A Theological Framework for Poverty Alleviation: An Application in Global Mindset Development for Students Living in Poverty
by Wai Man Raymond Kwong
May 29th, 2012
The ministry challenge discussed in this dissertation is the lack of a theological聽framework for guiding the development and implementation of poverty alleviation聽interventions in the church, and particularly in relation to the global mindset development聽intervention for students from poor families. The approach for addressing the problem聽begins with an update on the core thoughts and beliefs of the Theology of Poverty and聽followed by the construction of a theological framework that can be used by the church in聽its selection and design of any anti-poverty program. In searching for a practical聽framework, the review of the latest Theology of Poverty covers thoughts from聽theologians and development practitioners from both evangelical and Roman Catholic聽circles.
A questionnaire-based survey is conducted to uncover the gap that exists between聽鈥渨here we are鈥� and 鈥渨here we should be鈥� in terms of caring for the poor. The result聽points to the need of more effort in promoting the holistic gospel or Theology of Poverty.聽聽The theological framework developed consists of four pillars: shema, shalom,聽sufficiency, and stewardship. They serve as the parameters for the design or evaluation of聽any compassionate ministry. The 4Ss framework is used to assess whether supporting聽poor students鈥� global mindset development could be a meaningful compassionate聽ministry for the church, and it is done through a case study of the Cross-Boundary
Learning Activities Program of the Hong Kong Community Care Fund. Although the聽framework does not confirm that the specific CBLA Program is the most appropriate聽ministry of love for the church, it does conclude that assistance for the global mindset聽development of students living in poverty is a long-term compassionate ministry the聽church should involve. A 4Ss-based program outline of an overseas study trip is聽obviously differed from that of a general overseas study trip.