Issues: Poverty and Wealth

Case Study 2: The Jesus Army

Living in a shared house with a senior couple as spiritual 'parents' and an emphasis on sharing lives and serving others is quite a discipline, especially as there is encouragement to be celibate (not marrying) and pure.

However these early church ideals attract some people and, like monks and nuns, the motivation is out of love for God and a desire to help others less fortunate. Not all members share all they have by putting their income into a 'common purse' but there is significant pooling of money and resources to help others and reach people 'on the streets' with the Christian faith and practical help. Various 'arms' of the organisation have been initiated to provide this practical help.

Members come from all walks of life, varied social groups and backgrounds but seek to model their church and everyday lives on the simple and practical model of the early church … see Acts chapter 4 verses 32 - 35