Christians Against Poverty : Putting God’s Love into Action

6 November 2022

When Christians Against Poverty (CAP) was founded in 1996, it was built on two foundations. The first was a desire to see people released from the crushing weight of debt and poverty; the second was to see local churches at the centre of this mission, on the ground, meeting people in their homes and putting God’s love into action.

Today, those foundations stand strong. Our vision is to see transformed lives, thriving churches and an end to UK poverty. Our services focus on the relief of debt and poverty across the UK, and each is delivered through a brilliant local church. Every day, staff and volunteers from local congregations meet people in their homes and provide a level of service that goes far beyond debt advice. They see the whole picture, taking into account the complex emotional toll that financial distress can take on a person.

And they act with generous hearts. This might look like responding to immediate needs, such as arranging a food shop for a family going hungry or a fuel top-up for someone who can’t afford to turn the heating on. It might be an invitation to church, where people who feel isolated can find community, new friendships, acceptance and love.

‘Our vision is to see transformed lives, thriving churches, and an end to UK poverty.’

As the cost of living continues to rise across the UK and, heartbreakingly, sees increasing numbers pushed to breaking point, this kind of all-round compassion is nothing short of life-changing.

Thriving churches with generous hearts

The church is at the centre of God’s mission to the world. We are called to be a counter-cultural community of hospitality and generosity, embodying Jesus to those around us, putting his love into action, especially when it comes to the poorest in our society. The opening words of Isaiah 61 paint a beautiful picture of God’s heart for the marginalised among us:

‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners…

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.’Isaiah 61:1, 4

‘We are called to be a countercultural community of hospitality and generosity, embodying Jesus to those around us.’

CAP equips churches with the tools to thrive as they address debt and poverty locally and serve their communities. But what does it mean to be a thriving church? First, it’s useful to understand what a thriving church isn’t. It isn’t about size or status. It isn’t about wealth or being well-known.

Mairi Giles, CAP debt centre manager at Central Church in Edinburgh, sums up beautifully just what a thriving church is:

‘Collectively as a church, our heart has increasingly broken for the poor and vulnerable in the city. For me, a thriving church is a place where people care about people who are struggling, who are lost, for whom life is difficult. Some people will come in and access our services and then leave again, but for others they find renewed hope, renewed strength, a home, a family and a reason to keep going.’

What gladness it brings to see a life transformed

Poverty is an impenetrable wall that holds people back from living in freedom. Working in partnership with churches of all shapes, sizes, denominations and traditions, we at CAP are determined to break that wall down for every person who seeks our help.

Through polling commissioned from YouGov in August 2022, CAP found that 42% of people across the UK had borrowed money to cope with the rising cost of living. We want to see people living with the dignity of financial independence, and having equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to society – life in poverty rarely allows for that.

‘A thriving church is a place where people care about people who are struggling, who are lost, for whom life is difficult.’

The same poll found that 37% of those surveyed had cut out socialising and leisure activities in order to bring down costs. We know that debt and poverty drive isolation and loneliness, as almost eight in ten of our clients say they felt they had nobody to turn to when they had a problem.

Dragged down to the deepest, darkest depths, this leads many to give up hope and believe there is only one escape route. Devastatingly, our latest client survey revealed that 36% of CAP clients had considered or attempted suicide as a way out of debt and the numbers are rising month on month. We have to fix the root of the problem, so we can see this heart-breaking statistic fall.

Our prayer is to see families, friendships, relationships and self-confidence rebuilt. Most importantly, we want people to know their worth through their identity in Christ and experiencing the fullness of life that only he can provide. We cannot underestimate the power of local church staff and volunteers offering prayer to clients, and welcoming them into a supportive, loving community.

‘We cannot underestimate the power of local church staff and volunteers offering prayer to clients, and welcoming them into a supportive, loving community.’

An end to UK poverty

We believe that an end to UK poverty is both desirable and doable. Our biblical mandate expresses our understanding that the Bible begins from the inexhaustible abundance, relational wholeness and fruitfulness that is at the heart of creation, a state where crushing debt and poverty cannot exist. When Jesus returns, creation will be renewed (Isaiah 65:17), relationships between God and humanity will be restored (Micah 4:4) and poverty will be no more. Until then, as his people, we have a responsibility to act in ways that give our communities a foretaste of that world.

On a local level, we must strive for more churches that are well equipped to serve their communities, well versed in what the Bible says about poverty and passionate about finding opportunities to take action locally. On a national level, we must band together as the body of Christ, raising our voices to those in influence and calling for a just and compassionate society that reflects the coming kingdom of God. Together, we firmly believe we will see transformed lives, thriving churches and an end to UK poverty.

Lyn Weston is UK director of church engagement and network at Christians Against Poverty. Her passion is to inspire a movement of change makers determined to eradicate poverty across the UK while sharing the good news of Christ.