From The Desk of Pastor Ronnie D. Joyner, D.Min. 2508 Lamp Post Court Chesapeake, VA 23325 Mr. Kevin Adell President, The Word Network 20733 W.10 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075
January 26, 2015
Mr. Adell, First, congratulations on a tremendous enhancement and expansion of The Word Network. Your humility and elevation of 'others' is a testament to such, to God Be The Glory. Secondly, there is a new dialogue before the body of Christ. This dialogue references the African American and economic equality. In a recent article published in Huffington Post, The Wealth Gap Widens Between Whites and Minorities, the wealth of white households was reported to be 13 times greater than that of black households in 2013 and 10 times that of Hispanic households. Such despair is buffeted by the country's political divide and joblessness. As a pastor of 40 years and an adjunct professor at two HBCUs, I personally see the growing pain and despair within both communities and the country http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/12/racial-wealth-gap_n_6317202.html I along with others are increasing to posit new economic attitude helps, developing preaching and teaching forums and settings to reach families, using social media, radio and TV to fill the air waves with the message of changing our vices and values. I've included a copy of one of my books, Breaking Free From Financial Bondage that I will be using throughout this year for your perusal. Equally, on Friday Jan. 16, I and leaders of my congregation began the process of acquiring the first CBN TV Facility in Portsmouth, VA {recently released by Tribune Media} and expanding our Radio Ministry (www.HotJoyRadio.com) as we will be using these airwaves as a redemptive witness for spiritual/economic turnaround. We want to use every front to facilitate a new day for many in our community. Here is part of the message we will be carrying: Poor in greek is pto-khos’ and emphasizes distressed and straitened circumstances. Who are the poor today? The US Census Bureau recently reported that the poverty rate — the percentage of people living in poverty is at its highest level since 1997, from 12.5 % in 2007 to 14.5% today. About 45.3 million Americans are living in poverty, up from 37.3 million in 2007.
In 2013, the official poverty rate was 14.5 percent, down from 15.0 percent in 2012. This was the first decrease in the poverty rate since 2006.
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