Revival Through Compassionate Ministry to the Poor

Revival services are a fast declining tradition in the church.  Yet, we live in an age when most local churches desperately need a renewal and long for a revival in their congregation.

Some of the steps to a successful revival campaign used decades ago are still in literature today.  They include:  humility, perseverance, unity, holiness, and change.¹  Linked to the cry for current day revival are often references to past leaders such as Charles Finney, John Wesley, Phineas Bresee, and others.  However, it cannot be denied that one of the unique aspects of these men's contribution to revivalism was their obvious understanding that social consciousness and community outreach to the poor is necessary as a prerequisite to any renewal in the church.  This is not to suggest that Finney, Wesley, and Bresee did not include the issues of humility, perseverance, unity, holiness and change.  They did!  However, they correctly linked them through scriptures to a social awareness of the needs in the community and especially of the poor.

Renewal (or revival) in the church begins with understanding the scriptural mandates.  Out of that should evolve a clear vision of the needs of the community and especially of the poor.  Through this, renewal and revival should begin.  It may not be an outburst of emotional services running each evening for weeks at a time.  But, it certainly will include a renewed drive to assist the poor in their time of need.

The Cross points both vertically and horizontally.  This is a key to the relationship of renewal that is necessary for a Christian to have a revitalized connection with God.  Christianity is most relevant when the life of unselfish love and compassion is infused into all areas of human existence.  When a person is living a life in Christ, he is to be Godlike in all his relationships.  The Christian is called into a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with his/her neighbors.  These two connections are inseparable.  God's calling to horizontal and vertical relationships are twin dimensions of the Christian experience.

The key items in Scriptural renewal then are spiritual and social reconciliation; bringing people back into an experience of unity within and with all humankind.  Because humans are made in the image of God, it is only natural that they be completed by a right relationship with God.  Even if the Church was able to solve all the social problems on the planet, there would still remain a gnawing hunger for a sense of completeness.  Holiness and the resulting internal unity is the spiritual glue that holds the church together.  It is the essence of commitment and dedication to discipleship, of living out the Christian life in fellowship and likemindedness.²

Social concern is completely linked with evangelism in that it helps people understand the love of God.  In addition, social ministries remove barriers such as hunger and emotional problems.  When a Christian pursues justice and peace, he overturns oppressive forces that destroy people's lives and reduce their ability to respond to the person of Christ.  But, most importantly, social concern mirrors the caring love of God in the heart of the individual Christian.³

Churches and denominations must take their mandate seriously.  They must transcend social barriers - racial, economic, linguistic, cultural, sexual, and age - in order to meet the challenge.  To begin reconciling, congregations must construct new roads directly where people are living.  Howard Rice points out that if we are serious about taking the gospel to people, then we have to go to the cities where most of them are located.⁴  For the church this means locating in and among the poor.  All too often, however, the path of middle class Christians is out of the city, following the cultural trends of the age.  Then they go back (as missionaries) to try to evangelize those left behind.  It is little wonder that transplanted missions into the cities have little effect or respect when conducted by those who did not want to live with them in the first place.⁵

There are exciting possibilities that point to potential renewal in the Church of the Nazarene.  Our denomination is poised to take the message of Holiness to the poor beyond where it is presently serving.  Consider the following facts:

1. I have believed that many Nazarene churches were physically located in pockets of poverty, but were not presently reaching the poor.  I spoke with Dale Jones, statistician at Nazarene Headquarters, and he provided the following statistics:

Twelve (12) percent of the population of the United States live below the poverty level accepted by our government. 

• He first looked at census tracks within 3 miles of Nazarene Churches where the census blocks had at least 25% in poverty. There are 2,614 churches out of 4,985in the United States with 25% of the people living below the poverty line.
• He then raised it to 50% in poverty and got 1,016 churches.

Some might think these are discouraging statistics.  Financial stability is not easily achieved in communities with this high poverty level.  Perhaps this is the reason so many churches are depending on the freeway and highway system to bring in people with larger incomes.  However, if renewal is linked to helping the poor, there are unbelievable possibilities.  About 52.4% of all Nazarene churches in the United States are physically in communities where at least 25% of the residents are below the poverty line.  And almost 20.4% are in communities where over 50% of the residents are below the poverty level.  Through pastoral and lay commitment, we can begin a renewal like our denomination has never witnessed.

2.  Nazarene Compassionate Ministries was established in the mid-1980s to respond to international disasters.  Soon they broadened its mandate beyond occasional disasters to include the entrenched poverty within developing countries where most Nazarene mission activity is located.

It was only a matter of  time before Nazarenes in the USA and Canada, from whom nearly all the contributions to the "Hunger and Disaster Fund" have come, would seek to respond to needs close to home.  In 1991 Nazarene Compassionate Ministries began to function in the United States.  They have now sanctioned over 180 centers in the USA and Canada.  These are separate faith-based nonprofit organizations that can raise funds in Nazarene Churches, receive funds from government agencies or private foundations, and solicit donations from individuals inside and outside the denomination.  These centers have become centers of hope in some of the poorest areas of our country.  They provide only one more block in rebuilding our denomination's outreach to the poor.

3.  Recent contacts have opened the door for the Church of the Nazarene to be a major recipient in placing AmeriCorps*Vista volunteers.  This program is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is commissioned by the Federal Government to place individuals in communities of need.  "Volunteers" are given a monthly living allowance, health insurance, and an end of the year $5300 education award. 

4.  Nazarene colleges and universities are excited for this opportunity that allows young adults to serve.Nazarene colleges and universities have responded to other needs and have inspired a new movement of youth that is progressive in their commitment to alleviate the suffering of deprived people not only in North America but in countries around the world.  These liberal arts schools have expanded their programming to include training in social issues including degrees in social work and sociology.  The course work in social problems was also included in curriculum used in other degree work, even religion.  The results have raised awareness and inspired a compassionate direction for the graduates.  Numerous leaders that are presently serving in compassionate ministry centers and churches were first inspired and motivated through the social programs in the university. 

As a member of the Church of the Nazarene I have watched with interest the revival of church based social work as it slowly came to life and began to form an unstoppable movement across the globe.  Today I am encouraged as I travel across America and talk to involved people of all ages.  It is remarkable that not only the youth are eager to alleviate poverty but energetic retired people are spilling out of their comfortable homes and traveling to faraway places with the same commitment and enthusiasm as their younger co-workers.  God is at work!

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• 1. Pat Robinson, "Steps to Revival" http://www.cbnafrica.com/ (Virginia Beach, VA: The Christian Broadcasting Network, 2001)
• 2. Bill Leslie, "God Loves the Inner City," Christian Life, July 1973, p. 33
• 3. "The Mission of the Church," http://www.lasallestreetchurch.org/ (Chicago, Ill, LaSalle Street Church, 2009)
• 4. Howard Rice, "Toward and Urban Strategy," Knoxville: Cities (July 1981), pp. 1-9 JM 622
• 5. "Mission of the Church"