Benevolence is our opportunity to assist individuals or households experiencing material poverty. We help to improve their lives by building on their actions, gifts, and resources. Truly helping people experiencing material poverty requires a much greater commitment of time, resources, and energy than the standard method of solely providing a check or gift card. We are moving away from practices that create dependency and moving toward approaches that promote long-term positive change. Poverty alleviation is a process in which the materially poor and the materially non-poor are empowered, and the good news is revealed through relational interactions. We are to be ambassadors of Christ, proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God that has come and will come on earth. Jesus calls us to share the gospel (the good news) with the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Lk. 4:18-19).
