The National Council of Churches is an association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, evangelical, historic African-American and Living Peace churches that represents more than 30 denominations and 45 million people. It is active in economic justice issues.  

The Christian Community Development Association, the largest Christian community development group in the country, works to reduce poverty. It’s based in Chicago. Contact interim CEO Ava Steaffens.

Christian Churches Together is a large national ecumenical organization that includes evangelical, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, historic Protestant, racial and ethnic churches. Contact executive administrator Yai Malave in Louisville or Rev. Carlos Malave, the executive director.

Read the results of the 2011 census on poverty and income. Published by the United States Census Bureau.

Read a Sept. 12, 2012, article published by the Religion News Service about an increase in poverty advocacy in churches.

Read a July 2, 2013, article published by The Atlantic about how the geographic locations and racial makeup of poverty has changed.

Read a July 7, 2013, article in at JournalNews.com about how poverty has spread into suburban areas.

Read a July 7, 2013, News-Gazette article about teachers working to overcome generational poverty by understanding the “culture of poverty.”

Deborah Smith Pegues is a businesswoman who was chief financial officer for the megachurch West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. She wrote the 2009 book Financial Survival in Uncertain Times.