1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 2: Hi from the Salvation Army. You're listening to Words of Life, Words. 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 3: Words the Words of the Life. 4 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 4: Welcome back to Words of Life. Over the past several weeks, 5 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 4: we've been sitting around the table with ministry leaders who 6 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 4: serve on the front lines of some of society's greatest challenges. 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 4: We've talked about mental health, refugees, human trafficking, correctional ministries, 8 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 4: and the many ways people can find themselves trapped in 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 4: cycles that seem impossible to escape. Today, we bring this 10 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 4: series to a close with part two of our conversation 11 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 4: about poverty and homelessness. For many, homelessness is easy to misunderstand. 12 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 4: We often see the symptoms without understanding the story behind them. 13 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 4: Job loss, mental illness, addiction, family breakdown, incarceration, like we 14 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 4: talked about last week, rising house costs can all contribute 15 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 4: to a situation that feels impossible to overcome alone. But 16 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 4: throughout this series, one theme has continued to emerge. People 17 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 4: need community, They need relationships, They need someone willing to 18 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 4: walk alongside them. As followers of Christ, we're called not 19 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 4: only to care about these issues, but to care for 20 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 4: the people living through them. We may not have every solution. 21 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 4: But we can be present, we can listen, we can serve, 22 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 4: and together as the Body of Christ, we can help 23 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 4: create places where hope can take root. Check out the 24 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 4: show notes as always and we'll have plenty of links 25 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 4: to find out more information or resources related to all 26 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 4: the topics we've covered throughout this series. Here's our final 27 00:01:50,720 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 4: conversation in this Biblical Justice Roundtable series. It's interesting that 28 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 4: now a month ago we had Barry Brown who works 29 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 4: with correctional ministries, and one of the things he was 30 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 4: talking about is just you know, maybe you made a mistake, 31 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 4: maybe you're wrongfully convicted. We have no idea what your 32 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 4: story is. But then you get out of prison and 33 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 4: now you can't get a job because no one will 34 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 4: hire you. Now you have fines to pay that you 35 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 4: can't afford to pay because you can't get a job 36 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 4: to pay for the fines, and now you're back to 37 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 4: jail because you didn't pay these fines. I do think 38 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 4: the church should be in a place where we are 39 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 4: there to be. We should be the safety blanket and 40 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 4: help support these families and find avenues and find you know, 41 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 4: get the new job skills so that you know what 42 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 4: they can do is so desirable that they don't care about, 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 4: you know, their prison history and all. But yeah, it's 44 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 4: so hard. I mean, if you've never been there, it 45 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 4: is so hard to get out of any of these cycles. 46 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 5: If poverty is a problem of community, then the solution 47 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 5: has to be community. And I think the important key 48 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 5: here is that no one of us has all the 49 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 5: solutions to all the problems. I think, just about the 50 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 5: mental health side, I've worked a lot with people coming 51 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 5: right off the street struggling with addiction, which is a 52 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 5: mental health issue, struggling with schizophrenia and depression and anxiety 53 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 5: and panic attacks and all of these other issues. And 54 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 5: a local church might not be equipped to handle those 55 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 5: things if that person walks in those doors. But that 56 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 5: doesn't mean that we can't help them, and we can't 57 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 5: love them, and we can't connect them to community resources. 58 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 5: I think one of the most important things that we 59 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 5: can do is to be a community for these people. 60 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 5: They might not have the skills to go and find 61 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 5: themselves a job or even rent an apartment. I mean, 62 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 5: I was working with people coming right off the street 63 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 5: and as they were transitioning out, they had never signed 64 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 5: at least before they didn't even know how to start 65 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 5: looking for an apartment, let alone go through the whole process. 66 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 5: And so some of these basic life skills that you 67 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 5: and I have because we've just lived in the real 68 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 5: world for a long time are completely lacking for them, 69 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 5: and those things can become such huge psychological barriers that 70 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 5: feels overwhelming for them to overcome. They don't know how 71 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 5: to navigate the system. They don't know how to write 72 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 5: a resume or apply for a job or do a 73 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 5: job interview. So for those out there who are listening, 74 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 5: who want to make a difference and want to help, 75 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 5: you have skills that are valuable to people who are homeless. 76 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 5: You have skills that can help people and help them 77 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 5: to grow. And even if your skill is figuring out 78 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 5: what resources are out there so you can direct somebody, 79 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 5: that is an important thing to ending poverty into fixing 80 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 5: breaking this cycle. 81 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 4: Hey, you're listening to the Salvation Armies Words of Life. 82 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 4: We're going to take a quick ad break and we'll 83 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 4: be right back. 84 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: One thing I learned when I was at Atlanta International 85 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: Corps just a few years ago was there's a lot 86 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: of families now living in hotels. That's the cheaper way 87 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: for them to be but it's very transient, and we 88 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: just started a ministry on Wednesday afternoons going out to 89 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: a hotel, an extended stay hotel and visiting the families 90 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: there and doing kids programs. That is a very beautiful 91 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: pastoral way to provide community for families that are in 92 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 1: these places where there is not community and where our 93 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: kids are like not able to even go out and 94 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: play because they're in this strange environment. They're in these 95 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: very small units. It started with us doing at East 96 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: to outreach there and then we started going on Wednesdays 97 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: and it wasn't a whole bunch of people. It was 98 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: just maybe ten kids that came out and played football 99 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: with the cadets and stuff like that. But I didn't 100 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: even know that there were families living like this, you know, 101 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: And so I feel like one of the things you 102 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: can do is to go do visitation in these places 103 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: and provide community for these families. And then one fun 104 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: thing that me and my husband did when we were 105 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: in London, we had there was a homeless lunch for 106 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: a homeless and unt housed people that we had once 107 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: a week and it was this beautiful lunch that was 108 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: put on by someone from the church and they would come. 109 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: But we decided that on Sunday evenings we would have 110 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: a meal and then we would do karaoke. And it 111 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: was the most beautiful ministry. All these and house people 112 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: would come and eat and then sing and like there 113 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: was a choir. They had a choir, and then they 114 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: were just a karaoke and they had the most beautiful voices, 115 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: most of them. But it was just like really fun 116 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: because they got to do something kind of normal as 117 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: well and kind of feel like they would just part 118 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: of us. And then I know that there was another 119 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: church down the road that had this acchoir that would 120 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: sing and it was full of people who are in 121 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: house and you know, it's not changing policy, it's not 122 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: doing anything hugely significant, but it's providing normalcy for people 123 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: in community and very simple things that we as the 124 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: church could do. And so yeah, but I recommend karaoke. 125 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 6: So one story that sticks out to me and I 126 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 6: still remember it today was the church that we were 127 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 6: connected to at the drop in center. They knew about 128 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 6: the ministry we were doing, and it was around Christmas 129 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 6: time and one of the church members let me know 130 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 6: that her daughters had come to her. They were I 131 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 6: think at the time they're twins, so they were I 132 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 6: think fifteen years old, and they told their parents that 133 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 6: they wanted to do something to help with the women 134 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 6: that were a part of the drop in center, and 135 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 6: they wanted to give up their Christmas presents and use 136 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 6: that money to buy Christmas for the women in the program. Honestly, 137 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 6: I was floored, and like the Lord really used that 138 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 6: to speak to me that really anyone can be a 139 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 6: part of serving and a part of the solution. And 140 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 6: they literally gave up their Christmas that year and bought 141 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 6: all kinds of gifts for the ladies, and it was 142 00:08:55,280 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 6: really a meaningful gift for the women. And so they 143 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 6: didn't know where it was coming from, but we did, 144 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 6: and it really spoke a lot to me that we 145 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 6: all can be a part of serving. And so I 146 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 6: would just encourage everyone who's listening, if you feel called 147 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 6: to be a part of this, to serve in some 148 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 6: way and be a part of the solution that the 149 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 6: Lord has gifted you in a unique way. And we all, 150 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 6: as a body of Christ can serve in different capacities, 151 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 6: and so whether that's serving with an organization that's fighting 152 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 6: poverty or homelessness, or mental health or anti trafficking or refugees. 153 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 6: There's so many ways that as the Body of Christ, 154 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 6: we can come together and serve. And so that's my 155 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 6: hope that we would continue just to see the church's 156 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 6: response grow. 157 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,239 Speaker 4: We pray that you're enjoying and being blessed by this conversation. 158 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 4: We're going to take one more ad break and we'll 159 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 4: be right back. 160 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 6: Lord, thank you that you are a God who meets 161 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 6: us where we're at, that you meet each and every 162 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 6: person in their suffering. And we just pray for individuals 163 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 6: and families who are facing poverty and homelessness, you know, 164 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 6: just the depth of despair that they're facing, just the shame, 165 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 6: the worry, the anxiety, and I just pray that you 166 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 6: would meet them where they're at. God, that you would 167 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 6: continue just to empower organizations and churches to be on 168 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 6: the front lines serving and to be safe places, to 169 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 6: welcome in those who are struggling, give wisdom and discernment 170 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 6: and strategy, because there's so much need in our communities. 171 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 6: And I just pray that you would just help us 172 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 6: learn how to show up and be the Body of Christ. 173 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 6: And so we just Thank you for just allowing us 174 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 6: to be a part of this work, and we just 175 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 6: pray that you would continue just to bless the Salvation 176 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 6: Army and other churches. Allow us to be your hands 177 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 6: and feet in our communities every day in Jesus name. 178 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 4: So at this point we thought it would be appropriate 179 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 4: to pray this beautiful Franciscan prayer as a final blessing 180 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 4: over this series and over you, our listeners. 181 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 6: May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, 182 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 6: and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within 183 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 6: your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, 184 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 6: and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, 185 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 6: and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed 186 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 6: for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so 187 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 6: that you may reach out your hand to comfort them 188 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 6: and to turn their pain to joy. And May God 189 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 6: bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can 190 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 6: make a difference in the world, so that you can 191 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 6: do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice 192 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 6: and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. 193 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 4: As we close this series, I hope you've been encouraged 194 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 4: and challenged by these conversations. We've heard from leaders serving 195 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 4: those facing mental health struggles, refugees seeking safety, survivors of 196 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 4: human trafficking, and while each issue is different, they all 197 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 4: remind us of a simple truth. Every person is created 198 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 4: in them of God and worthy of dignity, compassion, and love. 199 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 4: Biblical justice isn't just about recognizing brokenness. It's about responding 200 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: as Christ would. It's about seeing people, building relationships and 201 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 4: becoming a part of the solution wherever God has placed us. 202 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 4: Thank you for joining us for this series. Thank you 203 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 4: to our group of friends for joining us for the recording. 204 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 4: To learn more about any of the ministries discussed throughout 205 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 4: these conversations, check out the show notes for this episode, 206 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 4: or visit Words of Life podcast dot org. 207 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 2: The Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping 208 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: people with material and spiritual needs. You become a part 209 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 2: of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army. 210 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 2: Visit Salvation ARMYUSA dot org to offer your support. You 211 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: can subscribe to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store, 212 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 2: or visit Salvation armiesoundcast dot org. Join us next time 213 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 2: for the Salvation Armies Words of Life. 214 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 3: These are the words are the Words of Life. 215 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to Words of Life. We 216 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 4: want to thank the team at Life Audio for their 217 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 4: partnership with us on the show. Visit life audio dot com, 218 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 4: where you'll find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in 219 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 4: their network. They have shows about prayer, Bible studying, parenting, 220 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 4: and more. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you next time.