JubileeMuestra

The Jubilee was a year of setting things right; to level the balance of financial strains so that no man would be burdened or oppressed by poverty. It was also a year of agricultural rest. No farming or toiling. God promised to abundantly bless the harvests prior to the Jubilee, so His people could rest. Jubilee meant no one needed to worry about their livelihood, money or social problems. It was a year to focus on God.

Sadly, in today's world, so many are restrained by their circumstances that focusing on God feels impossible.

People who live in extreme poverty lack both income and assets, and typically suffer from interrelated, chronic deprivations, including hunger and malnutrition, poor health, limited education, and marginalization or exclusion. Poverty also affects self-esteem. USAID defines extreme poverty as “the inability to meet basic consumption needs on a sustainable basis.” People living in poverty often feel worthless and overlooked.

We’ve learned that the root cause of poverty is broken relationships – between people and God, people and themselves, and people and wider creation. When these relationships are restored, people’s identities are uncovered; potential is released; conflict is halted and peace can reign; creation is cared for, and can sustain all of us in return.

An end to extreme poverty is possible. We know it to be true, and we know how to make it happen. It’s all about two of our favorite things: the relentless love of Jesus and the restoration of broken relationships.

The church is the greatest force for good on the planet. Together, motivated by the love of Jesus, we can end extreme poverty. Find out how.