Breaking the Poverty Cycle: Biblical Solutions for Every Community
- Krista Bontrager
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Join hosts Monique and Krista (Theology Mom) as they dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the myth of racialized poverty. They are joined by guests Kevin Briggins and Pastor Alton Hardy, who bring biblical insights and real-world experience to the conversation. Together, they challenge the narrative that poverty is primarily driven by race or racism, exploring instead the roles of personal responsibility, cultural factors, and the transformative power of the Gospel.
Pastor Alton shares his impactful work in Fairfield, Alabama, where he’s planted a church and implemented practical solutions like a grocery store and men’s discipleship programs to address poverty at its roots. Learn how biblical principles, such as the success sequence (finishing high school, securing a job, and marrying before having children), can break generational cycles of poverty across all communities. The episode also critiques the nonprofit system’s reliance on perpetuating poverty narratives for funding and highlights the church’s vital role in fostering long-term change through discipleship.
On tonight’s episode, Krista and Monique bring on guests, Kevin Briggins (Managing Director for CFBU and Co-host of the Off Code Podcast) and Reverend Alton Hardy, pastor and founder of Urban Hope Community Church in Fairfield, Alabama.
The panel discussed the concept of racialized poverty—the idea that poverty is primarily caused by race or racism— arguing instead that poverty stems from personal choices, cultural values, family breakdown, fatherlessness, lack of education, and spiritual issues like the absence of a gospel-centered church presence.
Here are the highlights from the discussion:
Q. Pastor Alton, please tell us about yourself and the work that you're doing down in Fairfield.
I'm a pastor, married for nearly 30 years with five kids. I've been in Fairfield (near Birmingham) for 13 years, trusting the gospel for urban inner-city work without gimmicks. Over 30 years in urban ministry, but the last 13 focus solely on gospel-centered transformation, which God has faithfully blessed.
Q, What is meant by the phrase racialized poverty?
Racialized poverty is the idea that poverty is primarily explained by race or racism, not broader personal, social, cultural, or economic factors affecting all backgrounds. Statistics show Blacks and Hispanics lead poverty rates, followed by Asians and Whites, but this isn't solely due to racism—e.g., individual choices like having multiple children out of wedlock contribute.
Q. Pastor Alton, what are your thoughts on racialized poverty? Is poverty strictly based on race? How do personal factors play in?"
Poverty in America has nothing to do with race or skin color—it's about decisions, like not working or ignoring blueprints for prosperity (e.g., having five children by five women leads to poverty). It's wrongly linked to slavery or Jim Crow; God shifted my perspective from blaming "white privilege" to gospel truth. Kevin adds, the majority of Black people (83%) aren't poor—poverty rate is ~17.9% (2023 census). The stereotype comes from concentrated inner-city poverty, exploited for policies, grants, and "privileges" via white guilt. Poverty results from culture (values, beliefs, practices) not aligning with success, not historical injustices.
Q. Are historical injustices like Jim Crow, systemic racism, and redlining really the driver of poverty today?"
No—it's not racism or police brutality. It's church abandonment, false gospels, and nonprofits offering only "benevolent kingdom" aid without addressing sin, marriage, or family. Inner cities lack basic Christian tenets; hip-hop culture dominates. Poverty stems from single-parent homes (especially fatherless), poor education, violence, and no fear of God. It's a loop: no fathers → poor education → crime/jail → more poverty. Kevin agrees, noting the Civil Rights movement shifted church focus to political activism and grievances for power, not righteous living or discipleship.
Q. Why aren't we incentivizing marriage, education, and work through nonprofits?
It's messy to address sexual ethics and bodies; nonprofits lack the stomach for it. It's a spiritual fight needing churches, not executives avoiding confrontation. Kevin adds that churches have failed since the 1960s, prioritizing government aid over gospel and accountability. Nonprofits perpetuate cycles by pedestalizing single mothers instead of married families.
Q. Talk a little bit about why you started with the men in your ministry.
The Bible starts families with men; they're key for transformation. Urban communities lack fathers/husbands, leading to homicides, prison, etc. I disciple men on Jesus, marriage/family, work ethic, and sexual ethics. No work? Discipleship stops (per Genesis). Nothing free—skin in the game required. Remove impediments (e.g., licenses, records) for jobs. Promote biblical marriage aggressively.
Q. How does the government or nonprofits incentivise and perpetuate poverty cycles (e.g., penalizing marriage)?
Government leads people "back to Egypt" (Numbers 11)—free aid creates dependency. Example: A woman was advised against marrying to keep HUD aid. Nonprofits act as "big welfare," hindering freedom. Kevin adds: Nonprofits block innovative programs requiring work (e.g., a food bank refused aid for a co-op needing participant effort).Monique adds: From experience, grants incentivize helping more families but penalize independence; people avoid work requirements.
Q. What do you guys think is the biggest impediment to our young men getting married?
Mothers (or grandmothers)—they oppose losing "husband sons" who provide care/finances, perpetuating poverty. Churches must navigate this messiness via discipleship.
Conclusion: Changing the culture of poverty, requires the long game of Gospel-centered discipleship! There is no quick fix!
Resources:
Join us in October to hear more from Alton Hardy! The CFBU National Conference is taking place in Birmingham, AL on Oct 23rd-25th! SEATS ARE LIMITED! Register now! https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/conference
"Long is the Way" by Alton Hardy: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Alton-Hardy/dp/B0CKDBG55N/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
"Hillbilly Elegy" by JD Vance: https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300555/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
Connect with the Guest:
Stay connected with Pastor Alton Hardy's work at his church, Urban Hope Community Church: https://www.urbanhopecc.com/
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All the Things Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@AllTheThingsShow
Center for Biblical Unity: https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/
Sponsor:
Tonight's show is brought to you by the Center for Biblical Unity and Theology Mom podcast.
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