Faith

Jesus, Faith & Compassion: This Christian Group Is Working to ‘Restore Love’ By Feeding & Educating America’s Poor

Heres Life Inner City Feeds & Equips Americas Poor | Restoring LoveThere are countless groups that work in the trenches — organizations that labor incessantly to help feed and clothe the poor, while connecting people in need with viable services and educational tools. Rather than being driven by intensive and massive government bureaucracies, these non-profits are run, led and funded by caring citizens who look beyond themselves to serve their fellow man.

As we think about the sentiments behind Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Love” — caring for one another, while very literally restoring the values that made America successful — it’s hard to ignore groups like Here’s Life Inner City (HLIC), the compassionate urban ministry of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). HLIC very literally provides training for churches, food, resources and plenty more in an effort to help set America’s poor on a path to restoration.

In the July/August issue of The Blaze Magazine, HLIC is profiled extensively (get your copy here). In the article, we tell you about the group’s numerous programs that mix compassion with action to help alleviate poverty and its harmful effects. Throughout the year, HLIC trains church members in cities across America, showing them how to interact with the poor about life skills and the subject of faith, while providing them with food, resources and connections to job training programs, among other elements.

Heres Life Inner City Feeds & Equips Americas Poor | Restoring Love

“Boxes of Love” and “Holiday Care Boxes” are just two of the group’s many projects. Conducted during the holiday season, these initiatives bring boxes of food — complete Thanksgiving and Christmas meals — to the poor throughout U.S. communities. Also, there’s the Homeless Care Kits outreach, which offers a blanket, hat, gloves and other winter essentials to keep those living on the streets warm. And who could forget PowerPacks, the outreach that gives book bags and school supplies to kids in need?

The aforementioned tools — only a few of the many — are distributed by the church members that HLIC trains. Rather than serving as a minor touch-point for a one-time meal or supply need, these items often leave those who receive them with transformational connections to jobs training programs and other essentials. On the HLIC web site, a story was shared that showcases how these so-called “compassionate tools” work”:

People from [an Atlanta] church went into the forbidding hallways of the projects. They knocked on doors and offered a Box of Love as a gift from the church. They also asked people to complete a community needs survey.

Behind one of the doors was Sarah, a young single mom. She was carrying a baby, and a toddler played nearby. The team went through the survey, and the conversation led to spiritual things [...]

The next week she showed up at the church, and she quickly began to grow in her new faith. Through the loving counsel of mothers at the church, as well as the pastor, she walked away from bad relationships and filled her life with positive influences. She started coming to Wednesday night Bible study and Sunday school, and she got involved in the women’s fellowship ministry.

Sarah had been on public assistance, but after she began growing in her walk with the Lord, she determined to be more independent. She enrolled in a local technical college and made good grades — there was enthusiastic applause when her grades were announced to the congregation in recognition of all of the positive steps she had taken.

Heres Life Inner City Feeds & Equips Americas Poor | Restoring Love

Some people may have an aversion to the Christian elements at play, but this is exactly the key that HLIC believes will help people restore and rebuild their lives. Even if this doesn’t appeal to you, the work that the organization does (and there are other non-profits like it with more secular ideals) is noteworthy and worth learning more about.

After all, advocating for small-government, in a sense, puts a greater focus and responsibility on conservatives. If there’s a call for a tinier, less expansive government, then there is also an inherent need for individuals to pitch in to help their fellow man.

Rather than relying solely upon the government to tackle the issue of poverty, groups like HLIC empower individuals to get involved in making lasting change in the lives of others. To find out more about HLIC’s faith-based approach to poverty reduction, visit the group’s web site. And find out more about “Restoring Love” here.

Editor’s Note: The author of this article worked as a staff member on the development and media team of Here’s Life Inner City prior to joining The Blaze.

Comments (26)

  • USA-Ron
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:25pm

    Restoring Love, Helping Others and Restoring ourselves, even better.

    And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 JKV

    Report Post »  
  • RDawkins
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:18pm

    Many of the “Christian” groups are “saving” refugees from other countries by bring them back here and giving them enough information to go on the welfare systems, get free health care and become a burden on the taxpayer..all so they can feel like they saved these poor creatures from a third world horror…

    All these Christians did was bring back a bunch of free loaders to live off the taxpayers and help them to work the system. The Democrats in power like it because they get a voter to keep the freebies coming…the Christians think they are going to heaven…to bad you are stealing from the taxpayers…let these people rot in their third world armpit…they hate America…all we are doing is breeding more terrorists…

    These people will not help themselves…again the white man must bail out the minorities…I have first hand experience with the people as a landlord…never again will I own property to rent to refugees or Christian groups that support them!

    Report Post »  
    • jwt
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:33pm

      most of the Lord’s miracles seem to happen where the need is great. The God a nation serves should be more than able to see to the needs of his people. If not, maybe they need a new God

      Report Post »  
  • blair152
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:52pm

    God bless us everyone.

    Report Post »  
  • Injunator
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 5:23pm

    —————————————————————————Hebrews 8
    read please Salvation is not worked for nor purchased by deeds nor act of love other than the love God gave to His Son Jesus and through Him, He by grace and mercy gives to whom He, choses a choice by God, not men nor any man . . . . all flesh is SIN———————–

    Report Post »  
  • SeniorCitizen214
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:20pm

    So what they are saying we should be able to fire Obama and remove his rememberances from society because of the position his policies and actions or lack of actions have placed this country in regariding the economy, world leadership, and respect of both allies and enemies. What do the clowns think this is going to erace the memories of the championships, yes the championships and games won. College atheletics is where the money comes from for all those simple minded morons out there, Sandusky will end up in prison forever, and once the news media finds another horse to flog he will be forgotten – except by those that were abused.

    Report Post »  
  • NotHereToJudge
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:12pm

    WE ARE AMERICA! Not a place like any other! We the people, under GOD the creator & SPIRIT that gives us life, BUILT THIS COUNTRY! We designed & built a government that’s intended to SERVE the members of THIS country! A country that’s humble enough to help those around the world that are humble enough to receive our help! WE OWE NO ONE, for we’ve paid with our money, our sweat & the blood of our people! Through our loyalty to serving GOD & our neighbors with Love, Compassion & pride for the Strength that we’ve Received! WE’RE THE BUILDERS & just like a building that’s suffered damage by a storm or an attack by an enemy, WE CAN RESTORE OUR COUNTRY! We can cut out the cancer that attacks from within! WE ARE 1 NATION, UNDER GOD! HE has given us the RIGHT to LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT of HAPPINES! GOD is our CREATOR & THROUGH US HE creates the businesses that SERVE US as well as a gov. that is to SERVE US! WE as a country seek to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS who’re willing to receive it! Those that hate & seek to destroy are blind to HIM who they seek to attack! The One who IS cannot be destroyed but those who seek to destroy HIM shall reap their own destruction! People throuhout the world find Hope in America because of these truths! Truth that lives in every person! We can‘t standby as we’re attacked form within! We’ll defend our GOD as we defend rights HE bestows upon US! No gov. or people of tyranny can prosper or gain honor! Tyranny is met by by GOD’s justice!

    Report Post » NotHereToJudge  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:35pm

    Unleash the power of Christians and you can do away w/food stamps and a bunch of other welfare programs.

    We will teach you how to fish and set you up w/your first pole or net.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • jungle J
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:21pm

      then they would ahve to work…you must not have spent any time in the ghetto.

      Report Post »  
  • Passerby
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:27pm

    There are thousands of Christian groups living in the hellholes of the earth, helping the poorest of the poor, and walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

    And the numver of Atheist groups doing the same?

    Zero.

    ZERO.

    Not a damned one.

    If that isn’t Evil, what is?

    Report Post » Passerby  
    • Words_of_the_Buddah
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 1:38pm

      Atheist Centre of India
      Foundation Beyond Belief
      EARTHWARD, Inc.
      Fellowship of Freethought
      International Humanist and Ethical Union
      Atheists Helping the Homeless
      American Humanist Association
      Kiva Lending Team: Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious
      Secular Humanist Aid and Relief Effort
      Atheist Relief Fund
      Secular Center USA
      The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
      HIVOS (Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation)

      Report Post » Words_of_the_Buddah  
    • IMCHRISTIAN
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 2:37pm

      God bless all who helps the poor and those in need of learning. God all so bless those in need.

      Report Post »  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 3:00pm

      @Budha

      Well, good. I think I’ll look into these a bit more, see if they’re more than just than a name.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • LibertyGoddess
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:13am

    I’ll be at Restoring Love this week and I live 5 states away. Anyone else going?

    Report Post » LibertyGoddess  
  • battles
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:25am

    To be quickly poisoned by the likes of Jessie Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Sheila Jackson Lee, and their liberal, socialist white demoncratic supporters.

    Report Post » battles  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 11:11am

      Same thing I was thinking they can’t very well have groups unsurping the federal government welfare system.

      Report Post »  
    • gperky
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Exactly, just like the new Houston ban on feeding the homeless! Thank;s to our Gay mayor and her cronies. They stopped peopole from feeding the homeless unless you are registered with the city and of course, do it according to their rules. The left loons will do everything they can to stop Conservatives and especially Christians from helping anyone! If it wasn’t for the Christians, charity would be a thing of the past. How many athiest groups do you see out helping feed and clothe the poor? NONE!

      Report Post » gperky  
  • Steelhead
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:30am

    I can’t read the whole article there is an advertisement in the way

    Report Post » Steelhead  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:15am

    God bless their efforts and those they help.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:13am

    Too bad 90% are con artists.

    “Yeah, hail Jesus & the holy Spirit & Otis Spunkmeyer…whatever I have to say…just give me the box already while I still have time to make the bus downtown to the pawn shop.”

    Report Post »  
    • Chromo200
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:31am

      The_Almighty_Creestof ..So what, if I can save one person from poverty, it is worth it. Gov’t programs keep you in bondange, while faithbased programs succeed and free you from bondage. Also what pawn shop will give you money for a blanket and a cap.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:00am

      Untrue, CREESTOF. Not sure how much serving you have done in the Inner City but I can assure you that your percentage is way off. I have been genuinely blessed and prayed for by many of the folks I thought I was serving.

      Please don’t lose compassion for those lost souls and needy people who were created in the image of God.

      Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:47am

      I do not know what a person will do, but God does. If you can make a difference in one persons life then it is all worth it. Christ feed 5000 men not counting women and children, how many stuck it out and stayed faithful to the teachings of Christ? Some where there just for the fish and bread but that did not stop Christ from feeding them.

      Report Post »  
    • gperky
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 12:10pm

      Looks like The_Almighty_Creestof has been dissapointed (or kicked out) by the church or someone offended him and he can’t get past that! When you show compassion for someone, it doesn’t matter what they do with what you have given. You did your part, if they fail to do their part, then that is there problem and they will be held accountable.

      Report Post » gperky  

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