When sin
entered the world, mankind experienced whole life brokenness. Not only
are we separated from God by our sin, but we also suffer physical
illness, harsh environmental conditions, and broken relationships. The
ones who feel the effects of this whole life brokenness the most are
the poor. Consider the facts:
Almost half of the world's population (3 billion people) lives on less than two dollars a day, adjusted for purchasing power. www.worldbank.org
840 million people in the world don't have enough to eat. www.wfp.org
10 million children die every year from easily preventable diseases. www.unicef.org
Why Reach the Poor?
Isaiah
61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind
up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release
from darkness for the prisoners." The rest of Isaiah 61 teaches us
about the effects this good news has on those who hear it. "They will
be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display
of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the
places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that
have been devastated for generations." When we join Jesus in preaching
good news to the poor, we will see lasting results that God has
designed.
Yet many of the world’s poorest countries are unreached by the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The 48 poorest countries of world are also among the least evangelized.
98% of the least evangelized poor (1.4 billion) live in the 10/40 Window, from West Africa to China.
Only 4% of the missionary force now works among this 23% of the world’s population. www.gmi.org
Isaiah
61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind
up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release
from darkness for the prisoners." The rest of Isaiah 61 teaches us
about the effects this good news has on those who hear it. "They will
be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display
of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the
places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that
have been devastated for generations." When we join Jesus in preaching
good news to the poor, we will see lasting results that God has
designed. 