11 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
11 lines
2.2 KiB
Plaintext
<p class="text">The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College deals with the complex issues of poverty and how churches and local communities can best respond to the needs of the poor. They have an interesting definition of poverty. For the Chalmers Institute, poverty is the "lack of access." People who are poor, Chalmers says, don't know who to call when they need something. If they do call, no one will return their call. They have no way to engage the centers of power to get what they or their families need. Everything from healthcare to education or anything else any of us would need to build a successful life is simply beyond their reach.</p>
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<p class="text">When you think about it, their definition of poverty makes a lot of sense. Take my own life as an example. If I'm sick, I call my doctor. If I need money, I call my banker. Both of these individuals know me and will take appropriate action on my behalf. But what if I can't afford a doctor for annual check-ups and routine visits? What if my doctor doesn't know me? Does my doctor still call me back? Probably not.</p>
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<p class="text">What if I don't have a bank account? What if I'm like the millions of people who are unbanked? What if I live my life week to week, spending cash to take care of my needs? When my car breaks down, can I get a loan at the bank, or do I have to stand in line at one of the fast cash dispensers that charge gangster rates of interest for a payday loan? Does the banker get back with me?</p>
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<p class="text">Probably not. That's one of the reasons why poverty is so difficult to overcome. The poor can't open the doors that allow them to get out of their situation. They don't have access.</p>
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<p class="text">Which is one of the reasons the heart of gospel is about access. In Christ, ...</p><p class="more"><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2021/november/gift-of-access.html">Continue reading</a>...</p>
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