Sow Well: The Transformative Power of Serving Our Neighbors

“We believe the resources within a community are adequate to initiate genuine renewal and redevelopment of that community. As a result, we devote ourselves to the discovery and mobilization of individual and community resources that can be brought to the task at hand as defined by the community itself.” 

- Larry James, City Square

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According to the Dallas Morning News, the number of homeless people in Dallas and Collin counties has increased again in 2018, up 9 percent from last year, according to data released Wednesday from the annual homeless census.

There were 4,140 homeless people counted in the two counties on one night in January, up from 3,789 counted last year. There was also a 23 percent increase in the unsheltered, those who don’t seek housing in shelters and live on the streets.

We often don’t look at homelessness and poverty as a severe epidemic, but the numbers would suggest otherwise. Our neighbors in the south, east, and western counties are suffering under the oppression of being under-served, impoverished and marginalized.

When we think about serving others, what do we think about? Serving during Thanksgiving and Christmas? Soup kitchen lines, and collecting specific items to donate? There are many churches, organizations and individuals that believe their charitable contributions are enough to stifle the growing oppression of homelessness and poverty. Sadly, charity without work is not enough. And although these generous acts are most often suggested and accepted, the dramatic incline of those battling homelessness continue to rise. So, what does this mean?

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Homelessness and poverty are not a new concept. Biblically, when addressed about the homeless Jesus calls us to

“not be hardhearted or tightfisted towards your poor brother…rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”

Jesus also went on to say,

“The poor you will have with you always, and you can help them anytime you want, but you will not always have me.”

Larry M. James, CEO of City Square has 40 decades of trial and error in fostering relationships with churches, major corporations and organizations in order to gain clear programming that benefits our impoverished neighbors. In his book, “The Wealth of The Poor” he recalls his experiences working with the poor and chronically homeless as neighbors, as brothers and sisters who if given the opportunity and resources, could cooperatively improve the quality of their own lives. He has fostered relationships and built programming that puts the power back in the hands of those who need it, because it is realized that simply giving without action will not suffice. Hunger, health, housing and hope is his platform.

Calling on businesses to build grocery stores in inner cities, opening a community clinic and providing generic prescriptions to those afflicted with hypertension, diabetes and other illnesses. In many decades of working towards these initiatives, he has found that it would be greater to think about equipping the impoverished with access and resources so that they can collaborate with organizations to see their own value of service. Most often, simply equipping someone with the right tools can open up a whole new world of possibility for them. It shows that they are valued as a whole and complete person that is capable of cooperatively constructing a better livelihood.

TFM Foundation mobilizes to aid the homeless in attaining resources, job skills, literacy, and resources to battle poverty in similar fashion. We link with area charities to supply our resources and manpower to contribute in their initiatives. We plant ourselves in the circumference of the need in order to cast a wide net to meet needs and equip. We aim to give back power to our under served neighbors so that they may actively participate in the growth and development of their own lives. This looks like volunteer reading programs, job training, and being pen pals with adolescents in the juvenile system. This action, as Larry James has found, provides innumerable long term advantages in impoverished communities. We at The Freedom Movement

Foundation commit to continuing the work done before us and to lay a foundation for those after us. We are determined to sow well! Will you join us?