The third in a series of United Methodist public conversations on ministry with the poor focused on "Young People and Poverty." The event in St. Louis on April 30 was held as part of the United Methodist Women's Assembly and was sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), which has a major responsibility for the focus on ministry with the poor.

Ministry with the poor is one of four current denominational priorities, or focus areas. The emphasis is on how Christians and their churches can promote greater respect and opportunity for the poor and marginalized. The scope is international.

Moderated by Lois Dauway and Jorge Domingues of GBGM, the panel included Nikki Bell, United Methodist Women's Kyung Za Yim Intern who discussed immigration issues that affect youth; Jessica Tulloch, former Global Justice Volunteer, who spoke about realities for rural young people in the Philippines; Facia Harris, from Liberia, addressed the impact of war on young people, particularly on women; Michael Ratliff, General Board of Discipleship, Division on Ministries with Young People and Kendra Dunbar, GBGM Global Youth Networks discussed ways that the general agencies are addressing the needs of young people who are living in poverty; Kathy Kraiza, UMCOR Sager Brown, discussed the role of youth in the Circles Project, a US Ministry with the Poor initiative.

Common themes through the afternoon's discussion were the importance of listening to what young people have to say about living in poverty and engaging youth in the process of breaking cycles of poverty.