A very interesting Christian “12 Step” form of recovery program. CR has developed 8 principles that are based on the Beatitudes. They are as follows: CELEBRATE RECOVERY’S EIGHT RECOVERY PRINCIPLES The Road to Recovery Based on the Beatitudes Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and [...]
Archive for the ‘Homelessness and Poverty’ Category
Celebrate Recovery
November 17, 2010The Open Table
November 15, 2010The Open Table provides an interesting model for helping to restore individuals and communities. Find their site at: http://theopentable.org/
Esperanza
August 31, 2010Esperanza is the largest Hispanic faith-based evangelical network organization and is intimately involved in all the issues having to do with the American Hispanic community. A good resource for everyone connected issues facing our Hispanic brothers and sisters. Find their website at: http://www.esperanza.us/site/c.inKOIPNhEiG/b.5510043/k.CE9B/Esperanza__Strengthening_Our_Hispanic_Community.htm
Eternal Perspective Ministries
May 28, 2010Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world. http://www.epm.org/
Gangs or Us
May 24, 2010A very thorough site about gang indentification training. http://www.gangsorus.com/
Mercy Housing
May 13, 2010mercy Housing develops, finances and operates affordable, program-enriched housing communities for families, seniors and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe housing opportunities. Their website is found at: https://www.mercyhousing.org/Page.aspx?pid=183 The link for the Illinois and Wisonsin (Lakefront) centers is at: https://www.mercyhousing.org/Page.aspx?pid=327 and https://www.mercyhousing.org/Page.aspx?pid=334 A stable home is a foundation upon which [...]
Urban Faith
April 12, 2010http://www.urbanfaith.com/index.html See a hard-hitting video at: http://www.urbanfaith.com/video/2009/10/black-nation.html
Celebration of Hope
April 11, 2010Join us in fighting poverty and securing justice during Willowcreek’s Celebration of Hope. Information available at: http://www.willowcreek.org/coh/
Willowcreek Messages
April 11, 2010Missed a message, or just curious about what is preached at Willowcreek Community Church? Tune in to the most recent messages at: http://www.willowcreek.org/mediaplayer/playerHome.aspx?cid=3&id=14 Check out the inspiring Easter message and today’s moving message on Biblical Justice. Many others also availible in online podcasts.
Breaking Ground Ministry
April 11, 2010Breaking Ground is a faith community characterized by grace and truth that seeks and develops those who desire to become instruments of lasting change in their community. Vision Breaking Ground is a mission-driven not for profit organization building strong inner city communities through self-sustaining entrepreneurial programs and services. We are a comprehensive community development corporation [...]
About Justice
April 11, 2010Coming to understand God’s compassion for the oppressed, and the way he suffers with them, has completely transformed my understanding of God. His real presence amid the horrendous injustice ofour earth has finally allowed me to understand why God hates injustice so much. I have to imagine what it would be like if I, like [...]
Gang Video
April 11, 2010View this video made by Chicago youths about gang violence at: http://www.ctvnetwork.org/shynot-productions.html
How Islam is Winning Black America
April 7, 2010An older but revealing and thought-provoking examination of how the failure of the church has encouraged the growth of Islam within the Black community http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/april3/27.52.html
Code of the Streets
April 7, 2010This is an original and worthwhile study that builds an understanding of a culture and set of values that is challenging to comfortable middle class sensibilities. There is an underclass culture out there with different and more immediate priorities, morals and horizons. Elijah Anderson has opened that door and described a model that is certainly [...]
Under the Overpass
April 7, 2010This is an extraordinary book about homelessness and poverty by a young man who left the safety of school and family to experience the life of homelessness and poverty that so many people are facing today. A really good and interesting read. Find the book at: http://www.goodmanson.com/church/under-the-overpass-a-journey-of-faith-on-the-streets-of-america/ A seperate website for updates on this experience [...]
California Newsreel
April 1, 2010Not a Christian film group, but one with a powerful message about race and ethnicity. Find their website at: http://www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0149
The House that Grace Built
March 26, 2010Each year the Lake County Jail releases approximately 1,000 women back into our community. Ninety percent are single moms; 59% do not have high school diplomas, 47% are homeless (or have no positive, crime free place to return to) and only 20% had minimum wage jobs prior to incarceration. Without positive intervention many of these ladies will return [...]
Arloa Sutter and Breakthrough Urban Ministries
March 18, 2010Expanded repeat of an earlier post. Arloa Sutter is the Founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries. Breakthrough restores broken networks by providing neighborhood-based holistic services to individuals and families in Chicago’s East Garfield Park community. For more information on Arloa Sutter and Breakthrough Urban Ministries please go to: http://www.breakthrough.org/ and http://arloasutter.com/
Fellowship Housing
December 30, 2009Here is a wonderful program in Hoffman Estates that serves homeless and at-risk moms and their. These are moms in need of need of housing, support, serving, and most importantly, hope. Its a very worthwhile program in need of both moral and financial support. You can find further information at the following website. http://www.fhcmoms.org/
Dismantling Racism
December 9, 2009Dismanling Racism by Joseph Barndt, Author. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Books, 1991.Here is a book about racism in America, written “for white people and about white people . . . by a white person.” Joseph Barndt, defining racism as “prejudice plus power,” asserts that efforts against racism have often been incorrectly focused on minority populations rather [...]
GoSo: The Beauty of Serving Others.
October 15, 2009GOSO provides hope, stability and opportunity to Youth offenders. A caring place where dedicated volunteers serve as role models and programs are provided that empower our youth to succeed in an ever changing world to avoid the cycle of release and re-arrest. http://www.letsgoso.org/
Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
October 15, 2009An interesting group whose call is to social justice. They see their mission as articulating the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.ee their website at: http://www.sojo.net/
The Hole in Our Gospel: A MUST read
May 5, 2009This is an amazing book about what God expects from us who claim to be followers of Jesus. A MUST READ book for every person who claims to be a Christian. Find the official site at: http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/ Endorsements: http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/endorsements/ Read an interview with Dr. Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. http://blog.sojo.net/2009/04/24/the-hole-in-our-gospel-interview-with-world-visions-richard-stearns/ A Book Review: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-hole-in-our/
Gangs and God
April 8, 2009An interesting article from the Christian Century touching on God’s outreach to gang members in LA and Chicago. http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3663
The Existence of Evil and the Problem of God
February 18, 2009A nice Veritas discussion on why there must be evil in god’s creation. Access it at: http://www.veritas.org/media/streaming/656/video
“Dead Town” Why is it so hard to leave a gang?
February 12, 2009Here’s an article from newsweek magazine that talks about getting out of the gangs. Access it at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/183677 As you know, its not an easy process. Please pray for these kids!
Looking to Serve?
February 26, 2008Here are some sites for one year service ideas: http://www.idealist.org/en/career/oneyearservice.html
Shared Hope International
February 14, 2008A Program Aimed at Stopping Sexual Slavery http://www.sharedhope.org/
