to the poor + disadvantaged

• when Paul travelled around his new churches, he collected money from them to help support the members of churches in Jerusalem
• three groups for mission to the poor + disadvantaged:

  • Children's Society
  • Christian Aid
  • Church Urban Fund
• Children's Society: founded 1881

  • charity to give homeless children an upbringing in a loving family environment in the wake of the Industrial Revolution
  • 1970s: changed focus to helping young people deal with illness, stress or poverty in family day-care centres
  • 1990 onwards: worked for social justice for the poor
• Christian Aid: formed in the aftermath of WW2

  • provide aid to less economically developed countries to improve the standard of living
  • provide emergency aid following major disasters
  • doesn't seek to convert people to Christianity - instead the basis of their work is in the call of Jesus to help those less fortunate
  • Christian Aid week: means people in the local communities can feel that they are sharing in the work of Christian Aid by collecting + donating money
• Church Urban Fund:

  • provides financial + practical support to churches + communities in poor urban areas to improve the quality of life + social justice for the poor
• development of mission to the poor

  • began with wealthier Christians giving money to charities
  • after WW2, Christians became more conscious of the poor
  • end of 20th century: Christians became more concerned with fighting the causes of poverty through work with poor communities + social justice campaigns