups

Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers

Transforming Society by Melba Padilla Maggay

Shrewd Samaritan by Bruce Wydick

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Donna Harris, Praxis | Builders and Backers

Afghanistan’s drug economy is one of the most lucrative in the country. But what happens when a new business provides communities with jobs cultivating tea as an alternative agriculture? That’s when you get something truly helpful: “redemptive entrepreneurship”.

In this episode, Donna Harris of Praxis talks about “redemptive entrepreneurship” and how this can be embedded into the bones of a business with a desire to help—it’s not just about making money and giving part of it away; it’s about structuring a business to meet the needs of its community.

"You can build beautiful things, and you can be a leader that exhibits kindness and concern as well as grows a highly scalable business. It's a different way to think about the gift that entrepreneurship can be in the world".

Recommended Readings:

Strength to Love by Martin Luther King

Makers and Takers by Rana Foroohar

Don’t Be Evil by Rana Foroohar

Lincoln’s Melancholy by Joshua Wolf Shenk

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with Guest Dr. Cheryl Bear, from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation

It’s no secret that in Canada, there’s a complicated relationship between the descendents of settlers and the Indigenous people. We see that Indigenous people more often experience material poverty and systemic racism, but many of us don’t know the historical reasons for this inequality. And we don’t know what to do about it. 

In this episode, Cheryl Bear of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation shares some of the painful context for where we find ourselves today and offers hope for a way toward reconciliation.

Recommended Resources:

Introduction to First Nations Ministry by Cheryl Bear

The Honor Drum by Cheryl Bear

The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King

One Church, Man by Richard Twiss

Hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Dr. Brian Fikkert, The Chalmers Institute, author of bestseller When Helping Hurts.

In North America, success often means lots of stuff — material wealth. Then, poverty is the lack of material wealth. And so, to help someone in poverty is to make sure they have more stuff! But is that what poverty is really all about?

Dr. Brian Fikkert hits us with a healthier way of understanding who is “the poor” (spoiler: it might include YOU, too) and how we should look at poverty. What should our goal be when trying to help, and not hurt?

Recommended Resources:

Walking with the Poor by Bryant Myers

Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty isn't the American Dream" by Fikkert and Kapic

The Field Guide to Becoming Whole by Fikkert and Kapic

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor....and Yourself by Corbett and Fikkert

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Mike Janz, Food for the Hungry Canada.

While never having experienced material poverty himself, Mike’s been running into the messiness of poverty his entire life. He’s lived in urban centres across Canada, taken trips to Haiti, ran a coffee shop, pastored a church, fundraised for causes — and is constantly faced with knowing what the best response is to poverty. What do you do when what you tried fails?

Recommended Resources:

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry;

Everywhere You Look by Scott Soerens;

The New Parish by Paul Sparks, Dwight Friesen, & Scott Soerens

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Jenny Shantz, Inner Hope Youth Ministry.

She’s seen it all. Working with teens and young adults in western Canada for most of her adult life, Jenny has seen things unimaginable to most Canadians. A lot of that has to do with fostering teens in her own home — something she’s done more than 50 times.

Recommended Resource: To view personal stories of hope, visit Inner Hope Youth Ministries profile page.

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

with guest Carissa Youssef, Food for the Hungry Canada.

What is poverty, really? Where does it come from? What are ways to effectively tackle such a huge problem? Carissa’s been wrapping her head and heart around it for years. She shares life-lessons on healthy helping, and tells her own personal experience with poverty and why she now is pouring her life into walking alongside others experiencing this vulnerability.

Recommended Resources:

Helping Without Hurting by Corbett and Fikkert;

Why Business Matters to God: (And What Still Needs to Be Fixed) by Jeff Van DuzerEpisode

Episode hosted by Shelaine and Eric.

What is this podcast all about? Let's discuss real causes and real solutions, and the beautiful, messy attempts people all over Canada are making to help. Together, we’ll tackle the tough questions and explore how ordinary people like you can engage to create lasting change.