As Christians, What Can We Do When Faced With The Reality Of Poverty?

Danielle Strickland is no stranger to poverty. As the co-founder of Stop the Traffic and Amplify Peace, she is on the front line in the battle against poverty and oppression, worldwide.

Working with Compassion UK as an Ambassador and Sponsor, Danielle recorded her life changing experience of meeting her sponsored child, Emerson, in the poverty of Haiti.

Watch this unforgettable moment of love and justice, and learn more about how Danielle makes the choice to fight against poverty, in Jesus’ name:

Can one person really make a difference in the fight against poverty?

Jesus demonstrated that it can. He went to the one, He stopped for the one, He touched the one, He healed the one, He knew the name of the one. The child sponsorship model is powerful because it’s choosing to see one individual. It’s like saying, ”Emerson, I see you. No one else does, other people might say you’re one of those kids that doesn’t have enough, but I choose to see you.”

God’s kingdom works one at a time; the lost son, the lost coin, the lost sheep. It is the nature of God Himself. I believe this one by one model can change the world.

Sponsoring a child is one vital step that can begin to rid the world of poverty. And it’s such a small and easy act, for those of us who have more privilege and wealth in the world.

Poverty revolves around a lack of choice

Sponsoring a child gives them more choices. Choices to eat. Choices to go to school. Choices to join a church. Choices they didn’t have before.

But that starts with you making the choice to help.

You can help silence the voice of poverty for other children like Emerson and sponsor a child with Compassion today:

It’s hard to face poverty, but Jesus calls us to be agents of change

Pay attention to the things that move you. That thing that irritates you, the news story that disrupts your day or the conversation you can’t forget. Decide to tune in to what you can’t ignore. What if those interruptions are God exposing the things he wants you to change?

There is no changing the future without disturbing the present. – Catherine Booth

I think that a lot of people want a changed future without changing anything now – that’s impossible.

The thing about seeing poverty is it makes me angry. It’s weird because it makes some other people cry, but for me it just makes me angry. It makes me angry not because people have to live like this, it doesn’t make me angry just because it disempowers people, it makes me angry because I know we can stop it.

In the world we are in danger of a self-focused salvation so really my job is to be a bridge. I invite people to come out of comfortable backgrounds and encourage them to meet people even in Western contexts, which are supposed to jar them.

People say, “I’m overwhelmed.” and I say “That’s the right response. I’m overwhelmed, you’re overwhelmed, Jesus is overwhelmed. Actually he wept quite openly about it.”

And then the question becomes, “Now what? Could we participate? What can we do?”

Action usually starts with a small step. In a Compassion context, it might start with sponsoring a child or it could be helping your kids to engage with poverty.

I’ve had a wonderful journey with my kids and sponsorship is where I have been able to really invite them into justice as kids. I share with them and say, “This is poverty, this child is just like you, living on the other side of the world and you guys can connect and have a friendship.”

If everyone took one small step, we could change the world. Will you take that step?

You can help silence the voice of poverty for other children like Emerson and sponsor a child with Compassion today:

We might be tempted to run away but that won’t change our hearts and it won’t change the world

Challenge yourself, lean into the discomfort by learning more about the issue or cause that stirs you. Whether that is supporting refugees, getting to know your neighbours, donating to your local food bank, sponsoring a child, helping at a homeless shelter or praying for the persecuted church.

Do some research, discover the facts and connect with organisations who can face the discomfort with you. Being informed often takes away a lot of the paralysis and fear that so often holds us back.

People think that fighting injustice is for the experts or you need special qualifications.

We do this to poverty too, which is one of the reasons I love Compassion. It’s an accessible, ethical and relational way to engage in the issues surrounding poverty.

The answer to poverty is simply to share. We might think we need all the right knowledge, the exam grades or smart strategies. Start sharing what you have and see what happens.

You can help silence the voice of poverty for other children like Emerson and sponsor a child with Compassion today: