Domestic Poverty

“This year, our church is putting together 65 Christmas hampers – last year we did 45! We are so grateful for our generous congregation!”

The members of the congregation around me started clapping after this announcement made by the Pastor. I couldn’t help but feel some confusion . . . isn’t increased need in our community . . . bad?

Also, I felt some disappointment, realizing that many churches are still addressing only the surface issues surrounding economic security, and not often the root causes.

Recently, I shared about my experience of lack and abundance in two countries. This week, let’s look at a tale of two cities.

At a recent screening of Johnny Lee’s documentary, “Canadiation: Impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery,” a good Christian man came to Johnny and myself before the documentary was over to share his views.

Just like the widow in desperate need who Elisha encounters in 2 Kings, so it can seem that our communities have desperate needs: homeless encampments, drug overdose crisis, natural disasters destroying towns, long health care waitlists, exploitative landlords, and the list goes on. 

Nestled in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan sits LaGrave Avenue CRC. Over thirty years ago, LaGrave was the very first church to host SERVE – a week-long mission trip experience for high school students run by ThereforeGo Ministries (formerly known as Youth Unlimited)  – and they have kept that momentum going. Due to their location in the very center of the city, helping the unhoused and disadvantaged is the very heartbeat of the church. 

During Anders' time at Bates College in Maine (he just graduated), he often went to Lewiston, Maine’s downtown skatepark, where he met with several young people. He learned a lot about their lives and struggles, especially those related to homelessness and substance abuse. Many of these individuals shared heartbreaking stories of friends and family lost to overdose or living on the streets. 

I have had the privilege of participating in several conferences this spring, each of which touched on a different aspect of my work on poverty in Canada. They explored issues including housing, reconciliation, polarization, income security, and climate change, and brought together church folks, academics, advocates, people with lived experience of poverty, service providers, and government representatives from across the country. 

Host Chris Orme welcomes Greg Houldcroft, founder of Cross Town Impact, a ministry dedicated to serving at-risk youth. Greg shares his journey of faith and the challenges faced in establishing the organization. Cross Town Impact provides safe spaces for children, offering support and mentorship. Greg highlights lessons he's learned along the way especially for churches.

Seated around a solid wooden table beside a cozy window streaming with sunlight, a close-knit group and I were enjoying pastries, warm coffee, and gentle camaraderie. As we caught up on each other’s lives, a woman shared about a vacation she had recently taken.

When booking her hotel, she hadn’t realized that right across the street was a large encampment where numerous unhoused people were staying. From her high-up hotel room window, she had a bird’s-eye view of the people below. She said this had given her a “clearer picture of how the other side lived.”  

In this compelling episode host Chris Orme sits down with Dan Veeneman and Marcel de Regt from Gateway Community Church in Abbotsford B.C. Together, they delve into the church's transformative journey of hosting an extreme weather shelter for the homeless. Dan and Marcel share stories about the realities of participating in this ministry. From confronting addiction to offering hospitality, their experiences underscore the power of saying 'yes' when someone knocks on your door.