From Boston to Houston and beyond, from 1657 to 2009 and after-cities lure America's poorest and its wealthiest. WORLD's 2009 special issue highlights fighting poverty and valuing wealth with generosity and discernment in the past, present, and future.

Feature Stories

Giving that worked | by Marvin Olasky With "work tests" for the able-bodied and disdain for indiscriminate givers, Christians in the past fought urban poverty with generosity plus discernment A habit of thrift | by Marvin Olasky John D. Rockefeller's economy and efficiency led to a better life for millions Show me the money | by Alisa Harris Very little of the thousands spent per pupil in New York City actually makes it to the classroom Creating beauty | by Alisa Harris There's no shame in shopping but New York's fashion world can't run from recession either Iron fist of change | by Emily Belz D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is gaining even more power as he bends the ear of a like-minded president Ending poverty-fighting as we know it | by Emily Belz Christians left and right lobby Obama administration to make war on poverty What a dollar buys | by Timothy Lamer Poverty is real, but it's also relative Sacrificial poor | by Mindy Belz Individual Development Accounts and a will to save are teaching Houston's poor how to be rich Green pastures | by Mark Bergin For Christian architect David Ogoli, dwelling with sustainable buildings is a calling