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According to Proverbs 31:9, we are called to “…plead the cause of the poor and needy.” But, how can the church do this strategically and holistically while avoiding “toxic charity” and quick-fix measures that demean people and accomplish little?
In this episode, I discuss breaking the cycle of poverty with Jay Height, the Executive Director of the Shepherd Community Center and Pastor of the Shepherd Community Church of the Nazarene. Jay has been serving in the near Eastside of Indianapolis for over thirty years, and his ministry is the gold standard when it comes to strategically engaging a community with the gospel and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.
Key Takeaways
- The four foundations of a successful life, and how Shepherd is working on all four.
- Why lack of literacy is a critical part of generational poverty.
- The big problem in Indiana is not lack of resources; rather, it is lack of access. Here’s how the church can fix that.
- Why Shepherd Community Center maintains teaching kitchens and a hi-tech gaming and coding lab.
- Why a Lego is a great example of the human need for community.
- Why Shepherd Community employs a paramedic and a police officer (it’s probably not what you think!)
- The church needs to shift from a “come and see” model to a “go and be” model.
- Why government alone cannot solve the problem of poverty.
- How your church can adopt a similar model in your community.