ABSTRACT

This research work is titled, “The church and poverty reduction in Arochukwu Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.” The persistent problem of poverty in the society and in the church especially in Arochukwu Presbytery has made the land and the church impossible to sustain internal growth. Poverty rate in Arochukwu Presbytery advance from bad to worse thereby keeping the community in stagnant position in terms of human and social development. This Presbytery Long Essay is to reawaken the minds of the church members and individuals toward eradication of poverty in Arochukwu Presbytery, to show that the great weaponry for reduction is rather fundamentally and spiritual left in the hand of the church to increase. It tries to encourage the church’s effort in fighting against poverty in Arochukwu Presbytery and to examine the workable way poverty of members and the Presbytery could be reduced. The researcher adopted historical and descriptive method of data analysis, using primary and secondary sources of data collection to achieve the aim of the research. The Presbytery Long essay revealed that the church in dealing with poverty reduction has suffered due to lack of coordination and commitment, poor design and evaluation of programs. The work recommends some of the role the church should play so as to reduce poverty in the society especially in Arochukwu Presbytery and the community. It recommends that there is need to sustain poverty reduction strategies, especially in provision of employment, and pastors should encourage the caring attitude among the members, and teaching them to feel the burdens of others.