POVERTY-What
is the answer? Education? Employment? Better budgeting? Jesus? I
would be so bold to say ALL of the above. Here are some startling stats
for you!
Pray and ask the Lord for guidance on what you need to do to help alleviate hunger in the Greater Montgomery County.
Scripture says this:
Isaiah 58:10 "If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the
needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and
your gloom be like the noonday".
Hunger Related Statistics in Montgomery/Lowndes County AL 2013
1. 23.2% of Montgomerians live at or below the poverty level. It was
17% in 2006. (The poverty level is an annual income of $23,550 or below
for a family of 4 according to US Dept of Health and Human Services)
2. Poverty rate for all persons in Lowndes County is 27%.
3. 33.9% of children in Montgomery County live in poverty and 10.8% of adults over 65.
4. 72.9% of children in Montgomery County public schools receive free
or reduced school lunches. In Lowndes County,that figure is 98%.
5. There are approximately 487 homeless persons in Montgomery, Lowndes, Elmore and Bullock counties.
Statistics from Alabama Possible, Birmingham, AL www.alabamapossible.org
Things to Think About and Pray About this week......
Wonder what Montgomery would look like if we Followers of Christ lived this way?
Living Generously
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers.
And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the
lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the
kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the
untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so
live generously". Matthew 10:5-8
We are going to continue to petition the Lord for hearts changed in the Greater Montgomery area.
That is the ONLY way to solve our crime problem, our consumerism in
church problem, our racism problem, our schools and poverty problems.
AND it affects ALL of us. ALL of us, no matter how "spiritual" we are,
are in constant need of heart change.
Pray for our area this
week for people's hearts to hunger for the Lord...and let's include
ourselves in that prayer each day this week!
Sing/listen to this song to the Lord today and every day this week. If
you really want crime to disappear, it has to start with each of us
seeing people differently! http://youtu.be/DwudqCO7mSQ
Psalm 139:23-24 the Message
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Continue to pray for changed hearts in Montgomery.
CRIME: No matter how hard the police work(AND THEY DO WORK VERY HARD),
we will not see crime diminish until hearts change which means that
those of us who are followers of Christ will get out and build
relationships with those who are hurting inside and those who have never
known what it means to have peace in their hearts.
"You are
the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do
people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it
gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine
before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to
your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16, ESV
