A Discussion GuiDe - The Linethelinemovie.com/sites/thelinemovie.com/files/TheLine.Toolkit.pdf · A...

A Discussion GuiDe

Length of film: Approximately 40 minutes • Language: English

sojourners is excited to share this film discussion guide with you as a way for churches, friends, and individuals to engage with various issues surrounding our national discussion on poverty in America. Many Christians are already involved in caring for their neighbors who are struggling economically, but have questions about how to fix the system.

Sojourners’ short documentary The Line highlights different pieces of this complex issue to help spark conversation, discussion, and reflection about why and how we should work to end poverty in America.

The Line documents the stories of people across the country living at or below the poverty line. They have goals. They have children. They work hard. They are people like you and me.

From Chicago’s suburbs and west side to the Gulf Coast to North Carolina, millions of Americans are struggling every day to make it above The Line.

To learn more about The Line, please visit thelinemovie.com.

Poverty in America It’s not what you think.

presents

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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Poverty in America—It’s not what you think. thelinemovie.com

Dear friends,

While millions tuned in to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and more will watch the presidential candidate debates, I want to introduce you to a film that just might be the most important thing you watch this month—or this year, for that matter.

Lots of significant things will be said during this campaign season about how to build a stronger middle class and how to produce jobs. But Matthew 25 doesn’t say, “As you have done it to the middle class, you have done it to me.”

Instead, in the gospel Jesus says, “As you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.”

Chances are that this will never be the central message of political conventions during election years.

But every four years for the last 40 years (even before we were called Sojourners), our community has done what we can to lift up the issue of poverty during presidential elections. While political party platforms have changed, our commitment to the least of these has not.

So with that spirit, I am proud to present a new short film called The Line.

Written and directed by Emmy award-winning producer Linda Midgett, it chronicles the very real stories of four real people struggling with real poverty in America today.

You’ll meet a banker in the suburban Midwest who used to earn six figures a year and now, after the economic collapse, must go to a food bank to feed his three kids; a fisherman on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana who has watched his livelihood and his culture wash away in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (see page 8) and a devastating off-shore oil spill; a blue-collar guy in North Carolina who worked hard his whole life but lost his job, became homeless, and started over as a restaurant bus boy; and a single mom in Chicago who battles daily to ensure that her son is safe, healthy, and has the opportunity to go to college.

The idea of the film is simple: People living in and struggling with poverty telling their own stories. They are beautiful, inspiring, challenging, and full of grace. In a word, their stories are powerful. The kind you never forget. The kind that make you not only feel something, but compel you to do something.

My Sojourners colleagues and I want to share The Line’s stories and message with as many people as we can. That’s where you come in. We need your help. The first thing you can do is

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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watch the trailer at thelinemovie.com. As soon as you’ve seen it, I’m sure you’re going to want to share it with everyone you know.

Next, I invite you to join us. The Line premieres at 8 p.m. (EDT), Tuesday, Oct. 2—the night before the first presidential debate. With your help, I believe we can make sure both candidates understand they will need to address the issue of poverty during that debate.

If you’ve already signed up to host a screening—thank you!

Sojourners and our partner, World Vision—as well as the other supporters, Oxfam America, Bread for the World, and the Christian Community Development Association, MacArthur Foundation, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation—thank you for taking this step and putting your faith into action.

We hope this discussion guide we’ve created to accompany The Line will spark lively conversation and forge a faithful way forward to ending poverty in America.

In Christ,

Jim Wallis

Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners, is the author of Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery. Follow him on Twitter @JimWallis.

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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WhAT’s in The GuiDe?This film guide highlights Sojourners’ new short documentary release,The Line—complete with a recap of the film’s sections, discussion questions, and helpful information for small groups. You can find more information about how to host a film screening and how to share this powerful film with your church, family, and friends at thelinemovie.com.

Why Movies?Few experiences can expose us to dynamic, complex issues as films do. Vivid images and narrative enable us to share a person’s story, connecting us to other humans in a way that public policy articles cannot. Talking about politics can be difficult, but watching a film can provide opportunities to discuss important social, biblical, and political issues.

The Line will expose you to the brokenness of our current economy and the need for a better understanding of how people can be poor through no choice of their own. Currently, we are in the worst economic crisis in generations, and the federal budget process is broken, with too much attention being paid to partisan politics and too little attention being paid to the 46.2 million Americans living below the poverty line—including 16 million children. All the stories you’ll hear in The Line are true. Together, a faithful response can help move our nation’s leaders to pass just and fair economic policies for all of God’s children created in God’s image.

We invite you to be a part of educating Christians about the realities of those who are poor and our broken economic system—and about our biblical mandate to pursue a just economy.

hoW To hosT A screeninGHosting a screening of The Line provides an opportunity to discuss a politically critical issue in a nonthreatening and fun environment. Hosting a discussion after the film, which allows people to process, share, and act on what they saw, is a great way to educate yourself and your community about the need for changing the story on poverty in America.

Screenings can be held in your church fellowship hall or with a group of friends in your home. Think about your resources and comfort level and design a screening that works for you.

Where cAn i GeT The Line?You can order The Line at thelinemovie.com/get-dvd or by going to the Sojourners Store at store.sojo.net.

GeTTinG sTArTeD1. Choose a date and time. Keep in mind

the church calendar and other regularly occurring events.

2. Advertise and invite. Get the word out to folks you would like to attend.

3. Share leadership. Consider inviting staff from a local nonprofit organization to help lead the discussion. Ask for help from friends and colleagues in setting up, hosting, and cleanup.

4. Dress rehearsal: Be sure to test all the equipment you are planning to use (DVD player, speakers, projector, screen, microphones, etc.).

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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unpAckinG The Line

Here’s the good news about poverty in America: We know it doesn’t need to be this way.

While millions of Americans are experiencing poverty at rates higher than we’ve seen in 50 years, it is a problem we can fix. It won’t happen overnight, but with commitments from individual people, communities, businesses, and government, this reality can change.

We have cut poverty in half in our country before, and we can do it again.

But, it will take the smart use of resources and strategic partnerships between nonprofits, business, and government. No one person or institution can tackle this problem on their own.

More than ever before, we know what it takes to reduce poverty—what works and what doesn’t.

The stories you’ve just heard in The Line are real. So are the people and their struggles with poverty. Through John, Sheila, Ronald, and James you now have faces, names, and stories of hardship, hard work, and hope that will stay with you for many days to come.

The author Frederick Buechner once said, “The story of any one of us is in some measure the story of us all.”

Perhaps you heard something in The Line that resonated with you—an experience or feeling that you’ve had yourself or that someone you love has had.

Let’s talk about the film. Together, let’s unpack the challenges, hopes, and fears that it brings to the fore, with the hope that we will understand poverty—what causes it, what it looks like in the United States today, what we can do to help alleviate its often devastating affects, and how we can intervene to stop its injustices—and make ourselves better.

A noTe To Group FAciLiTATors

Begin by intentionally creating a sacred place for discussion to unfold.

Let participants know that they are in a safe and confidential space. Encourage those present to honor one another by promising to keep what’s shared during the discussion within the confines of the room.

Emphasize the importance of trust and a humble spirit. Caution participants against harboring a judgmental spirit against others whose opinions and experiences might differ from their own.

Next, ask everyone in the group to introduce themselves—give their name, what it is that they “do” (as a career, as a calling, as a vocation, or for a living), and where they live.

As you open the floor for a conversation about poverty in the United States, we’ve provided the following conversation starters that we hope will help facilitate an open and honest exchange of ideas and experiences.

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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Did you know? Medicaid guarantees health services to 38 million children a year.

John introduces us to the new face of poverty in America.

He lives in a nice house in a well-to-do suburb of Chicago. He earned six figures a year working for a bank. He had a wife and children.

But the financial collapse became a landslide in his own life.

He lost his job. Financial worries strained his marriage. His wife left and the couple divorced.

Now a single dad, John struggles to put food on the table.

In an effort to better the situation, he went back to school to become a teacher, but so far, his efforts have not resulted in a full-time job.

Between substitute teaching and tutoring, John manages to bring in only about $12,000 annually. Still, he doesn’t qualify for food stamps and must depend on public charities and governmental partnerships to provide food for his family.

Suburban poverty now is growing at a higher rate than urban poverty.

Discussion Questions

1. What stereotypes do we have about what poverty looks like? How does John’s story challenge those stereotypes?

2. Suburban poverty is outpacing urban poverty. Does this surprise you? Why? What are the reasons for and implications of suburban poverty?

3. John slipped beneath the poverty line because of one thing: he lost his job. How close are any middle-class Americans to “the line”? What would happen if you experienced a car accident, divorce, illness, or unemployment? How close are you to “the line”?

4. What emotional and spiritual effect might needing to rely on a food bank or other charitable/government assistance have on someone who is used to being “successful”? What effect might it have on you?

5. How can we be more aware of and understanding of poverty in our midst?

pArT i

The neW FAce oF poverTy: BehinD The pickeT Fence

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Did you know? Three out of four working-age adults who live in poverty have jobs. Mil-lions more are looking for work.

What might it feel like to believe you will always be poor?

Sheila grew up amid the trauma of poverty—apathy, scarce educational opportunities, gang violence, the drug trade, hopelessness.

She says people in her Chicago neighborhood are lucky to make $10,000 to $12,000 a year with government assistance.

Sheila tells the story of her sister who was shot and killed in the neighborhood where she grew up. Her family, she says, never fully recovered.

Living in poverty can already be a traumatic experience, but it also often means living in neighborhoods where you and the ones you love are more likely to face even more painful or traumatic experiences.

The 1 in 4 young children now living in poverty in the U.S. are often surrounded by a world in which they don’t see much hope and opportunity to succeed.

The Rev. Julian DeShazier sees things differently: Poor is not who you are. Poor describes your circumstances—and circumstances can change.


1. Where are the neighborhoods or communities like this near you? What are they called? What do you know about them and their residents? How have you learned about these areas? TV news? Newspaper reports? Church?

2. How is violence—in a city, neighborhood, or other community—connected to poverty? Why?

3. How is education, or lack thereof, connected to poverty? Why?

4. Outside influences and influencers might offer a real solution to the problems of poverty in communities. Who and what are they? What would they do?

5. What can be done at the local level to address the underlying issues of education and violence in areas battling endemic poverty?

pArT ii

The TrAuMA oF poverTy

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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God gave us a lot … but we didn’t know how to take care of it.

What do you do when the one-two punch of natural disaster and poverty threatens an entire culture and community?

Such is the case along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, where residents were struck twice—once with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and again with the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill.

The two events (and other environmental factors) have led to the demise, not just of the fishing trade—a profession handed down generation to generation—but of the Gulf Coast culture writ large.

Ronald has seen miles of coastline disappear. Some of the spots he used to fish and hunt physically no longer exist. He doesn’t make enough money from his shrimping boat to stay in business and says it will be at least three years before some of the marine life—shrimp, oysters, fish, and the like—returns.

Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing at the rate of roughly one football field per hour.

But Ronald’s misfortune is not just a story of job loss; it’s one of a loss of hope. Ronald says he’s lost all confidence in his ability to make a living the way he and generations before him have, living off the land and the water, off the abundance of creation. He is worried for his children and future generations.

Historically, the culture along the Gulf Coast has been known for its easy joyfulness and lack of anxiety—not worrying about the future. Ronald says that has changed, perhaps forever.

The whole culture—life as it has been known for generations—is just ... gone.


1. How are environmental threats and disasters related to poverty?

2. Louisiana ranks among the worst states in the U.S. for economic growth and sustainability. What does this mean for people struggling to stay above “the line”? What does it mean for people of faith? What does it mean for you?

3. When people have worked in one industry their entire lives and the industry disappears, what happens next?

4. How does the loss of the Gulf Coast culture affect the rest of the country?

5. What does it mean for society as a whole when able-bodied, intelligent, hard-working people cannot find any work?

pArT iii

The nATure oF poverTy

Did you know? The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) kept 5.7 million people above the poverty line in 2011.

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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Did you know? The Supple-mental Nutri-tion Assis-tance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) kept 3.9 million people out of poverty in 2011.

Life can be unfair. Unexpected and unjust circumstances can shape the path of an entire life. Such is the case with James.

As a child in New York, he was injured badly in an accident and spent nine months in a coma. He received a substantial court settlement for the accident, but when it came time to collect the compensation money, James’ father tricked him into signing it over to him, leaving James and his mother with only $500.

With the assistance of welfare and food stamps, James and his mother struggled to make ends meet.

But James kept working—he walked horses at a race track for 22 years.

James left New York City for North Carolina, where the unemployment rate is 9.4 percent. With a limited skill set, he found a place at a faith-based, nonprofit restaurant called The King’s Kitchen. He volunteered first and the restaurant—impressed by his hard work—offered him a full-time position on the table-busing staff.

James works as hard as he can and through persistent effort was able to move out of a homeless shelter, rent an apartment, and live on his own. And yet, even through diligent work, James brings in just $11,000 to $15,000 per year.

His best efforts still leave him below the poverty line. Try to climb the ladder sometime. It’s not easy.


1. James said he and his mother would not have survived without welfare and governmental assistance. What should the role of government be in helping people like James? Why?

2. James says that if you’re not living in poverty, you don’t see it, and you don’t think about it. How do we shield ourselves from having to think about poverty?

3. How does it affect our idea of the “American Dream” when someone works as hard as possible and still falls below the poverty line?

4. What are the benefits and the limitations of nonprofits such as The King’s Kitchen, where James works?

5. Even in the face of poverty, James has a positive attitude. What lessons might we learn from his work and dedication?

pArT iv

The cycLe oF poverTy: FooD For ThouGhT

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“I’ve done everything that I can do to make myself better.”

When Sheila realized her son, Javee, was at risk of falling into the drug culture of their Chicago neighborhood, she found a way out. She moved into her parents’ house in a different neighborhood and secured scholarships for her children to attend better schools.

But even our best laid plans can fall apart through no fault of our own. Sheila fell down a flight of Chicago Transit Authority stairs and suffered grave head injuries. She’s had multiple surgeries and has not experienced a pain-free day since.

Sheila didn’t want to go on disability. She had to accept government assistance just to keep on going. Even while disabled, she didn’t stop trying to make her life—and her children’s lives—better. She went back to school. She wrote a book. She volunteered to help others in need. She even recorded and released an inspirational CD.

Sheila and Javee are the faces of hope in a seemingly hopeless place.

Sheila’s positive attitude and hard work haven’t ended with bettering her own life. Now she spends much of her time spreading her message of hope to others living in similar situations.

“I pledge to be the change you see in my home and my community, because I am a light,” she says.


1. Sheila was able to find a way out of a violent situation because her parents lived in a safer neighborhood. Unfortunately, not everyone in the community has that kind of opportunity. What are other ways to address or escape that type of situation?

2. Sheila could not work because of her disability and received less than $1,500 per month to sustain herself and her three children. Discuss how easy or difficult it might be for four people to live on that amount of money. How would you budget $1,500 a month for a family of four? What would you spend it on? What would you have to go without? How would you be able to save for the future?

3. Sheila says there is a stigma that she—and thousands of others like her—bear because they receive government aid. How are we guilty of this type of judgment and stereotyping?

4. Sheila is able to be a positive witness in other violent communities because she’s lived it herself. How might we better understand poverty so that we can be effective and trustworthy influences in our communities?

5. Despite her many struggles, Sheila has found a way to help others. What can we do to help others? What can we do to help support folks like Sheila who strive to give back, even from a place of scarcity?

pArT v

The FAce oF hope

Did you know? In 2011, Social Security kept 21.4 million people out of poverty includ-ing 14.5 million seniors.

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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Did you know? From 1949 to 1959 America cut its poverty rate from 40.5 percent to 22.4 percent (almost in half) and from 1959 to 1973 we cut the rate from 22.4 percent to 11.1 percent (more than half).

If we tell people that they are better than they think they are, they will do better than they think they can.

Rev. Julian DeShazier’s ministry in Chicago helps young people living in poverty tell their stories and claim their experiences. Julian says once you can tell your story, you own your life.

The young people who can tell their stories no longer define themselves according to how the rest of the world might see them. “Though I am poor, I do not consider myself poor,” says one of the teens.


1. What unites each of the stories in the film?

2. What is the difference between being in poverty and being poor?

3. How has seeing firsthand accounts changed the way you view and understand poverty? Can you picture yourself in any of their shoes? How might you handle the challenges and struggles that each of the people profiled in the film has faced?

4. What are ways your faith community, organization, or family can address the issues of poverty in your own community?

5. How might we shine the spotlight on poverty in this country, both during the election season and beyond?

pArT vi

DrAWinG A LineBe ready to act. If you want to engage people who have been inspired by the film, consider providing an opportunity for immediate action on the night of the event. For example, you could have a sign-up sheet for those interested in joining a small group for further discussion, or you could have materials ready to send letters to your member of Congress.

Sojourners is a Christian organization whose mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. To learn more, visit us at www.sojo.net.

TAkinG AcTion

www.sojo.net • 1-800-714-7474

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The Line: A project from

With

supported by

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If you liked this movie The Line from Sojourners, you may be interested in these discussion guides available through the So-

journers Store (store.sojo.net). Perfect for Bible studies or small groups, these study materials include everything you need to

generate lively and engaging conversations. Each discussion guide includes Sojourners articles, questions to prompt conversation, and

ideas for further study.

chrisTiAns AnD DeMocrAcyEven when we must choose between imperfect options, it is important

to prayerfully examine what is at stake and seek to confess Christ even in our political lives. (4 sessions, 9 articles, 38 pages)

chrisTiAns AnD poLiTicsThe fledgling Christian communities lived under the thumb of the

Roman Empire. Paul addressed their conflict of allegiance to God and government, helping us today to evaluate our social and politicalactions. (4 sessions, 8 articles, 40 pages)

chrisTiAns AnD The roLe oF GovernMenTWhat can we learn from the Bible about the proper role of govern-

ment, including its role in fostering the common good and economic justice? (4 sessions, 13 articles, 38 pages)

More thought-provoking election resources from the editors of Sojourners magazine...

SOJOURNERS on the issues

A discussion guide from the editors of Sojourners magazine

SOJOURNERS3333 14th Street NW

Suite 200Washington, DC 20010www.sojo.net

SOJOURNERS on the issuesThis series is designed to

spark discussion and thought about how to live out God’s call for justice in

our world. This guide includes four sessions, each with Sojourners arti-cles, questions for discus-sion, and ideas for further

study. We recommend printing out the guide for each person and allowing

everyone time to read before the group meets. The resources here are a

starting point for a further journey—where will the

Spirit lead your group?

Christians and the

Role of GovernmentDiSCUSSiON GUiDE



SOJOURNERS3333 14th Street NW,



Christians and PoliticsDiSCUSSiON GUiDE

This series is designed to spark discussion and thought about how to live

out God’s call for justice in our world. This guide includes four sessions, each with Sojourners arti-cles, questions for discus-

sion, and ideas for further study. We recommend printing out the guide for

each person and allowing everyone time to read before the group meets.

The resources here are a starting point for a further

journey—where will the Spirit lead your group?



SOJOURNERS3333 14th Street NW,


SOJOURNERS on the issuesThis series is designed to

spark discussion and thought about how to live out God’s call for justice in

our world. This guide includes four sessions, each with Sojourners arti-cles, questions for discus-sion, and ideas for further

study. We recommend printing out the guide for each person and allowing

everyone time to read before the group meets. The resources here are a

starting point for a further journey—where will the

Spirit lead your group?

Christians and DemocracyDiSCUSSiON GUiDE

corb

iS

To purchase these and other downloadable discussion guides from sojourners, visit store.sojo.net.

subscribe to sojourners magazine today! call 1-800-678-9691.

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