Course Description

The Bible reveals that God is deeply concerned for the welfare of the vulnerable groups in society, and Christians are called to follow as Christ did: to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:18). However, believers, especially the middle class church, remain unable to perceive the poor, especially, those that are hidden from plain sight.

The Gospel, Poverty, and Injustice aims to sensitize students to problems that affect those in the margins of the society, and to familiarize the students to Biblical and theological motifs that pertain to the poor. In this way, the students will not only have to see the poor in their hiddenness, but see them in light of God’s Word. This course is specifically developed to be relevant to heart-landers who want to understand and begin to work against poverty and injustice in their own setting, as well as in the contexts of their neighboring majority world countries.

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Lecturers

Dr Marie Joy Pring

Associate Lecturer

Dr Marie Joy Pring received her Ph.D. in Transformational Development from Asia Graduate School of Theology, Philippines. A Langham Scholar, Marie now serves as an adjunct faculty at William Carey International University, Asian Theological Seminary, Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, and the Wesleyan University of the Philippines. Marie’s advocacy for at-risk children allowed her to serve as a research consultant for International Justice Mission and ECPAT International New York. Marie is a research fellow at the Nagel Institute at Calvin University. She also serves as a research adviser at Fuller Theological Seminary for the Doctor of Intercultural Studies-Pacifika program.

Mr Chng Eu Lee

Associate Lecturer

Mr Chng Eu-Lee is a Program Manager with World Vision where he oversees the design and implementation of faith-based programmes in Asia. He ensures WV programmes have strong faith integration; builds capacity of staff and church leaders in faith-based programmes; strengthens collaborations between WV, churches and other faith actors, and builds evidence on impact of faith engagement in alleviating poverty. Eu-Lee is the Vice-Chair of Micah Global and holds a Master in Transformational Development. He is pursuing a DMin with the Asia Graduate School of Theology Alliance.

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (Live)

  • Dates: 2025

    (Mondays)
    Feb: 3, 17
    Mar: 3, 17
    Apr: 7
    Closing Date for Registration
    Jan 31, 2025

  • Time

    7:15pm–10:00pm

Course curriculum

  • 1

    General

  • 2

    Topic 1: Understanding Poverty and the Poor

    • Understanding Poverty and the Poor

    • Chapter 1 When Helping Hurts

    • Chapter 2 When Helping Hurts

    • Lecture 01

    • Zoom recording for Session 1
  • 3

    Topic 2: Towards a Christian Understanding of Poverty

    • Towards a Christian Understanding of Poverty

    • Chapter 3 When Helping Hurts

    • Chapter 4 When Helping Hurts
  • 4

    Topic 3: What does poverty and injustice look like in Singapore?

    • What does poverty and injustice look like in Singapore?

    • YY Chapter 2 Everyday Lives

    • YY Chapter 7 Needs, Wants, Dignity

    • YY Chapter 8 Airing Dirty Laundry
  • 5

    Topic 4: What does poverty and injustice look like in the Majority world?

    • What does poverty and injustice look like in the Majority world?
  • 6

    Topic 5: Putting Faith into Action

    • Putting Faith into Action

  • 7

    Topic 6: General principles to facilitate change/ Class Wrap Up/Presentation

    • General principles to facilitate change/ Class Wrap Up/Presentation

    • Chapter 10 When Helping Hurts

    • Chapter 11 When Helping Hurts
  • 8

    Evaluation Form

    • Course Evaluation Form
  • 9

    Assignment Submission

    • Course Project 1

    • Course Project 2

    • Integrative Paper