The Mississippi Delta region is one of the poorest areas in the United States and has been described as a “Third World country in the heart of America.” Delta Revitalization Task Force Report 2007. According to the 2012, U.S. Census, more than 23.2 percent of Mississippians lived in poverty, making the state the poorest in the nation. There are 14 counties that are considered to have critical poverty rates which are at least 50% higher than the state average. The Mississippi Delta region is one of the poorest areas in the United States and has been described as a “Third World country in the heart of America.” The counties with critical rates of poverty are the following: Bolivar (34.2%) Leflore (39.3%) Claiborne (35.8%) Quitman (37.8%) Coahoma (30.6%) Sharkey (35.8%) Holmes (42.6%) Sunflower (34.7%) Humphreys (41.2%) Washington (23.3%) Issaquena (30.1%) Wilkinson (23.3%) Jefferson (29.6%) Yazoo (34.3%) Eight of these counties are within our area of ministry.