Many champions for the foster care system worry about at-risk 17-to-24 year olds aging out of their system. Once these young people age out, many end up either homeless or in jail. “Being ill-equipped makes these young people quite vulnerable,” Pastor Artie Lindsay, Teaching Pastor at Tabernacle Community Church, explained to me. They are often ill-prepared to navigate the challenges of living
How a Church’s Cafe Provides Job Training to At-Risk Students
By Luke Bobo / 09.24.2021
Many champions for the foster care system worry about at-risk 17-to-24 year olds aging out of their system. Once these young people age out, many end up either homeless or in jail. “Being ill-equipped makes these young people quite vulnerable,” Pastor Artie Lindsay, Teaching Pastor at Tabernacle Community Church, explained to me. They are often ill-prepared to navigate the challenges of living a self-sufficient lifestyle. This is why Tabernacle Community Church (TCC) in Grand Rapids, MI, launched Rising Grinds cafe — to equip at-risk young people with both business skills and life principles. Originally, the cafe was scheduled to open in May 2017, but a fire totaled the space in November 2016. A restaurant planning to relocate offered their space for lease, allowing TCC to begin rebuilding. Rising Grinds Cafe officially opened its doors this month on November 20. Earlier this month, the cafe held a soft opening, and more…