An alliance of global Christians, churches and faith-based groups are uniting to eradicate global poverty. The Christ-centered global initiative known as 58: was founded on Isaiah 58, in which God calls on His people to end poverty.
The centerpiece of the initiative is 58: The Film, which is being used to inspire Christians to continue (or begin) living by the truths of Isaiah 58. The 75-minute documentary takes viewers into the lives of the poor, provides facts and statistics, and features examples of how the body of Christ can take action to tackle the remaining 26 percent of global poverty.
Ten organizations have worked through the 58: initiative to simplify the steps necessary to achieve what some may see as an impossible feat.
However, for Dr. Scott Todd, senior adviser at Compassion International and one of the architects of 58:, the question isn’t whether eradicating poverty is a possibility. Instead, he says, “The question is, ‘How fast [can it be eradicated]?’”
The partners of 58: are convinced it can happen within the next two decades. In fact, they have set 2035 as the end date.
But to do so, it will take the efforts of those willing to respond to the call of Isaiah 58. It will take the church.
