Exciting News!

If you attended the Prayer Breakfast, you would have heard that World Poverty Solutions has partnered with RBCC!

What is World Poverty Solutions?

They’ve actually been around since 1971, when their parent organization, World Challenge, was founded by David Wilkerson, (also founder of Teen Challenge, Rehresburg). During his travels, he saw people crushed under the weight of overwhelming poverty.  David worked tirelessly over the years to help relieve their burdens, supporting charitable outreaches and founding others.  Since its founding, World Challenge has served 260 communities with missions in 60 nations.

(Gary Wilkerson, David’s son, is current president of World Poverty Solutions, and he spoke at our Prayer Breakfast last month.)

Meeting the Crisis Needs of America’s Poor

Some thought from Gary Wilkerson –

“45.3 million people live in poverty. I’m not talking about Congo, Cambodia or Haiti—I’m referring to 45.3 million impoverished Americans. 1 in every 5 children in the U.S. lives below the poverty line. And hunger is increasing in rural areas as well as urban centers.”

“Our cities face other crises of all kinds. Recently in Huntington, West Virginia, there were 27 heroin overdoses in just four hours’ time. Racial tensions are escalating everywhere. And violence is spiking.”

“World Challenge exports love, concern and mercy to the poor around the globe, yet we recognize the epidemics at home. From our earliest days—when David Wilkerson left rural Pennsylvania to bring Christ’s good news to urban issues of gang warfare and drug addiction—we’ve followed God’s call to make a difference in America. From the humble Brooklyn Teen Challenge to centers across the U.S., we’ve seen Jesus free tens of thousands of people struggling with addictions. And over six decades we’ve conducted inner-city evangelism from coast to coast, seeing God’s love transform countless lives.”

“At World Poverty Solutions (WPS) our mission statement calls us to “bring poverty solutions within reach of every poor community around the world.” This may include Ferguson, Missouri, and rural Mississippi, or Chicago and Detroit, as well as communities on other continents. Through our long-term involvement with churches, we’re partnering to see God do the miraculous—to see souls saved, churches come alive, and the poor receive the gospel in fullness. The same gospel power that has revived communities in international villages—with people receiving education, obtaining jobs, and learning new skills to advance in life—can happen at home as well.”

“Here in the U.S., through valued partnerships, we seek to bring practical help and encouragement to families struggling with a wide range of urban challenges that negatively impact families. This work with churches provides after-school programs for at-risk kids, community social events where relationships are grown and the gospel is presented and short term strategic assistance is offered.”

“With every opportunity, it becomes increasingly clear to us that a central part of our calling is to help local churches reach those in need.”

“World Poverty Solutions exists to bring hope where there is none. We want to see broken people restored to hopeful self-sufficiency by breaking poverty’s chains in every realm of living. And our role is simple. It’s to assist in their self-discovery of God’s presence among them and his provision for them. Already our time-proven practices—in areas of health and hygiene, clean water and sanitation, agricultural efficiency, and Christ-centered teaching for the whole of life—are renewing hope for many. We hope you’ll join us to help make it happen for thousands more.”

RBCC & World Poverty Solutions Partnership

RBCC is embarking on a new journey, one in which we hope you will join us on.

Why partner with us?

In 2011, Reading was tabbed as the “poorest city,” in the nation.  Since then, although the number of residents living in poverty in Reading have declined, it was still on the 10 “poorest cities list” top list in 2017. (citing Reading Eagle article  published Sept. 23, 2017)