by Tom Nelson
As a single parent, my mom worked extraordinarily hard at a relatively low paying job. The economic challenges we faced were not hard for others to see. Indeed, material poverty not only weighs on the human heart but also on the sleeves. I’m sure our economic situation was apparent to those around us. Nevertheless, the […]
What does it look like to train your church’s youth to be wise, effective entrepreneurs? Here are six practical steps that worked for our church.
by Amy Sherman
When Superstorm Sandy hit the small, working-class community of Union Beach, New Jersey, (population 6,200) in fall 2012, it left 90 percent of the town under water. Out of roughly 2500 homes, 2000 were damaged. A journalist from the online magazine Bustle drove to Union Bay two weeks after Sandy to deliver some coats to […]
Birth of Self Sustaining Enterprises (SSE) Any leader would tell you that resources never keep pace with vision. Whether running a church or a non-profit, you never seem to have enough money for all the needs that arise. In 2002, Grace Chapel started Self Sustaining Enterprises). The original goal was to help fund orphan care […]
by Amy Sherman
Bluewater Mission is a nondenominational church in Honolulu founded by Jordan and Sonya Seng in 2008. The couple met through InterVarsity Fellowship at Stanford University. They ministered in various roles together around the U.S., primarily with the Vineyard Church. Just before starting Bluewater Mission, Jordan was on staff as small groups’ minister at First Presbyterian […]
by Kevin Harlan
Today marks the official release date of Tom Nelson’s newest book, The Economics of Neighborly Love. As one who had the opportunity to read an early-release copy, let me encourage you to get your copy and dive in. I think you’ll find it to be a very helpful resource as you continue looking for ways […]
by Matt Rusten
“If your church closed its doors, would the community care?” This question has become popular among many church leaders, helping us to consider whether our churches are making a tangible difference in our communities. But a growing body of research suggests that, at least economically, healthy churches are extremely important institutions that impact the flourishing […]
by Greg Forster
Jobs, poverty, globalization, environment, debt, racism, trade – does the church have anything to say about these matters, of such vital concern to the people around us? I believe that pastors today do not lack the will to speak about justice; rather, our challenge is to find language pastors can use with confidence, a way […]
It is impossible to avoid, to escape, or to deny the reality that we live in a broken world. Broken people. Broken relationships. Broken neighborhoods. Broken systems. Broken commitments. Broken dreams. Broken hearts. Certainly, this pervasive brokenness is the obvious consequence of a creation corrupted and corruptible by our misplaced faith and our proclivity to […]
Recently, one of our Advisory Council members and CG2017 speakers, Pastor Chris Brooks spoke on the topic, “The Church and the Moral Mandate of Economics.” In his talk, Brooks lays out some lessons learned while working to usher in flourishing to an economically distressed community in Detroit, Michigan. Brooks further develops these lessons learned in […]