Insert Preview

Are our efforts to help the poor always helpful, or could they sometimes do more harm than good?

Today, we’ll explore how short-term missions can genuinely reflect the heart of Christ and bring lasting change, without unintentionally hurting the very people we aim to serve. Dr. Brian Fikkert joins us for that conversation.

Dr. Brian Fikkert is a Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder and President of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. He is also the co-author of the book, Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions.

Americans often define poverty materially—a lack of necessities, such as food, clean water, clothing, or shelter. As a result, short-term mission trips often center around distributing goods or completing construction projects. But when you ask materially poor individuals around the world what poverty means to them, they describe feelings of shame, helplessness, and a lack of dignity.

This reveals a disconnect: while we view poverty as a lack of material possessions, those experiencing it often define it in relational, psychological, and spiritual terms. True poverty is brokenness in relationship—with God, self, others, and creation. That insight should transform how we approach short-term missions.

Even the most well-intentioned trips can do harm. Why? Because those going on these trips may carry pride, believing they have the answers or that their culture holds superiority. In contrast, those in materially poor communities often struggle with inferiority. That combination can worsen the very sense of worthlessness we hope to alleviate.

Rather than reinforcing this brokenness, we should pursue humility and listen more than we speak. The goal should not be to "fix" but to restore—to foster healthy relationships that reflect the image of God in all people.

Short-term trips shouldn't be about what we accomplish but about who we become in relationship.

If poverty is rooted in broken relationships, then the solution is to restore people to right relationships. And that doesn’t come through handing out supplies or completing a checklist—it comes through deep, lasting community.

That’s why the local church is God’s primary instrument of restoration. Mission teams should support these churches in a “backstage” role—serving quietly, praying faithfully, and encouraging leaders who are already embedded in the community. Sometimes the best thing you can do is babysit the pastor’s children so he and his wife can enjoy a night out. That kind of support strengthens the long-term work far more than any single project ever could.

Many short-term trips blur the line between gospel and Western culture. But the gospel transcends culture—and so should we.

Colossians 1 reminds us that Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. That means He is already at work in every community, regardless of how impoverished it may seem. When mission teams enter a new culture, they should approach it reverently, as if stepping onto holy ground. There is beauty in every culture, and highlighting it can be healing. Simply asking, “What’s good here?” affirm

Coach Nat Crawford shares how to build spiritual muscle with self-control. The great news is that self-control is available to us all through Jesus Christ. The question is, will you embrace it?

For your gift of any amount.....

Everyday Outreach  goes back to the Bible to help you discover how to share the hope of the Gospel in everyday ways with neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family - right where God has planted you. 

Click here to get your copies today.

Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.

Mark McClain, founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies, shares his non-traditional path to entrepreneurship after 10 years in corporate America. He discusses building a successful tech company with faith-based values, navigating multiple funding rounds (VC, PE, IPO, and back again), and balancing business ambition with family priorities.

[Chapters]

0:00 - Introduction

2:10 - Mark on South by Southwest and Austin's tech scene

6:08 - The evolution of faith in the workplace

10:26 - Mark's journey from corporate career to entrepreneurship

15:32 - Understanding SailPoint's identity management technology

18:47 - AI as both threat and opportunity in cybersecurity

20:34 - Navigating different funding methods as an entrepreneur

24:15 - The value of community vs. coaching for entrepreneurs

29:01 - The importance of staying connected to church community

31:40 - Building a successful business without sacrificing family

35:29 - Four S's of Christian leadership: Son, Sheep, Stock, and Stewardship

39:02 - A biblical perspective on retirement and stewardship

44:23 - Closing thoughts on community and faith

In this authentic conversation, Mark reveals:

• Why success rates increase for entrepreneurs who start after age 35
• The value of both peer community and expert coaching
• How to stay connected to your faith while scaling a business
• A biblical perspective on stewarding resources and opportunity
• Practical advice for staying present with family while building a company

#FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurialJourney #BusinessLeadership #FaithAndWork #ServantLeadership

Genesis 21 unfolds as a tale of two sons—Isaac and Ishmael—and reveals how God’s promise unfolds not through human effort, but through divine intervention. Today Dr. John Neufeld unpacks the significance of Isaac as the child of promise, contrasting the natural with the miraculous, and invites us to place our confidence not in what we can achieve, but in what only God can do.

Confident Faith: In this 4-week series on Genesis 18-25, Dr. John Neufeld looks at the life of Abraham and unpacks the topic of faith. How is faith formed? How does faith mature? And how can faith help us trust in what God has promised, even though we can’t see it yet.

How does Scripture point to Christ? Together, we are studying Old and New Testament passages over the course of the year, learning how all of Scripture speaks to Jesus. Join us as we dive deep into the Old and New Testament and marvel at the ways Jesus is on every page of the Bible.

Today, we are discussing week 19 day 2 of the CIAOS study.

You can follow along with us in Christ in All of Scripture| A 52-Week Journey of Discovering Jesus on Every Page of the Bible vol. 2

Visit The Daily Grace Co. for the Christ in All of Scripture bundle and for beautiful products that will equip you on your journey to knowing and loving God more.

Follow @dailygracepodcast on Instagram for exclusive podcast content and @thedailygraceco for all things The Daily Grace Co.

Subscribe to the Daily Grace Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and Read the Bible in a year with us in the Bible App.

Today on Bold Steps, Pastor Mark Jobe shows us how to live in the expectation of Christ’s return Last week we started a new series and we’ve been looking at the End Times.  For some … this is a really scary thought, but if we drill down into the text, it actually should fill us with us hope. How ready are you for that day? What do you need to get ready? Today we’re going to be talking about End Times preparedness.

Bold Steps Gift: LIES GIRLS BELIEVE: AND THE TRUTH THAT SETS THEM FREE

Become a Bold Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.