Independence’s Day Speaker Calls On Christian Community To lead the way in Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

July 28, 2025

Monrova: The 178 Independence Speaker has said the Church must lead the way in breaking the cycle of poverty and stopped blaming the poor for their conditions rather the church should empower to create change and challenge the systems of injustice.

Emmett L. Dunn said for too long, poverty has been spiritualized, normalized, and romanticized within the church, saying, the gospel is not only about salvation for the soul, but also transformation of lives and communities.

Mr. Dunn noted that churches cannot keep telling people to fast and pray for break throughs while doing nothing practical to equip them economically.

According to Dunn said, Jesus fed the hungry and did not teach people to wait indefinitely for a blessing or breakthrough rather Jesus taught them to act, to build and to transform.

“There is no honor in poverty, and there is nothing righteous about economic suffering when solutions are within reach”.

Delivering on the theme “One People, One Destiny, Healing the Past, Building the Future” the Independence Day Speaker told the Church in Liberia that its time for a deeper awakening and revival not just of prayer and worship, but of purpose and responsibility.

“Too often, our pulpits echo with calls to prayer without equal calls to action” he said. He added “We must stop expecting miracles while ignoring the work of our hands”.

According to Emmett L. Dunn, Liberia is a nation rich in potential, but burdened by the lack of opportunity, infrastructure, education, and vision.  He noted that the Church is one of the most powerful and trusted institutions in this country.

“Imagine the impact if that power was leveraged for economic development, job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills training. Imagine if churches became centers not just of spiritual revival, but of innovation and productivity”.

He emphasized that “Why if ministries helped build cooperatives, credit unions, vocational centers, and sustainable businesses”? Mr Dunn urged the church to Invest in community development through schools, hospitals as part of their mission.

He said churches should start supporting programs that teach practical skills and financial literacy and as well encourage entrepreneurship and local business initiatives.

“Preach not just faith for miracles, but faith for work, discipline, and economic impact, prayer is powerful, but it must lead us to action.

He encouraged the Christian community to arise as a force not only of hope, but of tangible transformation “Let us stop spiritualizing poverty and start dismantling it”.

He added that “There is no honor in being poor, but there is great honor in lifting others out of poverty, that is the gospel in action”