Poverty to be subject of Methodist mission study

Poverty is a complicated issue that affects people of all ages across the United States and the world. To understand its effects and the best way to respond as a Christian, Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau is sponsoring a poverty mission study.

Each year, the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women select geographical, social and spiritual issues to study. Poverty was chosen in 2012 and 2013 as its social issue.

Brenda Connelly, an active member of United Methodist Women who has served in roles for Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, has trained study leaders for the church's poverty study and will give her 10th presentation on the issue Oct. 6 when she comes to mission study in Cape Girardeau.

When she delivers her presentation, Connelly said, it wouldn't be a four-hour lecture. The presentation will be interactive.

After giving statistics and background information on the study, she said attendees will be split into groups to do readings on their own and respond to questions.

People also will participate in a simulation in which they assume the role of a member of a family living in poverty. Connelly said each person will be given a different family size and expenses and must determine how to juggle monthly costs with a set income.

"It's easy to talk about it, but then, when you sit down and think about how you're going to make this money last through the end of the month, it's a little different," she said.

After talking about the issues that can cause or contribute to poverty, Connelly said the group also will discuss the best way to respond to the issue as Christians. Failure to act on such social issues "would mean we're not doing our jobs," Connelly said.

"It's important to live out the faith," she said.

Each time she visits a church to deliver her presentation, Connelly said, she notices mixed reactions from those in attendance. Some have experienced poverty firsthand, she said, as a volunteer for a program centered on poverty or as someone who has fought to rise out of it. Others "know there's poverty," Connelly said, "but they don't understand to what depth it goes."

Connelly said one of the goals of the mission study is to find a way to address issues, such as the working poor.

"You have some people that are working, maybe even working two jobs, but are still in poverty," Connelly said.

The next step after education is action.

"Sometimes that means looking at what's already happening with other programs and plugging in or on the other side, looking at what needs aren't being met and figuring out how we can address that," Connelly said.

The mission study is open to the public and will be from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Grace United Methodist Church.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

521 Caruthers Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.