The same basic principle applies to missions work. Too many churches and other missions organizations over-emphasize Relief Aid--no-strings-attached, handouts of vital supplies given in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. While necessary and lifesaving, Relief Aid is only a temporary fix. Once the funds dry up and the ground team leaves, the impoverished community is often no better off than they were before.
In Teach a Man to Fish, the authors illustrate the benefits of "wholistic transformational development," where--through engagement with the local church-- the community is empowered to identify and carry out long-term sustainable solutions to meet its own needs. A few of the steps that "wholistic transformational development" includes are:
- Give dignity to "the least of these"
- Address the root causes of poverty to provide solutions for the affected
- Help the vulnerable to become empowered in their own communities