An End to Poverty
May 1, 2009
This week was spirit filled and intense as I traveled to Washington DC for Jim Wallis’ Sojourners “Mobilizations to End Poverty Conference” with Tom Baxter, the Missions Pastor from our church, First Christian Assembly. Both traveling with Tom Baxter and heading to a Sojourners Conference were a first. We would both find out we had a lot to learn and a lot of work ahead of us in Ohio if we are going to see change in this arena in our lifetime.
In case you didn’t know, 2005-2007 Ohio poverty rate in comparison to the US was:
- Overall: Ohio 13.2% US 13.3%
- Children: Ohio 18.5% US 18.3%
- Seniors 65+: Ohio 8.4% US 9.9%
Ohio ranks 30th in US States in terms of it’s poverty rate with 1st having the lowest rate of poverty, and 51st having the highest. Other statistics about Ohio:
- Health Care: 10.7% of Ohio’s population does not have health insurance.
- Education: 10.3% of Ohio’s population between ages 25 and 34 have not graduated from high school.
- Food Security: 1,287,349 people received food stamps in Ohio in January, 2008
- Unemployment: Ohio’s unemployment rate was 9.7% in March, 2009, compared to the US rate of 8.5%
This doesn’t have to be so, but changes are required of each and every community member if it is going to improve. In the words of President Obama who spoke to us via satellite, “…We’re going to have to mobilize our society, not just to cut poverty, but to prevent more people from slipping into poverty…we’ve got a lot of work to do economically in this country to bring about a more just and fair economy.”
Each day we discussed the need to tackle the issues of poverty as a primary initiative. We focused on our congressional leaders and the people of our country taking a stand for the rights of the poor.
Many panels discussions emphasized our biblical mandate as Christians to be at the forefront fighting for the rights of the poor. In President Obama’s first session of the 111th Congress he proposed H. CON. RES. 102 (House Concurrent Resolution 102)“ Expressing that the United States has a moral responsibility to meet the needs of those persons groups, and communities that are impoverished, disadvantaged, or otherwise in poverty.” Declaring a reduction of poverty to half of what it is today by 2020. Yes, 10 years to reduce poverty by 50% with tangible metrics and measures to bring it to pass. In order to do so we have to tackle health care, race, immigration, peace, the environment, the economy, social justice, and organize communities to name a few of the pieces to the puzzle.
Those present from various denominations all agreed that more must be done by ‘people of faith.’ Several highlights of the conference included messages by Dr. John Perkins, Dr. Vincent Hardin, Rich Sterns President of World Vision, Dr. Freddie Haynes III, Dr. Vashti McKenzie, Rep. John Lewis to name a few.
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