Ministry
for the Unemployed
The
unemployment rate has progressively gone down since 2010 after spiking
dramatically in 2008 and 2009. But it is not as low as it once was, and for
those who are unemployed, there is little solace in the rates. Nearly 11
million Americans remain unemployed. Churches can provide some relief, and some
churches are doing just that. In a recent survey of NAE members, nearly a third
said their churches had a specific ministry for those without jobs.
Involuntary
unemployment can be one of the highest periods of stress in one’s life, and for
some, it can lead to distrust of God’s provision. By providing regular
opportunities for worship, fellowship and discipleship, churches can help the
unemployed experience God’s comfort and provision, while developing discipline
and character qualities that increase employability. Churches can also respond
with specific ministries such as economic development projects, seminars on
work and vocation, vocational counseling, job clubs and other networking
opportunities. Work training, internships, GED classes, English tutoring,
resume workshops, and job boards can be helpful ways to meet the needs of
church members and can serve as outreach to community members who find
themselves out of work.
For
further reading:
“Blessed
are the Jobless,” Elissa Cooper, Christianity
Today (Jan. 13, 2013), http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/january/blessedarejobless.html?paging=off
“Economic
Malady, Church Opportunity,” Michael Jahr, The Gospel Coalition (Sept. 16,
2013), http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/09/16/economic-malady-church-opportunity/
“Labor
Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” Bureau of Labor
Statistics, http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000
NAE
Asks You, Ministry for the
Unemployed, Winter 2013/14
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