What if the most radical act isn’t starting something new but joining what’s already in motion? This episode challenges our assumptions about how churches can effectively engage in housing justice while remaining true to their mission of caring for people.
In this compelling episode, we explore the complex intersection of faith, housing justice, and community development. Through conversations with housing advocates and faith leaders, we unpack how churches can effectively engage in housing solutions without needing to be experts in development. The episode challenges traditional notions of pioneering and examines the power of joining existing initiatives rather than always starting new ones.
Key themes explored:
- The tension between institutional and grassroots approaches to housing justice
- The church’s role in community development and housing advocacy
- The importance of moving from knowledge to action in addressing housing needs
- Biblical perspectives on land use and community care
- The “barbell economy” and its impact on housing accessibility
Featured Guests:
- Ryan VerWys, housing advocate from Grand Rapids
- Jonathan Rich, housing policy expert
- Abe Cho, biblical adviser on community development
Ready to make a difference? Connect with local housing-advocacy groups, start conversations in your faith community about housing justice, share this episode with others who care about community development, and join the conversation with folks in your neighborhood!
“This Great and Complicated Place” is a production of Christianity Today Media and supported in part by Stand Together Trust and The Fetzer Institute.
Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper
Host: Rich Pérez and John Onwuchekwa
Producer: Rich Pérez and John Onwuchekwa
Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens
Video producer: Rich Pérez
