Addressing systemic poverty globally through partnerships

A Matthew 25 online event set for Oct. 28 looks to learn from the communities

by Melody K. Smith | Presbyterian News Service

Farmers in West African are proud of their new crops, made possible through the West African Initiative. (Photo by Valéry Nodem)

LOUISVILLE — The online Matthew 25 series continues with a fourth event scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Oct. 28. This online event will address the global issues around eradicating systemic poverty, one of the three focuses of the Matthew 25 vision along with building congregational vitality and dismantling structural racism.

Want to get ideas of how to help eradicate systemic poverty around the globe? Register for the Oct. 28^th Matthew 25 event by clicking here.

“Eradicating systemic poverty is one of the three foci of the Matthew 25 vision. Living into this goal is challenging. Poverty is complex and intersects with economic, political and social policies,” said the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “By supporting partners who address hunger and injustice around the world, we can help communities implement their solutions to addressing hunger, creating self-sustaining systems that respect their culture and tradition.”

This event is open to everyone — all Matthew 25 congregations, groups and mid councils that have made the commitment to embrace the Matthew 25 vision, as well as anyone interested in learning more about Matthew 25. It will model the previous Matthew 25 events with facilitated dialogue, guest speakers and the sharing of resources.

“Famine and hunger are a reality today for many of our siblings around the world. Matthew 25 challenges us to respond as if Christ were hungry,” said Moffett. “Responding to poverty through projects is not enough if systems that create or perpetuate hunger and poverty are not properly identified, analyzed and challenged.”

The Matthew 25 vision was launched in April 2019. Currently there are more than 740 churches, groups and mid councils that have made the commitment to become a Matthew 25 church. This represents over 6,700 congregations across the country that have received the invitation and have been engaged in this bold vision.