# When Helping Still Hurts (Brian Fikkert) Ep. #254 Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254 Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254.md Podcast: [The Biblical Mind](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674) Published: 2026-05-28T09:30:00+00:00 Episode link: https://centerforhebraicthought.podbean.com/e/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254/ Audio file: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/7e6638de-6574-47f6-ad6a-4fa95b3b7ade.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-biblical-mind-543674/episodes/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254 Duration seconds: 2754 ## Resource In this episode, Dru Johnson interviews Dr. Brian Fikkert about poverty, charity, economic development, and the role of the church in helping vulnerable communities flourish. Drawing from decades of experience in poverty alleviation and Christian mission, Fikkert explains why many well-intentioned efforts to help the poor can unintentionally create dependency, undermine dignity, and fail to address the deeper relational causes of poverty. The conversation explores key themes from When Helping Hurts , including the difference between relief, rehabilitation, and development, as well as how churches and nonprofits can better serve communities both locally and globally. Fikkert also discusses the spiritual dimensions of poverty, the importance of restoring human dignity, and why effective compassion requires long-term relationships rather than quick fixes. This episode is essential listening for Christians, pastors, missionaries, nonprofit leaders, and anyone interested in biblical justice, economic development, and sustainable poverty alleviation. If you care about faith, generosity, missions, and helping people in ways that truly empower them, this conversation with Brian Fikkert offers practical wisdom and a deeply biblical framework for serving others well. To learn more about Dr. Fikkert's work at the Chalmers Center Click Here . We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Poverty: A New Perspective… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-biblical-mind-543674/episodes/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-biblical-mind-543674/when-helping-still-hurts-brian-fikkert-ep-254.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.