Partner. Pray. Act: Responding to Poverty in Your Community With Acts 435
Recent statistics from Joseph Rowntree Foundation, show that one in five adults in the UK are living in poverty, while 31% of children are growing up below the poverty line. Most stark of all, 6.8 million people are now living in what JRF describes as very deep poverty - the highest number ever recorded.
As the Church, we cannot ignore this. Scripture calls us to respond:
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him.”
— Psalm 41:1
We know that many churches long to make a difference - to respond to the needs they see around them, but often the question is simple: where do we start?
We’d like to suggest two ways you could make a start: partner and pray.
1. Partner
One practical way to support those in need is by partnering with Acts 435 - an online giving charity that directly connects those who want to give with those experiencing genuine need.
Our friends at Acts 435 currently partner with a network of over 600 churches and local charities. It is completely free to partner with Acts 435 who crowdfund money to help people in a church’s community with specific needs such as a bed, a cooker or clothes.
As has been reported, millions of households are spending more on essentials than they are earning, highlighting that individuals in every community are unable to afford everyday necessities, let alone be able to save for much-needs items, such as white goods or car repairs.
These types of needs are where Acts 435 can step in, and make a huge difference to someone facing this situation. Just like Sonny*, and his wife, who had recently suffered from a stroke. Their fridge-freezer had broken, but due to Sonny needing to care for his wife, they had little income. Acts 435 donors stepped in to help, and Sonny said:
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported us to get a fridge-freezer. Knowing that people still care has meant so much to us as we continue to face daily struggles with love and strength. Your support has helped ease some of the pressure and made life a little more manageable for us. Thank you for standing with us and showing compassion when it was most needed."
Could your church partner with Acts 435 to fill the gaps where people are struggling and demonstrate God’s love and compassion firsthand?
Find out more about partnering with Acts 435: acts435.org.uk/partner
2. Pray
Alongside practical action, prayer is essential.
For those who have never experienced poverty, it can be easy to feel distant from its realities. But prayer helps us to see differently. It softens our hearts, deepens our compassion, and aligns us with God’s heart for those in need.
Our Stand in the Gap resource is designed to help you do just that. Pages 24–25 (created in partnership with Acts 435) guide you through a day in the life of someone facing poverty - highlighting the challenges and decisions many people face from morning to night.
Praying in this way helps us move beyond statistics and into empathy. It opens our hearts to the realities of struggle, guiding us to bring our own and others’ needs before God with understanding.
Download Stand in the Gap and pray today: Stand-in-the-Gap.pdf
