Making Poverty History
1. Repent of our stinginess and be more generous
2. Use food wisely at parties, reunions and open houses (take extra or leftover food to a homeless shelter)
3. Have a family garage sale and give the proceeds to a cause fighting poverty, shelter or food bank
4. Serve at a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen, as a family
5. Meet and get to know people of all socioeconomic levels
6. Make one “poor meal” a month in your home (eat a very, very, very simple meal to remind your family that for many people such a meal is not an unpleasant reality that happens once a month. It is a way of life).
7. Become actively involved in causes fighting and decreasing poverty – One, Samaritan’s Purse,, Plumpynut
8. Change your lifestyle – Live more simply
9. Start a family charity box or coffee can, where you put extra change, money you would spend for coffee or fast food. Each month determine what charity, shelter, or poor person the money will go to.
10. Be homeless for a day or night
11. Adopt a child or children
12. Take a homeless person to dinner and actually sit and talk with him/her
13. Skip a weekly trip to the grocery store and donate money to a poor single mother, shelter, or food bank
14. Talk with your children about poverty and its affects
15. Avoid overconsumption
16. Fight injustice and oppression – in schools, among women, people of color, etc.
17. Get involved with Tabitha’s Closet
18. Invite friends to watch a documentary on poverty and how it affects the futures of poor people
19. Give people what they really need and lack; don’t give stuff away just to be kind or to not feel guilty
20. Educate yourself on at least one aspect of poverty over the next month
I know we will always have poor people in our world. This simply means we have more opportunities to bless them with our generosity. What are some other do you think we can make poverty history in our world?
Don’t forget to leave a comment. Later this week I will let you know what organization we’ve chosen and how much we will be contributing. Thanks for your partnership. Grace and peace.
Popularity: 50% [?]
Tags: charity, Compassion, Family, Love, poverty
July 14th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Like what u have going on with making poverty history. We should all be more servant like James 2: 14-18 says action with out deeds is nothing. Keep up the good work Marvin
July 14th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Amazing Message. Really touched me in many ways, and made me realize different things I could actually do to help others and put my thoughts into actions in being part of a solution. It also opened my eyes to everything that I DO have, and how I "don't have a clue" to how some people live and struggle. So once again thanks for the message (it is still tugging at my heart), and for opening my eyes to the reality of many people right in front of us! Let me know if you need anything i.e. donations to a specific charity when you choose one, etc.
Heather
July 14th, 2009 at 2:11 am
I love this idea, Marvin; here's my first comment!
We miss seeing you guys on Sundays.
Blessings,
Mary
July 14th, 2009 at 2:27 am
what a great idea marvin!
July 14th, 2009 at 3:08 am
Dear Pastor Williams,
Poverty and homelessness are devastating issues facing our society and world today. We at The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center in Los Angeles do our part in addressing one of the major causes: drug and alcohol abuse. Our rehabilitation center houses several hundred addicted individuals, both men and women, in the heart of Skid Row. We also sponsor a daily program known as Message and a Meal that serves over 15,000 meals annually. Non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. face funding challenges, and The Salvation Army is not exempt. Please pray for the Harbor Light Center and the work that we do helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals within our community. Thank you ever so much, may God bless you.
Sincerely,
Pastor Arthur G. Spencer, Volunteer/Local Officer
Community Care Ministries
July 14th, 2009 at 3:10 am
With the limited amount of time I've spent with those living in poverty, #12 on the list hit home. Actually listening and sharing life with those in poverty speaks louder than simply being generous with our material possesions. By actually giving ourselves to others we are building relationships that communicate love, care, and acceptance.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:14 am
this is an excellent post, and an excellent cause
July 14th, 2009 at 4:24 am
Marvin,
We just had this talk with the kids tonight, as one in particular was complaining about the dinner Lyn had prepared. I told this child that we should make a nice meal, and instead of eating it we were going to give it to a family that had NOTHING. And then we would eat beans for dinner! Then we took a picture of one of the children that we sponsor through World Vison and Compassion International and began to TRY to describe to our kids how these children live on a day to day basis. I don't know if they fully understand how Blessed we. I dont know if they fully grasp the living conditions that others have to endure. We do know that Tyler, our 5 yr old, does NOT want to sleep in the dirt under the deck to try to get a feel for what others live like
All I can say is : " God is Good…All the time! All the Time…. God is Good! "
Blessings
July 14th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Love #5 and 8 and wish more people would not just talk about it – but DO it! Thanks for making a donation on my behalf – especially if it might be staying here in GR. It will benefit many of those whom I work with daily!
July 14th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Noelle, thanks for the response. you are one of our pace cars. I would love to interview you in the future, regarding the ministry you’re doing and the life you’re living on behalf of the marginalized in our community. Bless you! Keep disturbing us with challenges to get involved.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
KP, that is so cool. This is exactly what I am talking about. My boys and I had a conversation last night as well. Our devotion was on "Why Give Money to the Church?" So we got a chance to talk about our responsibility to be good managers of all that God has given us. Let's keep talking to our kids about this issue, and maybe this will be the generation that makes poverty history. Bless you, brother.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Thanks, Marvin. Blessings on you, friend.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Yes! Yes! and Yes! I feel your heart on this. The idea you presented to me on Sunday is one that gives dignity, respect and value to the voice of those stricken with poverty. Let's find more creative ways to give ourselves to the poor and homeless. Bless you, Derik.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Arthur, thanks for the response. The work you're doing in L.A. sounds incredible. Father, by the authority of your Son, Jesus, bless the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center with your presence and provision. May you continue to raise up volunteers and donors to meet the needs of the poor and homeless in Los Angeles. Continue to give Arthur everything he needs to add value and dignity to the lives of the poor and homeless. Amen.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thanks, Darcy. I really appreciate your support. Blessings!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Mary, thanks! Pass it on to others. We miss you all as well. Tell David and the kids we said hello. Blessings!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
You are too kind. Heather, let's keep our eyes open, hearts soft and hands open to respond, not just with money, but with time and services and other creative ways to serve. Blessings!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Absolutely! Our faith must be demonstrated by our deeds. Man, you are so on point with this. Keep talking about and thinking through how we can live out our faith. Bless you!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Noelle, thanks for your comments. Keep disturbing us with challenges to make our faith real. You ministry and life are examples of genuine servanthood. My hope is to find a local organization and an international one. Also, I would love to interview you at some point about the work you are doing. I will let you know. Blessings on you!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:22 am
What an incredible idea! What a God-driven idea! You are the man, Marvin. Really gets us to thinking about what we are doing and why in this life. #6 is my personal favorite. Every day we have an over abundance of food, so eating that way would stretch my imagination. #8 has been my goal for a long time. Thanks for reminding us of how blessed we really are.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:36 am
thanks for the timely reminder. homelessness and hunger are constant problems, but a lot of people think about them mostly at thanksgiving and xmas holidays (or cold weather?). i love the "charity can" idea — we had a "tzdaka box" in the classroom when i was a child — i will be starting this at my home
best
–vicka
July 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Great post. I believe love is a an action word. Doing any of the above suggestions demonstrates this love.
TW
July 14th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Excellent post Marvin!!! Poverty is so inherent within our society today. It knows no color, race or age. We should all be humble and willing to serve others in their time of need. Very good points you've made.
Marsha ~ Frenz4life
"The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied…but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing." ~John Berger
July 14th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
If each of us just made it a point to do something to help someone in need we could eradicate poverty. Sad that we in the US shelter ourselves from others with less. Thanks for doing more than your share to help others know they are not forgotten!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Wow, John Berger has it right on! (Sadly)
July 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Wow, John Berger has it right on! (Sadly)
July 14th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Love that quote by John Berger. Thanks for posting it Marsha.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Marsha, I will sit and live with this quote for a while. Thanks for your perspective.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Dave, thanks for your perspective, support and friendship. Blessings on you and the people at revolution sacramento! Grace and peace.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Hey Marvin. This is AWESOME! I love what you're doing, leading by example! Are you familiar with the Making Poverty History movement and conference through Sojourners Magazine (http://www.sojo.net) in Washington DC a couple months ago?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Vicka, good to hear from you. Had not not heard from you in a while. I am glad that my post was inspirational in some sense to you. My family will use a coffee can to help kids in Kitindi, DR Congo. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Judy, thanks for your encouragement. I hope it sparks something in all of us. We can all do our part in our little corner of the world. I can and will make a difference. Thanks for your perspective and support. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:14 am
[...] For the last seven years, Marvin has been one of the lead pastors, along with his partners, Artie Lindsay and Kizombo Kalumbua, of Tabernacle Community Church (www.tabernaclecommunity.org), a church that they planted in 2002. Marvin was born and raised on the Westside of Chicago, Illinois. He was the second child to Silas and Beatrice Williams. He grew up not liking church at all. He thought it was boring and scary. He would hide his shoes on Sunday morning, making his mother late for worship and thus leaving him at home. Most Sundays it worked. However, the older he became, the … « Making Poverty History [...]
July 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for the creativity that you and your family are putting into this poverty fight! It reminds me that there's so much more that I could be doing and I will put forth more effort into meeting the needs of those in need! Be blessed, because you have blessed others!
July 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Fantastic Idea.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Thanks! I love you blog. You are kicking some major tail for your generation. Keep it up! Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Senita, thanks for your support now and over the years. We are just trying to do our part. You are a blessing to this community. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Marc, thanks. Had not heard of the movement/conference. I will check it out, though. Again, thanks for your support. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Marc, thanks. Had not heard of the movement/conference. I will check it out, though. Again, thanks for your support. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Big up to the idea! Rip it!
July 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
This is a good idea. However, I hope that we will all be reminded not to step over those who we know are in need in our immediate sphere of influence as we pack the car to find others. We all personally know someone who we see daily or weekly that we can show grace and love too. I know I do. This just reminds me to move quicker, more consistently, and without reason to help those I speak to, live with and more importantly, serve with every day.
July 15th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
you may also be interested in Kiva, which lets you fund microloans to entrepreneurs in impoverished countries to help get them started on pulling themselves out of the gutter and into a sustainable business.
http://www.kiva.org/
Whole Foods has a similar program with the Whole Planet Foundation, which you can make donations to, but Kiva puts your donation directly toward the loan that is being applied for.
http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/
It's a concept that was developed by Muhammad Yunus, an economist who's written a couple books on the subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Yunus
July 15th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I am blessed and at the same time challenged to see this concept put in action. I will do what I can to help.
Thank you…
July 15th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Chris, thanks a lot for the links. I like the idea of microloans. I will check out the sites later today. Thanks for commenting. My family really appreciates it.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Great point! It seems so much easier to look across the sea than to look across the street. Thanks for reminding me of that today. Your point was well taken. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Sergio, thanks for your perspective; it has added value to the conversation. If I do my part and you do your part, I believe we can make a big difference. Again, thanks. Grace and peace.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Marc, thanks much. Let's rip it together. Grace and peace. BTW, thanks for the RT on Twitter.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for the inspiration!
July 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I always had a place in my heart for helping others, what ever I have I would give. I take much care of the things me and my family have because I know I will pass it on to someone who may enjoy or need it. Im blessed that I did not grow up being dirt poor, I am grateful that God still gave me the eye and heart to have empathy and compassion for those less fortunate. I am cleaning out my kids rooms and looking through my home to give away today. I just love the peace and joy I receive from helping others and I know that is what God instructs us to do. Blessed are those he keeps his instructions.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:57 am
You're very welcome. Thanks for the support through your comment. Grace and peace.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Keep looking for those opportunities to serve and help those who are helpless and vulnerable. We doing the same thing this week with our kids' room. We're making progress. Thanks for your support. Grace and peace.
July 18th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Thanks for doing this project and donating to those who are in need. The reminders above are valuable to me as I learn ways to make wiser use of the resources God has blessed me with. You and your family are truly a blessing to the body of Christ. Keep making Jesus look good!
July 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Loved the message and think that more and more we are becoming a society that is worried about our own cares, worries, concerns, and material posessions. We spend so much time worrying about our wants that we neglect others needs!
I also wanted to remind us that we can do all these good deeds (i.g. feed the poor, take them to the dentist, give the poor clothes), but if we do this not in the name of Jesus we have completely wasted out time. We will just have well feed, white teethed, greatly dressed people that aren't saved. When we do these things it is important to be looking for every reasonable opportunity to let them know why you are doing this, and the hope that you have in Christ. Great deeds without sharing the greatest truth of all is tradgedy.
"Therefore go and make diciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit" Matthew 28:19 This is why we take the care of the poor, not because it is some cool social trendy movement.
July 18th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Great point! Our good deeds flow out of our love for Jesus and people. Good works are proof that we have passed from death to life. Thanks for reminding us of this very germane point to god deeds and salvation. It would be tragic if we shared our resources and failed to share the greatest Resource, Jesus with the marginalized, helpless and vulnerable in our society. Thanks for adding your voice to this conversation. It has added value. Grace and peace.
July 18th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Trace, thanks for adding your voice to this post. If not else, I hope it reminds us of how blessed we are and that God desires us to be generous with our resources. Blessings on you and all your endeavors for him! Grace and peace.