Through faith and hard work, one leader and his church community take action to make change.
Recently, we sat down with Burke Wallace, one of our longtime leaders, to learn more about a community action plan he and his fellow church members implemented to tackle the issue of homelessness. How did his leadership learning influence his community action, and how can you replicate his success? Read more to find out!
Ambassador Leaders: Tell our readers more about this community action plan your church launched.
Burke: Beginning in June, our church along with twelve other nearby houses of worship will partner with a national organization called Family Promise to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is for each church to house people on a rotating basis, four times a year for a one week period. Each of the participating churches has unused facilities that will be converted to living spaces where people or families experiencing homelessness can eat, sleep and shower. These individuals are referred to us by local health services or school districts and receive additional support during the day to get back on their feet.
Ambassador Leaders: Using open space in your church to help people experiencing homelessness is a great idea. How did your fellowship come up with this idea, and how did partnering with a larger organization make your goal more attainable?
“We could not accomplish alone what we could by working with others.”
Burke: As a small congregation, we’ve struggled to know what to do with a property that is mortgage-free but too big for our needs. During our weekly worship service, we collect food for the local food pantry. Unfortunately, many people in California experience homelessness in addition to food insecurity, so that issue was at the forefront of our minds.
Many individuals were already sleeping on our church property, but we did not have the resources to address all of their needs. When we heard that Family Promise was starting up in our town, we knew the little bit we could offer combined with others' little bits would make a big difference. We could not accomplish alone what we could by working with others, so we decided to take action and get involved in this community-based organization.
Ambassador Leaders: What was one challenge you faced to bring this community action plan together, and how did you overcome it?
“You have to hear people out, address their concerns and put in the work to help them see your vision.”
Burke: The biggest challenge we faced was getting all of our congregation to support opening our church to families experiencing homelessness. To overcome this challenge, we cleaned out the unused classrooms we wanted to convert into living areas. Some church members held out hope that the classrooms would once again be filled with children, even though they haven't been used in years.
By clearing out the classrooms, we helped people see different possibilities. Then, we held a meeting explaining the benefits of the program and listening to people’s concerns. While some church members weren’t initially supportive of the idea, by the time we voted, the congregation approved participating with Family Promise. You have to really hear people out, address their concerns and put in the work to help them see your vision. You have to bring people with you.
Ambassador Leaders: In what ways does your faith inform your service to others and help you put leadership to action.
“Sometimes the world’s problems seem daunting and intractable. Nonetheless, my faith compels me to act, even if it is a small act. ”
Burke: My faith teaches me to love my neighbors and do to others what I would have them do to me. Our time, talents and resources are best spent when they are shared to benefit others. I am in the field of education for the same reason I serve my community: to make the world a better place.
Sometimes the world’s problems, like homelessness, seem daunting and intractable. Nonetheless, my faith compels me to act, even if it is a small act. Our Family Promise program cannot single-handedly fix homelessness, but we can change the lives of people who participate.
Ambassador Leaders: Finally, where can readers learn more about Family Promise?
Burke: Readers can visit the Family Promise website to learn more. The "Get Involved" tab will help them find any nearby programs or learn how to start a program in their own hometown.
By Corie Bales
Corie is the Academic Affairs Manager of Ambassador Leaders. As a lifelong educator and avid traveler, she believes in empowering students and teachers to learn and lead through experiential education.