Spiritual Transformation Is the Primary Key to Fighting Poverty

“When people see me walking down the road with my head up and a smile on my face, they assume that I have more money than they do.  But I don’t.  I just know that Jesus is with me and that He is taking care of me.”

Zippy (nickname for Zipporah) lives with her husband and four sons in a one room apartment (not one bedroom, but one room) behind the small downtown store she runs to make basic ends meet.  This couple hosted us in Kakamega for a conference with area leaders.  They are a personal demonstration of how critical faith is in transforming the lives of the poor.

“I am constantly keeping my mind on Jesus and I only want to work for Him.  When I have a need, I just let Him know about it, and he always does something.”

Listening to Zippy share one story after another of God’s faithfulness—illnesses healed, provisions made—one is so aware of the difference between those who deal with poverty from a position of faith, and those who have don’t have faith, often succumbing to hopelessness and accepting a victim’s posture.  “Before I trusted my life to Jesus,” Zippy tells us, “I felt trapped.  But now I am never alone and my future is bright.”

Indeed, this mindset of poverty—believing that one is hopelessly trapped—makes change difficult even when a few resources are available.

Not only does Zippy’s attitude give her strength day-to-day, it also gives her the needed courage to work towards a better future.  She proudly shows us the small plot of land she has saved for where she plans to build her own store so that she will no longer have to pay rent.  Though it may be years before this comes to pass, her ability to dream with God gives her the persistence to move forward one step at a time and accomplish what others will not even attempt.

Even more impressive is Zippy’s longing to help others less fortunate than her.  “When God provides a little something for me, then I must share this with my friend who is suffering today.”

The difference between faith, in the midst of poverty, is so much more critical than people realize.  It can mean the difference between life and death just because of the way life is approached.  This is why we are so committed to spiritual transformation as the foundation for all our work among the poor.