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How churches can help break chains of poverty and transform communities
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 28th September 2026
Source: TCN / Ena Richards
Date Added: 2026-09-28
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
Date Added: 2026-09-28
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
Imagine a church empowered to break the chains of poverty and transform its community – a church that takes on that mandate with gusto.
Imagine a church where everybody is working; where the church genuinely believes that there should be no poor amongst us (Deuteronomy 15:4). A church that believes work is not optional!
We must work, whether it's planting a garden, fixing cars or baking and selling. Work is what we do each day. Let’s not confuse not having a job with not working.
Imagine if that is preached from the pulpit – and that when we work, we work with excellence.
Where the good news of the Gospel is not “suffer with dignity!”
Imagine a church that conducts a work audit so that we know who is working, who is unemployed or underemployed, and who needs help.
Imagine a church that genuinely believes God’s ways are strong enough to get people working and is not overwhelmed by poverty.
The work ethic spoken of in the Bible is taught from the pulpit. Where if I am excellent, an employer will want to keep and promote me because I am excellent and valuable.
Imagine a church where financial literacy is the norm; where churchgoers are the most financially literate group in the community.
Why?
Because God tells us how to manage our finances. He gives us instructions about debt, good stewardship and interest. He is a practical God and His Word is practical.
In turn, the church ensures that the surrounding community becomes financially literate as well.
Imagine a church with a poverty plan for its community, where poverty is at the front and centre of its mission.
Jesus came and said, “I have been anointed to bring good news to the poor.”
Imagine the church adopting that mandate and saying, “Yes, we will bring good news to the poor.”
Good news to the poor is tangible! It means people are taught to find work and work with excellence. To thrive in their jobs and businesses. To grow.
Imagine a church where the pillars of poverty are understood; that realises poverty is not merely a description or an economic issue. It is a social and spiritual construct.
It has far more to do with fatherlessness, mindsets, belief systems and unforgiveness than simply economics. No one is better positioned to deal with these than the church.
Imagine a church where the whole church is mobilised for impact. Where we don't count bums in seats to determine church growth, but measure growth by the number of people mobilised and making an impact.
Imagine Ephesians 4:12 leaders. They understand that the purpose of leadership is to equip the saints to go out, do God’s work and build His church. Where this is not dependent on the missions team or pastors, but on the congregation itself going out and doing the work.
Imagine leaders who realise their role is not simply to preach on a Sunday. The purpose of Sunday is Monday. Their role is to equip the church – the people – to go into the world and make a difference.
Imagine a church where small groups are the workhorses, actively loving one another deeply. In turn, they go out and love their neighbours, being merciful, just and loving, and meeting their needs.
Imagine a church where generosity multiplies as people begin to work.
But this growing generosity does not simply go into bigger buildings and better technology. It is used to care for widows, orphans and vulnerable people.
In Acts, it says that the people liked what they saw, and the Lord added to their numbers.
Imagine a church that is overwhelmingly generous because everyone is working – and because we understand that God is the One who provides the seed and multiplies our resources.
As He increases what we have, He produces in us “a great harvest of generosity” (2 Corinthians 9:10).
Imagine a church where work leads to provision, provision leads to generosity, and generosity becomes a powerful force for transforming the community.
Where people look at the church and say:
“Could this be what God intended?”
Imagine a church where bridges are built into the community. Work bridges help people find work.
Financial bridges help people break generational poverty and build generational wealth.
Business bridges are built through business classes.
Family bridges are built through family-transformation centres, The World Needs a Father and recovery programmes.
Care bridges are built so that the church becomes known as the most loving place in the community.
We are called on do make these dreams a reality because God asked us to build His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
The result is that people work, families are strengthened, businesses grow, disciples multiply, resources increase and vulnerable people are cared for.
Instead of imagining what could be, make it happen in your church.
Ena Richards
is a director of Work 4 a Living
Imagine a church where everybody is working; where the church genuinely believes that there should be no poor amongst us (Deuteronomy 15:4). A church that believes work is not optional!
We must work, whether it's planting a garden, fixing cars or baking and selling. Work is what we do each day. Let’s not confuse not having a job with not working.
Imagine if that is preached from the pulpit – and that when we work, we work with excellence.
Where the good news of the Gospel is not “suffer with dignity!”
Imagine a church that conducts a work audit so that we know who is working, who is unemployed or underemployed, and who needs help.
Imagine a church that genuinely believes God’s ways are strong enough to get people working and is not overwhelmed by poverty.
The work ethic spoken of in the Bible is taught from the pulpit. Where if I am excellent, an employer will want to keep and promote me because I am excellent and valuable.
Imagine a church where financial literacy is the norm; where churchgoers are the most financially literate group in the community.
Why?
Because God tells us how to manage our finances. He gives us instructions about debt, good stewardship and interest. He is a practical God and His Word is practical.
In turn, the church ensures that the surrounding community becomes financially literate as well.
Imagine a church with a poverty plan for its community, where poverty is at the front and centre of its mission.
Jesus came and said, “I have been anointed to bring good news to the poor.”
Imagine the church adopting that mandate and saying, “Yes, we will bring good news to the poor.”
Good news to the poor is tangible! It means people are taught to find work and work with excellence. To thrive in their jobs and businesses. To grow.
Imagine a church where the pillars of poverty are understood; that realises poverty is not merely a description or an economic issue. It is a social and spiritual construct.
It has far more to do with fatherlessness, mindsets, belief systems and unforgiveness than simply economics. No one is better positioned to deal with these than the church.
Imagine a church where the whole church is mobilised for impact. Where we don't count bums in seats to determine church growth, but measure growth by the number of people mobilised and making an impact.
Imagine Ephesians 4:12 leaders. They understand that the purpose of leadership is to equip the saints to go out, do God’s work and build His church. Where this is not dependent on the missions team or pastors, but on the congregation itself going out and doing the work.
Imagine leaders who realise their role is not simply to preach on a Sunday. The purpose of Sunday is Monday. Their role is to equip the church – the people – to go into the world and make a difference.
Imagine a church where small groups are the workhorses, actively loving one another deeply. In turn, they go out and love their neighbours, being merciful, just and loving, and meeting their needs.
Imagine a church where generosity multiplies as people begin to work.
But this growing generosity does not simply go into bigger buildings and better technology. It is used to care for widows, orphans and vulnerable people.
In Acts, it says that the people liked what they saw, and the Lord added to their numbers.
Imagine a church that is overwhelmingly generous because everyone is working – and because we understand that God is the One who provides the seed and multiplies our resources.
As He increases what we have, He produces in us “a great harvest of generosity” (2 Corinthians 9:10).
Imagine a church where work leads to provision, provision leads to generosity, and generosity becomes a powerful force for transforming the community.
Where people look at the church and say:
“Could this be what God intended?”
Imagine a church where bridges are built into the community. Work bridges help people find work.
Financial bridges help people break generational poverty and build generational wealth.
Business bridges are built through business classes.
Family bridges are built through family-transformation centres, The World Needs a Father and recovery programmes.
Care bridges are built so that the church becomes known as the most loving place in the community.
We are called on do make these dreams a reality because God asked us to build His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
The result is that people work, families are strengthened, businesses grow, disciples multiply, resources increase and vulnerable people are cared for.
Instead of imagining what could be, make it happen in your church.
Ena Richards
is a director of Work 4 a Living
Source: TCN / Ena Richards
Date Added: 2026-09-28
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2026-09-28
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
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