Can the church end poverty?

Article adapted from C. Gatti originally posted in ‘Beliefnet.com’

"It’s up to us to show that the best of faith can defeat the worst of religion."

World Vision hosted a prayer vigil with our partners to pray for a bolder political influence at the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday, Sept. 25th in New York City. Other faith-based organisations joined World vision to acknowledge the progress since the birth of the Millennium Development Goals 13 years ago and to review goals for the post-2015 agenda.

Half a billion people are no longer living in extreme poverty since the launch of Millennium Development Goals. About 30 percent of childhood deaths caused by malaria dropped to one quarter. However, this will not be enough. World and faith leaders need to continue the momentum if poverty is to be eradicated. President Kevin Jenkins of World Vision International is cautiously optimistic.

Jenkins noted that, ‘Interestingly, the broader development sector is increasingly recognising that sustainable transformation rarely occurs without a comprehensive approach, including attention to the spiritual side of life’.

‘Interestingly, the broader development sector is increasingly recognising that sustainable transformation rarely occurs without a comprehensive approach, including attention to the spiritual side of life’.

Jenkins went on to say that, ‘Poverty is complex, so addressing it is a long journey requiring grace, perseverance, commitment, funding, etc. One of the biggest hurdles is holding governments accountable for their promises – both in the developed world and in the developing world. It’s not enough to make a declaration or issue a press release, we need governments to follow through’.

Joining World Vision was Bread for the World, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Micah Challenge USA, Sojourners, and the World Evangelical Alliance.
You can read the original article HERE