It is Feasible
There is overwhelming evidence that now, in our generation, and for the first time in history, it is feasible to reduce poverty. Experts in poverty reduction are absolutely baffled by why more people who hold strong moral values – of any religious faith or none – are not feeling compassion for the plight of the poor and acting energetically to address it, because it is possible to do so. Harvard economist and World Bank specialist, Andrew Sachs explains in his book, “The End of Poverty,”

“…extreme poverty can be ended not in the time of our grandchildren but in our time. The wealth of the rich world, the power of today’s vast storehouses of knowledge, and the declining fraction of the world that needs help to escape poverty all make the end of poverty a realistic possibility by the year 2025.”

There is a Model
Surprisingly, experts on the left and right of the political spectrum, experts from faith-based NGO’s, national governments, and missionaries in the field agree on the actions that are necessary to tackle extreme poverty. A whole, or integral approach to poverty reduction that includes addressing hunger, health, education, aids relief, and fair trade practices is necessary to achieve the task in hand.

There is, in fact, little reason for presuming that the terrible problems of hunger and starvation around the world cannot be changed by Spirit lead human action. Experts around the world, from different disciplines and political viewpoints, are chiming in with the same insight: human action could end poverty in our generation. So can Christians play a part?

Ronald Sider writes,

“If at this moment in history a few million generous Christians blessed with material abundance dare to join hands with the poor around the world, we will decisively influence the course of world history.”

There are 6 billion people on earth. Two billion identify themselves as Christians. The potential for constructive change if we invest our minds, hands, hearts and resources in responding to extreme poverty and align our efforts with other groups, is tremendous.

Vanquishing extreme poverty is within our grasp. Will we be known as the first generation to have turned our backs on the poor? Or will we approach the throne of grace having heeded God’s call to stand with the poor?

Adapted from “What can One Person do? –Faith to Heal a Broken World” by Sabina Alkire and Edmund Newell. .Church Publishing, New York, 2005