This post is part of a new series I’m calling “Doing Good in the Neighborhood.” You can submit your own project HERE and let me know about the doing good you’re a part of, in the name of Jesus, in your own community. The work doesn’t have to be big or fancy, and it doesn’t have to fit in a traditional ministry category (but it could). I want to highlight the good and creative things people are doing in the name of Jesus to better their communities!
There are a lot of different ways churches addresses poverty. Some do food pantries. My church brings a monthly food market to a nearby neighborhood. Others house the homeless through the cold winter months.
Since 1987, Jenny, a friend of the blog, has been teaching people financial stewardship and equipping and training churches to develop systems to teach people in their communities those skills. Jenny says that although the second command Jesus gave us is to love our neighbor, a lot of churches just don’t have this on their schedules.
Jenny’s organization, New Focus, based in Anchorage, Alaska, has trained over 300 churches and non-profits to teach these skills as a way to address poverty.
Not only do these financial training programs impact the participants, but they give the Church the opportunity to show the love of Jesus to their neighbors and build real relationships through a team approach. They aim to not only foster financial health, but also physical, spiritual, and emotional health–meeting the whole person with compassion and care.
Jenny says that, as a result of the work of God through this ministry, lives are changes, Bible studies and small groups are scheduled, and service groups are sent out.
Looking ahead to the coming year, Jenny is launching L.E.A.P. (Living Examples in Action and Prayer) groups in Allendale, MI and Anchorage, AK. These groups will meet weekly for two hours to serve their neighbors and meet needs.
You can find more about New Focus, donate to the ministry, or order training resources at www.newfocus.org. Information about LEAP groups will be coming to the website soon.
In addition to the work of New Focus, Jenny has piloted re:MADE Stores as another tool to help churches empower people to build businesses and create a community for people from different social groups and cultures. The first re:Made store was Anchorage re:MADE, and is now a 17,000 square foot resale retail facility with a 100% volunteer staff and a workroom for classes. They sell quality used and vintage goods, products remade by artists and volunteers from donated goods, and much more (doesn’t that sound amazing??).
You can follow Anchorage re:MADE on Facebook HERE.
Jenny is inspired by these verses (in The Message version):
That’ll preach, right??
Jenny, I’m inspired by your creativity and your passion for making real change in people’s lives. Thanks for sharing your ministry gifts with us! May God continue to empower you for the work He has given you to do, encourage you daily, and bring the goodness of God’s Kingdom to more and more communities through your ministry.
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