the Line: Poverty in America and LaSalle, Illinois

In my sermon from Sunday, I took time (some in the congregation might have thought too much!) to build upon the idea, the reality, that faith should be a verb; something we do, something we explore, something that transforms us and gives us the ability to help transform the world. 

This is built on the belief that simple acts of faith, that so many are engaged in every day, are powerful -- the act of prayer; the act of being present for those in pain; the acts of faith it takes to care for a parent or children, to stay clean and sober, to get out of bed and battle the oppressive poverty and joblessness that plagues too many.

Where my family and I live, and where one of the churches I serve is located, like many places in America, is wracked by a cycle and culture of poverty that existed long before the economy crashed in 2008.  In LaSalle, Illinois: 

• 16% of the population lives below the poverty line; including 27% of children under the age of 18.
• Where, in the school district, up to 80% of students are low income compared to a state average of 45%.  With low income defined as students coming from families receiving public aid; living in institutions for neglected or delinquent children; students supported in foster homes with public funds; or are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches.
• Where kids, 22% of white, 60% of black and 52% of Hispanic fourth graders read below basic skill levels.
• Where the unemployment rate spiked at 16.4% in 2010 and remains stuck near 11.5% in 2012 -- this does not account for the hundreds, maybe thousands, of neighbors who have given up trying to find a job.
• Where I am told that homeless kids are sheltered at local motels.

In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus in clear in teaching that the way we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the homeless, the sick, the prisoner -- the way we serve the poor and vulnerable, all those left out and behind, is the way we treat him.  Sojourners says that, "how much we love him will be demonstrated in how we treat them."

So to demonstrate our faith as a verb, at 7:00 PM on October 3, 2012, St. Paul's Church, LaSalle, is hosting a screening of the movie the Line.  Doors to the parish hall will open by 6:30 PM and discussion regarding the movie, the realities of poverty in LaSalle County, Illinois and an informed response will take place after the movie. 

From the Emmy Award-winning producer Linda Midgett, the Line is a groundbreaking documentary chronicling the new face of poverty in America.  View the movie trailer at thelinemovie.com.

I hope you join us on October 3rd -- our faith is a verb.