Poverty

The Salvation Army and JC Penney launched on Tuesday an online Angel Giving Tree program that will allow customers to adopt and then shop for needy children and seniors this Christmas.

Until Dec. 14, people can search for an Angel they would like to adopt by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of needed items. The e-mail will also include a link to nearby drop-off locations and ship-to addresses for online orders.

FedEx Ground is supporting the effort by shipping gifts purchased through the Web site for free to any of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide. more >>

A Christian ministry launched an ambitious initiative this week to cut homelessness on Los Angeles’ infamous Skid Row by 90 percent within three years, and completely end homelessness in the nation’s second largest city within 10 years.

Union Rescue Mission, a Christian ministry that serves the poor and homeless in Los Angeles, announced Wednesday its new “You are the Mission” movement. The initiative focuses on changing the hearts of those who are not homeless so they will help advocate for those who are on the streets.

“At this time when poverty is at an all-time high and homelessness, especially among families, is at an all-time high in Los Angeles, I think it is appropriate time to ignite a movement to end homelessness as we know it in Los Angeles,” said the Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, at the launch of the movement. more >>

Instead of helping poor people with charity that will eventually run out, it is more effective to lift people out of poverty through microfinance, says a Christian poverty expert.

“If we give individuals food for today, what will happen tomorrow? They’re going to be hungry. If we give individuals clothes for today, they’re eventually going to wear out,” said Peter Greer, co-author of the new book The Poor Will Be Glad, to The Christian Post Monday.

“So that is why we believe charity, there is a time for it and a place for it, but it always runs out. It’s always going to be temporary.” more >>

A clerk who was held at gunpoint at a store in Indianapolis began praying and talking to the gunman who later dropped down to one knee and also prayed.

Angela Montez recalled in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday that she was scared but felt God’s presence during the robbery attempt on Monday. The man had come into her store initially asking for a loan, but then jumped over the counter, pulled out a gun and pointed it at her.

The confrontation and then dialogue between Montez and Smith were all caught on security video. more >>

Hip-hop, musical comedy and contemporary Christian music artists have joined forces on a nationwide music tour aimed at inspiring young Lutherans to fight global poverty and hunger.

Entitled “Jesus Justice Jazz: The Tour,” the show is hitting a total of 16 stops where at each location young attendees are hearing testimonies about hunger and being encouraged to donate towards the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s World Hunger fund. The venues are ELCA-affiliated Christian colleges and Lutheran churches.

The colleges are underwriting many of the tour expenses so that money raised can go towards the hunger fund. more >>