How We Help
Our Work
Much of what we do can be divided into three primary categories: Relief, Development, and Reformation. The best way to understand it is this:
Relief work is giving a person a fish that feeds them for a day. Development work is teaching them how to fish, which feeds them for a lifetime. Reformation work gives them ongoing access to the pond. When a person who is struggling is blocked from the pond by systemic evil they usually give up.
Through one-on-one counseling and long-term mentor relationships, we help individuals uncover the root cause of their brokenness. We work with them to find tools to move forward, and provide accountability and encouragement as they move toward wholeness.
Relief
giving a man a fish
We provide Relief to people who are living under the weight of poverty. This includes the practical care someone needs to begin the deeper process of development. This means connecting them to resources (food, shelter, clothing), to get the vulnerable out from under the weight of crippling debt.
Counseling
This process is deep and intentional. Poverty is always a symptom of much deeper issues, and those must be uncovered and understood in order for a person to move out of bondage into freedom. Counseling services are provided by an approved network of providers through Community Renewal.
Financial Relief
Though our goal is always self-sufficiency in Christ, there may exist insurmountable obstacles that hinder that goal in the short term. Very often those living in poverty are suffocating under the weight of debt, lack of resources, and poor choices. While we recognize the need for them to be accountable for their poor decisions, we also understand that there are times when a person in a desperate situation needs to be shown grace and mercy. We believe part of the resource is people need God which balances truth and grace. Truth has to do with personal responsibility and grace has to do with resources from others that are given to them to empower them. In addition to connecting those in need with resources, we can and do often offer micro-lending in order to remove the burden of poverty off the shoulders of the vulnerable.
Relief
Giving a person a fish
We provide Relief to people who are living under the weight of poverty. This includes the practical care someone needs to begin the deeper process of development. This means connecting them to resources (food, shelter, clothing), to get the vulnerable out from under the weight of crippling debt.
Counseling
This process is deep and intentional. Poverty is always a symptom of much deeper issues, and those must be uncovered and understood in order for a person to move out of bondage into freedom. Counseling services are provided by an approved network of providers through Community Renewal.
Financial Relief
Though our goal is always self-sufficiency in Christ, there may exist insurmountable obstacles that hinder that goal in the short term. Very often those living in poverty are suffocating under the weight of debt, lack of resources, and poor choices. While we recognize the need for them to be accountable for their poor decisions, we also understand that there are times when a person in a desperate situation needs to be shown grace and mercy. We believe part of the resource is people need God which balances truth and grace. Truth has to do with personal responsibility and grace has to do with resources from others that are given to them to empower them. In addition to connecting those in need with resources, we can and do often offer micro-lending in order to remove the burden of poverty off the shoulders of the vulnerable.
Development
Teaching a person to fish…
Accountability and mentoring
This process is more effective once the work of relief has already started or when love and trust is built with God and a mentor. This work is long, and it is difficult – which means it bucks against our sensibilities and often this is right where we lose people in our mission. Like the process of sanctification, there are slip-ups and stumbles along the way as each person we serve unravels their past, and works to build a new foundation. This deep work can only be done in community with another believer or person who is dedicated to the purposes of our organization – who gracefully endures the failures and frustrations, and encourages the triumphs and victories.
Development
Teaching a man to fish…..
Accountability and mentoring
This process is more effective once the work of relief has already started or when love and trust is built with God and a mentor. This work is long, and it is difficult – which means it bucks against our sensibilities and often this is right where we lose people in our mission. Like the process of sanctification, there are slip-ups and stumbles along the way as each person we serve unravels their past, and works to build a new foundation. This deep work can only be done in community with another believer or person who is dedicated to the purposes of our organization – who gracefully endures the failures and frustrations, and encourages the triumphs and victories.
Reformation
Systemic Intervention
There are undeniably systemic issues that perpetuate poverty in every community. Predatory lending is just one example of just such an issue we have worked so hard to tackle over the years. These systemic issues are landmines that further enslave the poor, creating a system of dependency and bondage. We believe it is our responsibility as believers to call out injustice and advocate for the vulnerable in order to eradicate it so the poor and vulnerable can experience freedom, and the grace and mercy of Jesus.
In order to understand Community Renewal, you must understand that it is difficult to describe all we do because we meet each person’s needs, and no two people are exactly the same or struggle in the same way.
Learn more about how you can get in engaged in our work.
The activities above fulfill our mission to the poor, but don’t address our larger mission and vision for the church, which is to create missional people and churches who work together to care for the poor and vulnerable, and bring the whole Gospel to the world. To serve those with lesser resources is also a requirement and a blessing to the body of Christ. This work is difficult but necessary which is why we’ve worked to create resources to educate and train believers to do just that. You can access our resources by clicking the button below.
Reformation
Systemic Intervention
There are undeniably systemic issues that perpetuate poverty in every community. Predatory lending is just one example of just such an issue we have worked so hard to tackle over the years. These systemic issues are landmines that further enslave the poor, creating a system of dependency and bondage. We believe it is our responsibility as believers to call out injustice and advocate for the vulnerable in order to eradicate it so the poor and vulnerable can experience freedom, and the grace and mercy of Jesus.
In order to understand Community Renewal, you must understand that it is difficult to describe all we do because we meet each person’s needs, and no two people are exactly the same or struggle in the same way.
Learn more about how you can get in engaged in our work.
The activities above fulfill our mission to the poor, but don’t address our larger mission and vision for the church, which is to create missional people and churches who work together to care for the poor and vulnerable, and bring the whole Gospel to the world. To serve those with lesser resources is also a requirement and a blessing to the body of Christ. This work is difficult but necessary which is why we’ve worked to create resources to educate and train believers to do just that. You can access our resources by clicking the button below.
