Freedom Church of the Poor

The Freedom Church of the Poor is a spiritual and political home for movement leaders. We believe in the fundamental dignity and value of all life and in a world of justice and abundance where all can thrive. We gather as a community of faith to support and care for each other. We commit to realizing the abundant world that God promises by identifying, developing, and uniting leaders who will build a movement to end poverty led by the poor. In this community and through our commitment to this struggle we also seek to re-discover and share a vision and a practice of religion that is rooted in truth, justice, and love.

Advent Of A Revolution & Birth Of A Movement with Freedom Church of the Poor

The “holiday season” in the US is characterized by cheery songs, extravagant spending, a jolly red-nosed coca-cola Santa (the real St. Nicholas stole money from the church to free slaves), toy-making elves, and people on street corners ringing silver bells collecting coins for the poor. And the dominant religious story behind all of this tells of how long ago and far away, on a peaceful (silent) night, a meek and mild virgin mother gave birth to the savior of the world.

This all contradicts the world of desperation and violence that many (most of us) know, and which only intensifies in the cold dark Winter months. It also masks the true beauty and persistent struggle that is brewing from below. The world that Jesus was born into was also one of intense violence, deep poverty, and a beautiful, fierce and organized resistance to empire led by the poor and marginalized masses.

The Freedom Church of the Poor community and our partner organizations come together for this “Winter Offensive,” this season which we call Advent of a Revolution (Advent) & Birth of a Movement (Epiphany), to expose the lies of the candy-cane Christmas; to revive the revolutionary power of the ancient story of Christmas; to reconnect to the God who Mother Mary praised, the one that “casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly”; and to give strength and unity to the movement of our people in these troubled times.

Freedom Church of the Poor gathers online every Sunday at 6pm ET | 5pm CT | 3pm PT via zoom and other social media platforms.