'Hope is a powerful motivator in the poverty fight.' So says Roxanne Stone, editor in chief of Barna, whose research revealed this week explores the attitudes US adults to combatting poverty. It suggests Christians lead the way in all categories of charitable giving and concern, and that the more hope they have for ending poverty, the more likely they are to fight it.
In Barna's survey of more than 2,000 US adults, 'practising Christians' outpaced other US adults in all kinds of action against poverty, as the graph below shows. Such Christians are more likely to donate clothing or furniture to charity (72 per cent compared to 64 per cent of US adults), provide food for someone in need (75 per cent against 58 per cent), and volunteer to serve the local community (47 per cent against 29 per cent). About a quarter (24 per cent) of practising Christians report volunteering specifically to combat poverty, compared with 10 per cent of non-practising Christians.
In the group Barna uses to describe most concerned and active about alleviating poverty ('responsive supporters', who make up 24 per cent of respondents), a majority (67 per cent) are Christians, and 43 per cent are practising Christians. Most (68 per cent) have been to church in the past month.
The study also found many who prioritise concern about poverty don't see a trade-off between helping those locally in the US versus helping those abroad. In fact those who see global poverty as important were more likely to prioritise local poverty (92 per cent) than those who don't see global poverty as important (74 per cent).
Meanwhile those who have hope that they can make a difference in the world are more likely to try. A growing number of adults (57 per cent, compared with 46 per cent in 2011) say that knowing that a real change could happen would make them do significantly more to fight poverty. Financial transparency by organisations and evidence of the difference made by giving would particularly encourage millennials (62 per cent compared with 32 per cent of older generations) to give money to charity.
Barna's Roxanne Stone commented on the research, addressing 'spiritual leaders': 'The more people are able to feel personally connected to the work you are doing, the more apt they are to stay engaged. Tell stories of the people you are working with; share how your efforts are making a difference; let people from your congregation share their own experiences in serving the poor. Consider choosing one cause and / or ministry a month to highlight, with a few words on this partnership or project every week from the pulpit.'
She added: 'Optimism about ending poverty and about one's role in that effort are connected to engagement. When people believe what they are doing is actually making a difference, they are encouraged and maintain interest. Make time to cheer for the good work your church is doing and for the tangible effects you are having.'
The Barna research can be read here.
