Poverty In the Greater Montgomery Area Part 2

Poverty In Greater Montgomery

Part 2

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 "If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."

This week, let's focus on praying for a ministry each day in the Montgomery area who work with people in generational poverty and who provide long term support for them.

Pray this week for these 5 ministries...that the Lord will provide the resources they need to minister long term, for the staff and volunteers to not get "weary in well doing" and for those they minister to be open to making changes in their lives so that they can really understand "life more abundantly" (which is not about income) that Jesus talks about in John 10:10.

Monday-Family Promise, Montgomery-housing and long term changes 

 

Tuesday-Hope Inspired Ministries--job training, life skills, etc.

Wednesday-Forest Park Ministry-benevolence, counseling, life skills, tutoring children and youth, advocacy

Thursday-Family Sunshine Center-Domestic Violence, life skills, counseling

Friday-Nehemiah Center- after school programs,day camps for kids, life skills, benevolence, advocacy, GED, entrepreneur training

EACH OF THESE ministries always need prayer support but also need volunteers who are committed to helping others with long term support and care. If you are interested in volunteering, contact me via message or leave a comment here and I will get in touch with you and refer you to the one you are interested in.

Would you also pray about your own involvement in our communities in helping people in generational poverty get the support and help they need to move into becoming independent and self supporting and most of all, understand an authentic relationship with Jesus?

GOOD BOOK RECOMMENDATION: If you are interested, we can have someone come and teach this 12-13 week study of Generational Poverty and the church. OR you can get it and read it. It will change your view of people in poverty.

"What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty" by Ruby Payne

Poverty in the Greater Montgomery Area

POVERTY IN THE GREATER MONTGOMERY AREA
Part 1

"22.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Montgomery County,  live below the poverty line. This is higher than the national average of 14.7%.(DATA USA). The federal poverty income level for a family of 4 is $24,300."

Being in poverty is not necessarily mean that one is lazy or a "bum". Most people living under the poverty level are working people. They are struggling to make ends meet.   In Montgomery, 22.6% of our population (APPROXIMATELY 230,00 as of 2016). That is approximately 52,000 people in the Montgomery County area that live daily not being able to make ends meet. That does not even include Lowndes County(35.2%)  where 7 of our churches in Montgomery Baptist Association reside and Elmore County(14%) where we have 1 church. 

For the rest of the month of May, our prayer focus will be on poverty in the Greater Montgomery area, praying for people in poverty and those who can help. I will be giving you resources as well to get involved and help alleviate poverty and the stereotypes. As follower of Christ, we are to deal with systemic problems and be concerned enough to contribute to the solutions of them.

We will start with this verse to ponder this week:

Deuteronomy 15:7-8    "If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."

Prayer Points:
1. Pray for our hearts to be softened to those struggling in poverty of the heart and the physical aspect of poverty.

2. Pray for wisdom on to best use our own resources to sustain those who are hurting and in need.

3. Pray for those stuck in the cycle of physical poverty, that there might be a way out.

4. Pray for Christian churches in Montgomery, AL and surrounding area to step up and help those in need. Proverbs 21:13 says this: "Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered."
WATCH this great breakdown of what is it is like to live in poverty by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. It will be eye opening if you have not had to stretch your dollars on a regular basis.
                                                           Poverty Tour USA

Praying Continually for the Crime Issue in Greater Montgomery

Another girl. Another death. When will it end? I have seen that posted and heard that all week. When will it end? It seems that this year, especially, has been full of tragic deaths in the Greater Montgomery area. Deaths of kids who were just minding their own business.

I am reposting part of the last crime post from a few weeks ago. It still rings true today....let's keep praying for HEART TO BE CHANGED and for CHRISTIANS to start reaching people who are lost. That is how it will end...when we TRULY start putting the love we say we have for others into action.

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We cannot expect the police department to do all the work. The Christian church HAS to step up and participate. The MPD and Sheriff's Dept cannot do this alone.
So what can we do?
1. Every day, pray for our city.
For the people of our city to have an ENCOUNTER with Jesus. Pray for Christ Followers in the Greater Montgomery area to step up and speak... to share the gospel at any cost to our reputations or our fears.
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth” Isaiah 62:6-7
2. Go to where the hurting are. They need you to tell them about the good news of Christ.
“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 The Message
3. Check our own hearts.
Are we living the way we should to honor Christ in all we do?
If not...here is what David prayed and we can pray it too.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 39:23-24

These three things WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our city. As we get closer to the day of celebrating the Resurrection, how will your heart be changed so that you can share that gift with others?

Praying to End Racism in Montgomery, AL

From Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church.

Racism is an insult to your Creator. GOD chose to make each person the race he wanted them to be, including you.
Racism is a SIN problem, not a SKIN problem!
Racism is an expression of narcissism.

'Anyone who says 'I love God' but hates others is a liar." 1 John 4:20
"Anyone who does not love the people that we CAN see, CANNOT love God whom we do not see!" 1 John 4:20
"If you are nice only to your people, you are no better than everyone else. Even unbelievers do that!" -JESUS , Matthew 5:47
"Whoever hates others is walking around in darkness... and is completely blinded." 1 John 2:11
"Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life in him!" 1 John 3:15
"I tell you this clearly: You must love even your enemies and you must do good even to those who hate you."- JESUS Luke 6:27
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Our challenge in Montgomery.......let us examine ourselves as Psalm 139:23-24 charges us to do and then ask God to change our hearts and minds to love ALL PEOPLE because ALL PEOPLE are God's creation. The way we treat people tells a lot about who we are.......
1. Pray for ourselves, for our hearts to be changed concerning the way we see people.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

2. Pray for others, that they will truly see Christ in us.
“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it
is Christ who lives in me.”—Galatians 2:20

3. Pray for our city to be reconciled to Christ and to each other.
"And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I
sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will
determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7

As Followers of Christ, it is up to us to be able to take the steps to examine ourselves, change our actions and love others. It is not up to just the pastors in our churches, it is up to EVERY. FOLLOWER. OF. CHRIST. to act in a manner that is pleasing to Christ.