The fifth lesson in the Seek Social Justice series is probably the most sobering. We traveled to Orange County, California to explore the story of Shyima Hall, an Egyptian girl who at age 8 was sold by her parents into slavery. She was brought to the US by her Egyptian owners and kept as a housemaid for almost two years before being rescued. It is a moving story about how our state and federal agencies work with the non-profit and private sectors to ensure that individuals have the chance to live in freedom. This is something that is easy for us to forget: it is only the enforcement of good laws based on Christian principles that enables us to live in a society in which social justice can actually happen. [click to continue…]
Work is an important and sometimes overlooked aspect of social justice. As Genesis 2 tells us, God ordained work as part of the essential makeup of men and women. Work is a good thing; without it, both men and women (and especially men) cannot do what God created them to do. Whether by choice or lack of opportunity, not working is a deficit that wreaks destruction psychologically, spiritually, and economically: our inner cities and the criminal element that emerges has direct connections to issues of work. The fourth lesson in the Seek Social Justice series therefore focuses on work, and particularly at the way Men of Valor prison ministry changes incarcerated men “from takers to givers in society.” [click to continue…]
As part of our ongoing introduction to Seek Social Justice (the free small group study that will be released later this month), I’m pleased to show you the full documentary lesson on the role of the church in pursuing social justice. The Heritage Foundation (our partner in producing SSJ) recommended First Baptist Church Leesburg as a model of how one congregation can transform its local community by consistently meeting the needs of those around them. [click to continue…]
Here’s a preview of one of my favorite lessons in the new Seek Social Justice series. I think it’s the children that do it for me – they’re very funny. We shot this in Dallas, Texas with a fascinating ministry called H.I.S. BridgeBuilders. Its goal is to link up people from different backgrounds who then can stand together on the gospel, using their relationships to advance social justice in their communities. We explored one relationship in particular that has lasted for years between an inner city family and a suburban family: it’s a great story. (BTW – Signup to get a free copy of the complete Seek Social Justice study.) [click to continue…]
