Articles for tag: Urban Poverty

November 17, 2012

By Kendi Howells Douglas In January 2012, an academic society was formed and met for the first time in Bangkok, Thailand. The International Society of Urban Mission is a gathering of like-minded Christians, teachers, missionaries, and urban practitioners from around the world. Its members focus on the issues of urban life, specifically serving those who live in poverty-stricken conditions in the growing slums around the world. Officially, “The International Society For Urban Mission exists, therefore, to be a fellowship of urban missiologists committed to seeking God”s Shalom in cities, especially majority world cities, through active reflection, solidarity and leadership development.”1

November 16, 2012

Christian Standard

Mission & Evangelism

Signs of Hope Amid Urban Suffering

By Ash Barker Suffering and despair can easily overwhelm us, strangling any last tinges of hope we have for something better. This is often the case in our neighborhood, the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok, Thailand. Here we are confronted with HIV-AIDS, child malnutrition, and premature death as daily realities. The fragility of life and lack of control often cause us to cry out to God, who promises that a better world is possible. However, sometimes we can only pray, “How long do we have to sing this song? When will things get better?” Biblical hope is more than just

August 19, 2007

Christian Standard

Mission & Evangelism

Kingdom Entrepreneurs: Business as Mission

By Doug Priest In the Majority World, formerly called the Third World, one comes into contact with abject poverty, particularly in urban areas. In many such places, income is less than $2 a day. Youth roam the streets as their parents have succumbed to HIV/AIDS. Unemployment is rampant. There is sewage, toxic waste, hunger, despair, and a lack of hope. How can the good news be communicated in the midst of such squalor? Can anything be done? As the church, do we have a role? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Rich, an elder serving with a church in Colorado

May 13, 2007

Christian Standard

Culture & Public Square

God, Guns, and Economic Apologetics

By Jim Herbst Diane, an MBA student, asked me to review a presentation. She was speaking about the International Monetary Fund, about which I knew nothing. Poor Diane never made it through her whole presentation. I kept interrupting to ask questions. Monetary policy, microenterprise, microloans and their application to poverty fascinated me. She never came to me with something to review. Even if my college had offered a course in economics, I wouldn”t have taken it. Only after living in poorer neighborhoods have I become interested. Now I see daily the incredible influence economic standing has on how we live

October 19, 2005

Mark A. Taylor

Church Life

Poorest of All

Using David Hilfiker’s observations about urban poverty, this editorial challenges Christians to confront a different poverty—life without unity. It urges believers to begin with relationship, prayer, and shared fellowship across divisions.