 The programs, tools, and technologies to virtually eliminate the most extreme kinds of poverty and suffering in our world are now available.This is truly good news for the poor—but only if we do our part.”

While Stearns believes that individual Christians and churches have a responsibility to take action to alleviate global poverty, he has discouraged unilateral action in which churches launch their own programs around the world.Stearns has argued that churches "think we can somehow tackle [global poverty] using only amateurs and volunteers."