Cycle of poverty

I've been reading up on poverty and found it very interesting............

The cycle of poverty is the "set of factors or events by which poverty, once started, is likely to continue unless there is outside intervention."
The cycle of poverty has been defined as a phenomenon where poor families become trapped in poverty for at least three generations. Families have either limited or no resources. There are many disadvantages that collectively work in a circular process making it virtually impossible for individuals to break the cycle.

1. This occurs when poor people do not have the resources necessary to get out of poverty, such as financial capital, education, or connections.
2. In other words, poverty-stricken individuals experience disadvantages as a result of their poverty, which in turn increases their poverty.
3. This would mean that the poor remain poor throughout their lives. This cycle has also been referred to as a "pattern" of behaviors and situations which cannot easily be changed.


The poverty cycle is usually called "development trap" when it is applied to countries.
There is situational poverty, which can generally be traced to a specific incident within the lifetimes of the person or family members in poverty, and generational poverty, which is a cycle that passes from generation to generation, and goes on to argue that generational poverty has its own distinct culture and belief patterns.

Read more on the culture of poverty.

Compiled by Molly Manhanga

Never Again....

Over 25 years ago I read this bold confession and it has helped me in my walk with God and how to have right thinking about myself in Christ Jesus..... His word is true, Alive and life-changing..........

"Never again will I confess fear
Because God has not given me a spirit of fear,
but of love, power and of a sound mind.

Never again will I confess I can't
Because I can do ALL things through Christ
who strengthens me.

Never again will I confess defeat
because God causes me always to
truimph in Christ Jesus.

Never again will I confess lack
because My God shall supply ALL my needs
according to his riches in Glory through Christ Jesus.

Never again will I confess discontentment
Because I have learnt in every situation
therewith to be content.

Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith
because God has given to every man the measure of faith

I cannot be defeated, I cannot fail because my Faith is in Christ Jesus.

I am All that God says I am
I can do All that God says I can do
I have All that God says I have.
I bear fruit that remains........."

"Remember the poor." Do we actually do that?

I’ve been thinking about lots of things but in particular, Simon Pettit’s words “If we are to see the multitudes swept into the Kingdom, we need to remember the poor.” Do we actually remember the poor? What connotations are there when one hears the word poor - Lack of food, no money, poor health and hygiene, poor sanitation, lack of infrastructure etc? Is there a single cause of poverty? Not quite! Poverty is too complex to be the result of just one problem. The serious challenge is that ‘poor’ individuals find it difficult, even impossible to end their own poverty. It’s quite a vicious cycle.

How can one describe poverty? According to the United Nations, “......poverty is the denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to; not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.”

Education: Children are often kept at home to support their family with additional income.
Health: Poor health decrease the amount of work impoverished individuals can do, lowering their income and driving them deeper into poverty.

Living in Kezi amongst the people of Mablauwuni village, it’s very easy to see how poor people are. There is much need amongst the people but the obvious ones are “lack of voice & insufficient capacity.” People generally don’t listen or don’t have the time to listen to people they consider poor and will categorise poor people as “them and us”. It’s easy to adopt an attitude of ‘we are better than them.’ People that are poor are not given the chance to make choices about their lives. Those that are in a better place financially tend to feel that it’s their responsibility to decide the future of those that are poor. People are people, made in the image of God and with intrinsic worth whether one is ‘rich’ or ‘poor’, educated or uneducated. Meeting a need with the poor (physical) results in opening a door to speak of the eternal (spiritual) and we are so blessed to be able to teach Foundations for Farming amongst the poor in Kezi which speaks of principles that apply to all areas of life.

From my experience, listening to people, caring about them, accepting them as they are, supporting them and giving them opportunities to better ones life, teaching, training and equipping people shows the church in action – meeting the physical and spiritual needs amongst the poor. When you meet a physical need, it’s easy for people to be open to the spiritual. Multitudes will enter the Kingdom but it will take hard work and commitment from everyone.

By Molly Manhanga