Over 200 people from 17 churches in Decatur and Mt. Zion came to a Poverty Summit held at St. Thomas Church in Decatur on Nov. 23. Speakers at the summit included: Rev. Wayne Dunning from Faith Fellowship Christian Church; Ardena Hunter from God’s Shelter of Love; George Batson from Habitat for Humanity; Nancy Rude from Oasis Day Care Center; and (not pictured) Kathleen Taylor from Good Samaritan Inn.

DECATUR - Over 200 people from 17 churches in Decatur and Mt. Zion gathered at a "Poverty Summit" at St. Thomas Church, on Nov. 23. The summit was called to address poverty issues in the Decatur area and organized by an interdenominational Social Justice Committee established by area Catholic parishes.

"It is good to know there are so many people who are concerned about poverty issues in this community," said Father Richard Weltin, St. Thomas pastor, as he looked out at the crowd which comfortably filled well over half the church.

Steve Miller of Holy Family Parish served as moderator for the program, introducing the five speakers, and interjecting comments between presentations.

"The social justice committee will meet next Sunday night to determine an action plan, and how we will get people involved," said Father Weltin, who is also pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Once the action plan is in place, the committee will notify people who were at the summit.

"If you don't start looking at poverty at its core, nothing is going to change. A lot of people came to the summit ready to do something. We want to get these people working - doing something," Father Weltin said.

As the summit began, Miller said, "There just isn't enough money among us privately to take care of all the needs in Decatur." But there are needs that can be addressed, he said.

"There are some people who can't grasp doing anything on their own," said Father Weltin. "They need help with financial management, how to balance a checkbook. Another area is to help people to not fall under the poverty level."

Father Weltin credits the JustFaith experience, recently made available at Decatur parishes, for stimulating action.

"I encouraged everyone to take some of the JustFaith classes. We have the one now for prison reform," he said.

Kim Diaz from St. Thomas teaches JustFaith classes. "She said she will run as many JustFaith sessions as we need," he said.

"It (JustFaith) is truly a life-transforming event. I think it happened to all of the people who went through the program. Before, we knew there were issues, but I've never seen such enthusiasm in a group of people to actually go out and start doing this. I attribute this all back to Sister Jane (Boos, SSND, director of the diocesan Office for Social Concerns.) I give her total credit for getting the program going over there. She is a wonderful, wonderful lady, a great mentor and promoter of these social issues."

Potential action might include attending city council meetings, taking a really serious look at the problems of poverty, and then formulating a 10-year plan. 

"We need some leadership coming from the city and the state. If people don't go and make their voices heard, things will not be resolved. If all these people that came to the summit find a niche where they are comfortable, we can really, really make a difference," said Father Weltin.

Rev. Wayne Dunning from Faith Fellowship Christian Church talked about the program he runs to help people in poverty.

"People do not need a hand out, but a hand up. We see it (poverty), we hear about it, but it doesn't really touch us," said Dunning, who commented about himself, a Baptist minister preaching at a Catholic church. "There is a God," he said, and people responded "Amen."

"I found that to be one of the powerful dimensions of the whole summit," Father Weltin said later. "The summit was a time for all of us to reflect what we can do, to listen to the five speakers and find out where we can be of service to bring a new life and a new beginning into the lives of these people."