July 17, 2009
By Elizabeth Guye

More than 3 billion people, half of the world's population, live on less than $2.50 a day.

Crises such as the civil war in the Sudan terrorize populations with acts of murder, rape and devastation, leaving millions without food, water or homes.

Yet if the poor are always with us, so must the church always be among the poor, seeking an end to suffering, say organizers of the fourth Change the World conference Oct. 22-23 at Ginghamsburg Church, a United Methodist congregation in Tipp City, Ohio.

"We are the only bank account that God has to feed hungry people in the world. We're the only hands God has to do the work of God in the world. And we're the only feet God has to share the good news to the lost," said the Rev. Mike Slaughter, Ginghamsburg pastor.

The conference is hoping to encourage people to do all they can end poverty.

For the past three years, the conference has had a focus on making the church stronger and bringing the world into the church. This year, the conference will take a new approach, bringing the church into the world and ministering to the poor.

"This year we are trying to focus on doing missions outside the four walls of a church instead of just ministry that can be done inside church walls," said Karen Smith, director of communications at Ginghamsburg Church.

In addition to pastors and religious leaders, the conference in October is designed to attract educators and policy experts as part of a collaborative effort to share with and encourage one another in the fight against poverty.

"Too many of us hear and read about the struggles in the world but don't do anything because we think were just one person or one church, we couldn't make a difference," Smith said. "But each of us can make a difference and help change the world."

Smith uses Ginghamsburg as an example, saying, "They are one church and have raised almost $4 million for Darfur. If every church did something, think of all we could do for the world."

Featured speakers include Ruby Payne, author of "Framework for Understanding Poverty," Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action and author of "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger," the Rev. Trevor Hudson, a South African pastor, and Slaughter.

The conference will also feature sessions on how to equip people to go out in the world and offer help to those that need it the most. Workshop topics include how to involve youth and children in missions, how to aid those in the midst of crisis and how to obtain funding for missions.

"This conference is for anyone who wants to truly make a difference in the fight against poverty," Smith said.

Further information is available at http://ginghamsburg.org/changetheworld/.

United Methodist News Service
Elizabeth Guye is a United Methodist News Service intern based in Nashville, Tenn.