BIBLICAL MODELS FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION WITH REFERENCE TO PENTECOSTAL CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined biblical models for poverty alleviation and how Pentecostal churches in southwestern Nigeria could practically contribute to poverty alleviation through adaptation of the biblical models. Relevant biblical texts were studied using grammatico-historical method of exegesis while field data were collected using a structured questionnaire which was administered to 600 randomly selected Pentecostal Christians across the six states of Southwestern Nigeria. The result was analyzed using descriptive statistics, namely frequency, mean and standard deviation. The study concludes that poverty is not a spiritual problem hence, its solution is beyond prayer and fasting, but requires strategic human responsibility. The study therefore recommends that Pentecostal churches in Southwestern Nigeria should desist from spiritualizing poverty and take responsibility for its alleviation through pragmatic teachings, accountability and provision of well managed poverty alleviation programmes, such as small scale business capitalization loan scheme, affordable housing and basic educational institutions for indigent members.