Taking Action Together
In a time marked by compounding crises—from poverty and war to environmental devastation and attacks on democracy—the Freedom Church of the Poor calls us into collective action grounded in prophetic faith and moral resistance.
Drawing inspiration from Jesus’s transformative mission in Luke 4 and Dr. King’s call to unite the bottom through a Poor People’s Campaign, this tradition affirms that when poor and dispossessed people are organized, they become a powerful and transformative force.
This chapter explores how collective action—through storytelling, pray-ins, mutual aid, vigils, and moral direct action—can forge bonds, confront injustice, and shift both public narratives and material conditions. Far from acts of charity or isolated protest, these are sacred, strategic rituals that merge spiritual conviction with organizing power.
From a Waffle House worker’s poem to a ceasefire prayer in Congress, from survival projects in Maine to faith filled protests at the U.S. border, and vigils for the detained in New York—each act embodies the Freedom Church’s belief that every life is sacred and every need must be met. By lifting up the leadership of the poor and reimagining justice, these rituals help build a world where moral clarity, collective power, and the vision of a new society become not only possible—but irresistible.
A Ceasefire Pray-In: The Prayer and Song
Courage
"Courage" is a powerful song from the South African anti-apartheid movement, historically sung by protesters as they were taken to jail and used as a way to learn each other’s names within the cells. Today, its message of resilience and solidarity echoes across global liberation struggles, including the fight against apartheid in Palestine. In the current moment, communities supporting immigrants facing ICE hearings have also embraced this song, using it as a unifying call for justice and collective strength.
Read MoreWe will move with you, and sing your spirit home.
A Project of Survival: A Prayer and A Song
1-2-3 Lift Up
This song was written by Adam Thiesen, a movement leader with the IL Poor People's Campaign and the National Union of the Homeless. At the time he wrote the song he was living in Maine. This song is connected to a project of survival that Adam and Katie Thiesen were a part of in Maine.
Read MorePrayer for Migrant Justice: The Story
God Loves Us All
The simple tune of this old English folk round has been reimagined by social movements to proclaim the universality of God's love and God's call for justice. On December 10, Human Rights Day, this song rang out at the U.S.–Mexico border as faith leaders from diverse traditions gathered for a powerful religious ceremony in solidarity with asylum seekers. The “Love Knows No Borders” action called for an end to immigrant detention and deportation, respect for the right to migrate, and the demilitarization of the border. Kneeling in prayer before border guards and military troops—and within earshot of families on the Mexican side—clergy and community members sang songs of love and resistance. Their presence was a public witness to the sacredness of every human life.
Read MoreWe will not bow to injustice God loves us all
Vigil for the Detained: The Song
Never Alone
“Never Alone” is a powerful anthem born from the No Separate Justice campaign, which held monthly vigils outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City to protest the inhumane treatment of Muslim detainees in the post-9/11 era. Rooted in the belief that we carry our ancestors, teachers, and communities with us in the struggle for justice, the song offers a deep affirmation of collective strength and spiritual solidarity. Sung across movements—from immigrant justice to climate action—it reminds us that even in the face of isolation and repression, we are never alone.
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