| Summary: | This paper sought to explore the perceptions of and the experiences of Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) Alice Region in alleviating poverty. The study from which this paper
is derived, was informed by a qualitative approach using a case study design. The study also used interviews complemented by focus group discussions as data collection methods. The
study comprised 20 participants who remained anonymous, that were selected through the use of a purposive sampling technique. The study revealed the following thematic findings: Poverty is associated with diseases, poverty is associated with the phenomenon of divorce, poverty is associated with homelessness, there is lack of employment, and poverty is also linked to inequality. The paper employed a pastoral care approach as a theoretical or conceptual framework and made the following recommendations: There is need for the MCSA to have a committee that will formulate structures for sustaining projects for poverty alleviation to give an account of finance utilization. The MCSA should take into account all the special conditions that are associated with poverty alleviation. The church should also be concerned about people who are impoverished and have no accommodation, food and clothes, for instance, and ascertain their actual living conditions. MCSA, Department of Social
Development, NGOs and the Department of Health should work together to strategize on fighting against poverty in the Alice Region. There is a need for a collaborative effort by different stakeholders to strategize on a fight against poverty. The Methodist Church should develop a poverty eradication policy and integrate this into its existing polices. The Methodist Church of Southern Africa should integrate policy formulation so that the fight against poverty may also be established within the MCSA policy.
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