When Helping Helps
A story of restored faith, dignity, and purpose.
Oct 21st, 2025 | Ben Choitz
Every once in a while, a story comes along that reminds us why we do what we do.
Recently, we received a message from Gabe, a young man from Chibolya whose journey from hopelessness to purpose is a powerful picture of God’s transforming grace. His words reflect not only gratitude but deep spiritual renewal. Real change happens when hearts, lives, and communities are restored through Christ.
As I read Gabe’s note, I couldn’t help but think of a central idea from the book When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett: poverty is not simply a lack of material things. At its root, poverty is the brokenness of our relationships with God, ourselves, others, and the rest of creation.
Gabe’s story gives us a glimpse of what it looks like when those relationships begin to heal.
Below is Gabe’s message, shared exactly as we received it.
Gabriel Story:
Good afternoon Ben, how are you and the family doing?
I was just reflecting on how my life has been to where I am right now. You and everyone have been a blessing from the time I met you till date. You taught me what Christianity is all about and everything you taught me in relation to JESUS has helped me navigate through the Nicest and worst of times, and as though the Gospel and moral teachings were not enough you helped me move from my secondary school at Luangwa Secondary School to the beginning and the end of my Tertiary education at Defence School of Health Sciences, I am a graduate now thanks to you and everyone who saw the good in me that even I could not see in me and helped me be what I am today (I was always resentful of my existence I remember going round Chibolya in headsets speaking bad of myself) thank you for showing me that even if the ones hurt they should not only focus on the pain cause once you do you will miss the joyful moments. You didn't only help me and my family you stood for the lowest community in Chongwe town and spoke the word to the youths, the women and men and helped the youths understand what life is about outside the negative, though saddened by Clifford's death we are happy that he at least left this world with the comfort that he was never alone and he love knowing that Christ Loves him.
I know you will say its only by His GRACE that you helped us TRUE and I acknowledge that all is done through the Lord's LOVE, WILL and POWER, but I also acknowledge that Man was granted FREE WILL of choice and yet You(Ben Choitz) Kristin Choitz and the One Collective Organisation chose to help a community that has not physical or earthly ties with aside for the LOVE of CHRIST, with that said I will say it again THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME (Gabriel Munanjala), my family and the Chibolya community thank you so very much.
What Gabe’s Story Shows About True Transformation
1. Relationship with God - Spiritual Reconciliation
Gabe says, “You taught me what Christianity is all about… everything you taught me in relation to JESUS has helped me navigate through the nicest and worst of times.”
This shows that the help he received wasn’t primarily material, it was rooted in spiritual truth and discipleship. Gabe encountered the Gospel, not just good works. He learned that his worth and purpose come from Christ, which aligns directly with When Helping Hurts’ emphasis that the greatest poverty is spiritual separation from God.
Helping without hurting means reconnecting people to their Creator, not creating dependency on human helpers.
2. Relationship with Self - Identity and Dignity Restored
He writes, “I was always resentful of my existence… speaking bad of myself… but you saw the good in me that even I could not see in me.”
This is a powerful example of restoration of self-image, he’s moving from shame and self-contempt to understanding his value as someone created in God’s image.
In When Helping Hurts, poverty is described as brokenness in identity, a feeling of powerlessness and worthlessness. We walked alongside Gabe, affirming his dignity, and believing in his potential. We participated in God’s redemptive work to heal that broken relationship within himself.
3. Relationship with Others - Community and Belonging
Gabe reflects on how our ministry impacted his family and the whole Chibolya community:
“You stood for the lowest community… spoke the word to the youths, the women and men… and helped the youths understand what life is about.”
This demonstrates a repaired relational fabric, the restoration of a healthy, supportive, loving community. Where isolation, distrust, and hierarchy once ruled, mutual care and solidarity now thrive.
When Helping Hurts stresses that effective help happens with people, not to them. Our ministry didn’t merely provide aid, it cultivated relationships that mirrored the love and unity found in the body of Christ.
4. Relationship with the Rest of Creation – Purposeful Work and Stewardship
He shares that we helped him through school to graduation:
“You helped me move from my secondary school… to the end of my tertiary education at Defence School of Health Sciences. I am a graduate now.”
This is restoration of productivity and stewardship, a core theme in When Helping Hurts. Through education and empowerment, he can now use his God-given skills and resources to bless others. Work becomes worship, and creation is cared for as he fulfills his role as a steward, not a dependent.
A Living Picture of Restoration
Gabe’s letter is more than gratitude. It is a testimony of holistic transformation.
Here’s how that change is now affecting others:
One of the clearest signs of transformation is what happens next. It doesn’t stay contained in one person’s story. Ben and Kristin shared that after Gabe completed his medical training, he began using those skills to care for another member of the community who later passed away. He visited him twice a day to check his blood sugar, administer insulin, help ensure he was eating properly, and even assist with bathing. No one asked him to do it. He saw a need and stepped in with the gifts God had given him. That kind of response is a picture of holistic transformation taking root, then being passed on to others.
This is exactly the kind of transformation When Helping Hurts describes. Real change flows from the Gospel and spreads outward into every part of life.
Gabe’s story is just one glimpse of what God is doing through this ministry in Chibolya, restoring hope, dignity, and purpose where despair once ruled.
And it reminds us that when relationships are restored, lives and communities begin to flourish.
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