The Church as an Agent of Change: Alleviating Poverty Among Its Members

This article examines how the Church can help reduce poverty among its people from spiritual and socio-economic aspects. As a church social work unit, the discussion begins with analyzing various theological values that shape the Church’s theology on poverty from scriptural and ethical perspectives. This is the Church’s historical and contemporary involvement in combating poverty, highlighting its centuries-long eharity, education, and justice advocacy. Efforts Further into the article, the author examines churches’ modern methods to eradicate poverty, explicitly focusing on microfinance, vocational training, and community development. These efforts highlight the churches’ mobility and creativity in addressing contemporary issues. However, the discussion also evaluates challenges the churches encounter, including limited capacity to mobilize the resources, changing social culture, and the need to court institutional support. Therefore, the article concludes with practical recommendations that center on the Church’s efforts to combat poverty. The article emphasizes the importance of collaborating with external stakeholders, incorporating innovation, and creating environments that meet community work needs. By implementing these strategies, the Church can strengthen its position as a leading force in driving change toward poverty alleviation within communities.