THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS MITIGATING POVERTY AMONG CHRISTIANS LIVING IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARID

Abstract

This research paper investigated the role of the Church in mitigating poverty among Christians in the Episcopal Diocese of Maridi, South Sudan. Recognizing the Church as a critical social institution in post-conflict communities, the research examined how Church Programs and Initiatives, Experiences and Perceptions of Poverty, and Faith-Based Beliefs and Recommendations interact in shaping poverty alleviation efforts. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in this research, with a quantitative approach being used. Structured questionnaires were given to 451 respondents selected from church congregations across the diocese. IBM SPSS version 27 was used for data analysis, with both descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation used to assess relationships between key variables. The results revealed statistically significant positive correlations among all three core variables. A reasonable affirmative correlation was found between Experiences and Perceptions of Poverty and Church Programs and Initiatives (r = .437, p < .01), suggesting that persons experiencing advanced intensities of poverty remained more likely to report awareness of or engagement with church-based interventions such as food aid, vocational training, or cooperative support. A weaker but still significant correlation was observed between Experiences of Poverty and Faith-Based Beliefs and Recommendations (r = .269, p < .01), indicating that those facing economic hardship were somewhat more inclined to support expanded church involvement in poverty alleviation. The strongest correlation emerged between Church Programs and Initiatives and Faith-Based Beliefs and Recommendations (r = .480, p < .01), demonstrating that respondents who positively viewed church interventions were also more likely to advocate for increased church engagement in economic empowerment and social support. The study concludes that while the Church in Maridi Diocese plays a pivotal role in supporting the poor through practical programs, its impact is reinforced by the faith-driven expectations of its members. Strengthening church-community partnerships, expanding program coverage, and integrating spiritual guidance with economic initiatives could significantly enhance poverty alleviation efforts. Future research is recommended to explore causality, longitudinal outcomes, and the integration of church-led interventions into broader national development strategies.