The Bible calls the people of God to care for one another in all areas of life. We are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to love one another with actions and in truth (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:16-18). In short, we are called to be a community that loves and cares for each other as Jesus, the good shepherd, loved and cared for the world (John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20).
The local church is how these commands are carried out – the arm by which a community of believers cares for its neighbors (Luke 10:25-37).
Today, millions of American children are growing up in family situations that put them at high-risk for long-term poverty, delinquency, teen pregnancy, and addiction. These families are in our churches and communities. They are our neighbors. And, we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Romans 13:9 and James 2:8). However, the Bible also teaches us that God created the family as the primary place for educating a child on how he or she is to live (Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 1). Taking these two important truths in hand, we believe it is a natural response to the gospel that we address the needs of our neighbors – which include our nation’s most vulnerable children – who are growing up in families unable or unwilling to carry out the most basic parenting responsibilities.
As Shepherd Advocates, we identify programs and services that are proven to help at risk children and their families overcome educational, financial, and social barriers. But, it is our hope that as we encourage and equip the Body of Christ to engage in ministries of mercy at the local level, children and families at risk will experience healing, wholeness, and freedom as the gospel reconciles each one to God, their family, and their neighbor.