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Felt a pinch in your wallet lately due to rising gas prices and inflation? Well, consider the effect of those economic factors on individuals already experiencing poverty. Inflation is a disproportionate “tax” on the poor, and recent spikes in costs for everything from gas to cereal are creating significant need in many low-income neighborhoods. So, how can Christian ministries respond in this time of crisis to grow capacity without increasing dependency? And what are some recent developments and fresh ideas for serving our neighbors?
In this episode, I discuss the above trends and questions with Jay Height from Shepherd Community Center on the near Eastside of Indianapolis. I consider Jay a kingdom entrepreneur, and he has served the near Eastside at Shepherd for 27 years. He is also a return guest; so, if you want to know more about the story and strategy of Shepherd, consider this episode (#111).
Key Takeaways:
- How inflation and other economic and societal trends are impacting his neighborhood.
- A fascinating story about President Johnson’s War on Poverty and the importance of the church’s role in impacting generational poverty.
- Shepherd’s holistic approach to human flourishing, including 10 assets for holistic change: faith, health, support, stability, skills, models, advocacy, knowledge, future, and income.
- A recent partnership in the state of Tennessee with potential impact in other states.
- The details of a new program that will use virtual reality to assist with mental health.
- Why Shepherd is installing a laundry matt at their facility.
- How to increase capacity without causing dependency in your efforts to serve your neighbors.