According to a New Barna study, 93 percent of American church-goers are concerned about poverty around the world.
Of those surveyed those younger than 40 were most concerned about global poverty.
The study, commissioned by Compassion International was conducted in September. Barna surveyed 1,429 American adults.
Major findings of the study included:
•Ninety-three percent of Christians surveyed are concerned about global poverty and a third are “extremely concerned.”
• Four out of 5 Christians believe they have a special responsibility to help solve global poverty.
• Twenty percent of practicing Protestants and 16 percent of practicing Catholics have traveled outside the U.S. for the purpose of serving the global poor.Christians under 40 years old were more than twice as likely to have taken such a trip.
• Younger Christians give 50 percent more than older Christians toward the cause of global poverty.
• Forty-five percent of younger Christians believe their churches should be more involved in helping the poor.
Scott Todd, the author of Fast Living: How the Church Will End Extreme Poverty, thinks the results of the study signify a growing awareness of poverty in Christian communities.
“What would happen if these millions of Christians began to live out the fundamental teachings of their faith in a new way,” he said.
“What if they began to take seriously the Biblical teachings about the poor and oppressed? What if they formed a new relationship with the global poor? I believe these changes are underway on a massive scale. We are witnessing an awakening.”
