| The
Bible speaks about poverty: John 19:28-30 – 28 After
this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the
scripture), "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was
standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to
his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is
finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Good works that 'work':
Among the many partnerships formed in the NCC Poverty Mobilization is
one between the NCC and Habitat
for Humanity, International. Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumenical
Christian housing ministry that invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to
build houses together with families in need. Through this partnership, the NCC has
become part of what Habitat's director Millard Fuller has called "a new
movement," in our time--in many respects like the movement to end slavery in the 19th
century--in which "the church of Jesus Christ is in the forefront saying that poverty
housing, homelessness, are a disgrace before God." |
Poverty
by the numbers: 
In 1999 in the United States, 21.2 percent of African Americans, 33.4 percent of Hispanic
and 11 percent of non-Hispanic whites had no health insurance. (U.S. Census)
Preaching about poverty:
"Reaching
Out to Those in Need." The Rev. David A. Shirey, Southport Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ). |
