FAST OFFERINGS

The welfare program of the Church of Jesus Christ is financed by the voluntary contributions of the members of the Church, who fast one day a month and contribute the value of the meals they would have eaten for the poor and the needy.

The welfare program is based on the idea of self-reliance. The individual and the family should not be dependent on the support of others. The program is comprehensive. It encourages members to strive for self-reliance in various fields of their lives such as:

Training
A profession
Financial management
Home production and storage
Health
Psychological and spiritual strength

Despite these preventative efforts, it does happen that a member gets into difficulties. Then the Church teaches that the individual is responsible in the first instance for resolving his/her situation. After that comes the family or the extended family. Only when these possibilities have been exhausted does the Church step in with further help. Welfare support from the Church is always regarded as temporary – its aim is to get the individual back on his/her feet.