How much progress has Christianity made in their attempt to eradicate poverty?

Question

Since they are always collecting money for the poor, are there any statistics that these donations have an effect on reducing the poverty level in the world?
This is a serious question.

Answer 1

They help more than you think, they just don't publicize it. I know that my church helps people on a daily basis. Whether it be in our home town, several states from here or any place we see a need.
Each person has to do his/her own share, not just a certain group of people. We all must pitch in and help to eradicate poverty. We must do this by compassion and generosity. We must throw away all stereotyping like the question you just asked. It doesn't matter who does what as long as it gets done. Isn't that the goal?
We must all let go of "self" and think of "others" first. Then and only then will poverty be overcome.

Answer 2

I know that my church here does more to help out people with food and utilities than Catholic Charities and Salvation Army combined. Between the three, and a few Baptist churches helping here and there, we manage to get quite a bit done in our city. I know, because I help out with the community services. I actually go to the store and purchase $150 - $200 worth of groceries at a time for people. I actually go and pay these people's utility bills for them. I go and visit with them and take them blankets and other things that they need. I even babysit for them while they go on job interviews and the like.

My whole church has something called ADRA. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International is an independent humanitarian agency established in 1984 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the specific purposes of individual and community development and disaster relief. Working in more than 120 countries, ADRA is one of the more efficient relief agencies operating in the world, keeping its administrative costs to about 10 percent while benefiting more than 24 million people annually. It is comparable to The Red Cross and to The Salvation Army.

ADRA's development and relief work covers five core activities: Food Security, Economic Development, Primary Health, Disaster Preparedness and Response, and Basic Education.

We may not be able to have a huge effect on reducing the poverty level in the world, as we are actually a small church compared to the Baptists, Catholics, etc. But we are doing above and beyond our part.

Answer 3

Matt 26:11 You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer.
So yes the church does do something to help but even Christ new you will never be rid of the poor until people have a heart like His willing to sacrifice what they have and give to those who do not.

Well seeing you needed to ask I wonder how much you have
done to help i know you are one of the ones who change the channel when Feed the Children come on or steps over the poor in the street to get your coffee in the morning.

Answer 4

I don't have stats. There probably are some somewhere. Many churches are run in quite a professional way, and probably measure their efforts statistically to track improvements and what isn't doing any good.

I know that US religious charities are invaluable in the help they've given to us in my country. Plus, my church (south african anglican church) sends food and clothing to Zimbabwe every day to help eradicate their horrible suffering due to poverty and dispossession.

Also when there was apartheid here, the church was the only organisation that would help black people who were living in terrible poverty.

Answer 5

I know of a few groups of Christians that aren't afraid to get right down to where things are th toughest. They get their hands dirty, working to help others.. gasometer.org is definitely one such group. It would also be easier if some of the so called secular people of this world helped,.. truth is, in both groups of people, christian and those that aren't..are some that don't help. Some don't give money, time, or prayer.. Tell me, seriously, what is it that you do, to help in this area.. buy an extra soda, a pack of smokes, or... or what.. It's easy to pick out group of people and say, hey, you're not doing your best.. but what are 'you' doing..
Please don't confuse christian with actually sticks and stone churches.. those need their own upkeep.. Ever consider giving to world vision, christian children's fund, Joyce Meyer ministry.. Point a finger at me and ask 'what are you doing to help the poor?' and realize, 4 fingers are pointing back at you.

Answer 6

Save the children fund collects about $12M/mo, so all the religious folk who love money more than they love God have jumped on this band wagon. But today, in the last 24 hrs, about 30,000 children died, of hunger alone. This number is down, from the previous number of 40,000 used to die daily of hunger alone. But only because people are now watching closer, so these fund collectors have to give some of the money collected to the hungry. But when such food is only sent, and not supervised, it seems those abroad steal it, and sell it, rather than freely give it.

Give me $12M/mo and I'll guarantee no child goes hungry; For I'll use it wisely, and use it all, to feed all the children (children of the wicked and children of God, who both get tossed to & fro by winds[spirits] of doctrine blowin round); And feed them all not only nurishing food to live by, but also nourishing spiritual food: "grace"; Not just more law law as many do do, which is as spiritual abuse, as spiritual food poison, and for love of $.

The greatest poverty ww is ignorance, and it is truly massive among carnal and bewtiched christians, who still say they're under law when flat out told: ye are not under the law, but under grace; and because Christ hath abolished the law(enmity).

So Gandhi said:
"poverty(ignorance) is the greatest form of violence".

The "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 7

I don't think they want to really eradicate poverty. If they run out of poor people, they run out of people in need of something superior to cling to.

Believe it or not, this is a serious answer. Ironic, yes. But serious, too.

Answer 8

Have they ever explained that the number one 'poor' is: the pastor, preacher, Vatican, minister, convent, abbey, or evangelist?

The have made a lot of progress in those areas - they now have their own planes - top of the line vehicles are no longer enough.

Answer 9

the richest organizations in the world are Christianity....some of the richest people are their leaders. The poorest people in the world are...ready?...Christians....just think of all those poor Christians in Africa or South America. Uneducated = poor...uneducated = followers.

Answer 10

More than the federal government