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When I asked Indiana’s governor, Eric Holcomb, about a couple ways churches could assist with key problems in my state, he gave me three ideas: foster care, the drug crisis and jail ministry/recidivism. And, a number of other government officials around Indiana and the country have echoed those issues. So, I call them the “Big 3.”
Here are a couple of observations about these three problems: they are pervasive, largely noncontroversial and complex.
As I have spoken with or to churches around the country, I have noticed that these problems are pervasive—they affect rural and urban areas coast to coast. Though I will address a number of Indiana-specific efforts in this section, I am confident you will find similar efforts in your location. Further, these issues are largely noncontroversial. No one or at least very few people yell “separation of church and state!” when Christians jump in to offer solutions to foster care. And these issues are a unique opportunity for the church because they are complex issues with no apparent or at least quick legislative solution. In my opinion, these problems have been fueled by secular ideologies about the family, our reigning life philosophy of personal autonomy stripped of corresponding responsibility, and the general absence of hope and purpose expressed by so many Americans. Therefore, simply appropriating larger and larger budgets for government agencies and programs will not solve these problems.
And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is the opportunity for the church. If we can propose and model creative solutions to these problems, government officials are all ears. In this episode, I take a closer look at each of the big three mentioned above and how the church can impact these tough problems.
Key Takeaways:
- Stats and figures on foster care, the drug crisis, and recidivism.
- Key examples of ministries impacting each space.
- Ideas to help you and you ministry impact one or all of these issues.