Our Values that Give Voice to the Voiceless
At Living Voice for People in Need (LIVE), our work is driven by a profound awakening in Christ Love – a growing consciousness of the stark realities facing our world: the persistent grip of extreme poverty, the alarming erosion of moral values, the relentless cycle of crises, and the widening chasm of inequity in humanitarian development across all societies.
The recent years have amplified these challenges. The aftermath of the pandemic, financial turmoil, economic instability, and the bewildering pace of the digital revolution have created an unprecedented need for society to reach out to those left vulnerable and behind. Our central question, the very heartbeat of our mission, is this: Can poverty, inequality, and moral depravity be truly eradicated in the 21st Century, especially for the most disadvantaged?
We firmly believe that no disadvantaged or vulnerable person should be left behind in this transformative Digital Information Age.
The Weight of the World: A Snapshot of Need in 2024
The situation remains critical globally and locally:
- Austria: In 2024, 16.9% of the population (1,529,000 people) were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. 3.7% (336,000 people) faced absolute poverty. Children remain vulnerable, with around 22% at risk of poverty or exclusion (based on consistent trends).
- Global Multidimensional Poverty: In 2024, 1.1 billion people across 112 countries lived in acute multidimensional poverty, with over half being children.
- Extreme Poverty Worldwide: While estimates vary slightly, around 692 million people globally were living in extreme poverty (under $2.15 per day) in 2024.
- Moderate Poverty: Approximately 3.5 billion people globally lived on less than $6.85 per day in 2024.
- Rising Homelessness: The US saw a significant 18% increase in homelessness in 2024, reaching approximately 770,000 people. Trends suggest homelessness remains a growing concern globally.
In essence, the data from 2024 indicates that a substantial portion of the global population continues to live in poverty, with children disproportionately affected. Homelessness is also on the rise, underscoring the escalating vulnerability of significant populations worldwide.
Rooted in Biblical Values
Faced with these spiralling challenges, our focus turns to the profound richness of the world’s, and indeed Europe’s, vast spiritual and cultural heritage: Christianity. We recognize its synthesis of humanity’s law, morals, culture, and universal values as a divine gift, a providence we aim to share to help restore those in need in tangible ways.
Having personally experienced and benefited from the timeless biblical reality of love, and continuing to live by this faith, The Living Voice (LIVE) calls upon all compassionate hearts to join us in actively embodying Christian principles: care, love, compassion, mercy, justice, and empathy for humanity in need. Our unwavering commitment is to leave no person abandoned in poverty, immorality, and inequality in this 21st Century.
Our Core Values in Action:
These aren’t just words on paper; they are the very essence of who we are and how we operate:
- The Exercising of Love for One Another: We believe that love is the inherent living voice within every heart, the very essence of life and the resounding voice of God for all humanity, transcending all ethnic boundaries. The Word beautifully illustrates this interconnectedness: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36 NIV).
- The Passion for Authenticity in Faith: Our faith calls us to action. “Religion or (faith) that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world’’ (James 1:27 NIV). This scripture underscores our commitment to tangible acts of service and unwavering integrity.
Our Mission and Vision:
- Our Simple Mission – The Living Voice for People in Need (LIVE ): To be a living voice for orphans, widows, and people in need by supplying basic human needs, enhancing morals through faith, and supporting digital competence for vulnerable individuals and their communities, fostering a sustainable future. We aim to comfort souls through compassion and provide care to all disadvantaged people, regardless of their background or faith, recognizing the universality of God’s creation.
- Our Humble Vision: A world where every human life is treasured, with access to care, compassion, basic needs, digital competence, and Christian moral values.
Our Guiding Principles:
Our values are not abstract concepts; they are the practical guides for our actions:
- Justice: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly…” (Micah 6:8 NIV). We are committed to fairness, equity, and advocating for the rights of the marginalized.
- Mercy: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? …and to love mercy…” (Micah 6:8 NIV). We strive to show compassion, forgiveness, and practical help to those suffering. “[…]but you have neglected the more important matters of the law that is justice, mercy and faithfulness […]” (Matthew 23:23 NIV).
- Humility: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? …and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NIV). We approach our work with humility, recognizing our role as servants and acknowledging the inherent dignity of every individual.
- Love: “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16). Love is the foundation of all we do, guiding our interactions and inspiring our commitment.
A Call to Unity and Action:
Is our vision of innovative Christian care, provision, and love for those in need, leaving no one behind, truly possible? We believe it is. Just as a house is built brick by brick and a sea is formed drop by drop, we are confident that in unity and through consistent, step-by-step action, we can achieve great things for a better city, country, region, and world. Our guiding Word assures us: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Gen 11:6 NIV).
With faith as our compass, we see a path towards eradicating poverty, immorality, human disorientation, and inequality. This foundation, born from discussions among LIVE’s potential members and founders throughout 2023 and finalized on December 30th, 2023, now stands as the bedrock of our statutes.
Join us as we give a living voice to those in need, driven by the timeless values of love, faith, mercy, humility, and justice. Together, we can make a difference.
Learn more and get involved at www.thelivingvoice.org.