A Field Guide to Becoming Whole: Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries

“I've been waiting for a follow-up to When Helping Hurts that would give sound, biblical, practical, and replicable counsel to those trying to help marginalized people in our communities. Becoming Whole and A Field Guide to Becoming Whole do not disappoint! Here we have tools that can be used with leaders at every level in the church so that we can do good works that protect dignity, foster productivity, and attend to systemic and spiritual forces that limit human flourishing. Read this and be repaid with wisdom for the work of ministry! ”

“I've been waiting for a field guide like this, which provides formative stories and tangible best practices to help address brokenness and poverty through the pursuit of personal, communal, and systemic transformation. The biblical concept of becoming whole and intertwined peace is not just a response to these systemic issues but God's intended hope and call for humanity. ”

“I used to hear this cliché in Christian circles, “Those who are heavenly minded are no earthly good.” However, the truth is that heavenly mindedness leads to the most earthly good. That is, those who grasp “God's goals for human beings and His way of achieving those goals” are positioned on the foundation that will not give way as we strive through the ups and downs of trying to love our materially poor neighbors well. Yet, we still want to know what to do in practice. If that describes you, your church, or your ministry, this is your book. The best theology applies the Word of God to the practical areas of life. Kelly Kapic and Brian Fikkert have done just that in the A Field Guide to Becoming Whole. Chock-full of real-life stories, Scripture, biblical principles, pointed questions and considerations, they have done an invaluable service for those who want to see all of God's image bearers flourish. ”

“With honesty and humility, A Field Guide to Becoming Whole roots out the invisible idol of the American Dream that has seduced many Western Christians and tragically hampered efforts at poverty alleviation. Fikkert and Kapic offer pointed and practical advice, reminding us that God's kingdom is an upside-down world where the pursuit of wholeness—rather than wealth—honors the inherent dignity and worth of all stakeholders. ”