Making Poverty Less Permanent

Check out this article in Byfaith magazine. "Making Poverty Less Permanent" by Robert J. Tamasy, Vice President of Communication for leaders in Legacy, Inc. In the article, Tamasy takes a look at Jobs for Life, and their take on "a more efficient kind of ministry."
Here is a summary of Tamasy's Top 5 Reasons for Job Training, taken from Davis Spickard, JFl's president and CEO since 2006.

Why should churches consider job training in their outreach to the poor?

1. As they discover what the Bible teaches about work, they will encounter Jesus Christ in the process.
2. One of the most important things the church can do to transform lives is 'teach the poor to fish', helping them to find value through work.
3.It puts the church in a position to serve where government is overwhelmed.
4. It provides businesses with employees who have strong work values.
5. Engaging in active ministry will change members' lives and transform the church.

Paul Green, Executive director of Hope for the Inner City, points out that successor failure rates are not due to a deficiency in the Jobs for Life curriculum, but "the difficulty in overcoming deep-rooted problems endemic to the poor, including:

The survival mentality
Financial management problems
Basic interviewing and communications skills
High-risk behavior
Inadequate education
Lack of proper role models

...and that is what we are all about. I can't wait.