We are Shepherd Advocates
Evangelical pastors and ministry leaders who are committed to speaking out on behalf of children at risk (Proverbs 31:8) and equipping the Church to live out the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Love is our motivation – Changed lives is our goal
Prayer is our foundation – The body of Christ is our resource
Our voice is our instrument – Every policymaker is our focus
Christ is our example – The staff is our symbol
Why We Do What We Do
Throughout the Bible, when God’s people cried out for someone to meet their needs and deliver them,
God sent a shepherd.
When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, God sent Moses,
a shepherd, armed with only a voice and a staff.When God’s people were routed by the Philistines, God sent David,
a shepherd, armed only with a staff and a slingshot to defend his flock.When the world lay in sin, eternally lost and forsaken, God sent Jesus,
the Great Shepherd, to save his people. The cross is his staff.
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 in our 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).
Today, God still sends his shepherds – pastors and ministry leaders – armed with the staff of faith and a strong voice to care for, defend, and deliver these children in the name of Jesus.
The Bible teaches us that God created the family to be the primary place for educating a child on how he or she is to live (Gen 2:24; Proverbs 1), but many of our nation’s most vulnerable children are growing up in families unable or unwilling to carry out the most basic parenting responsibilities.
What does love for these at-risk families look like?
• helping at-risk teen moms learn essential parenting skills;
• providing access to early-childhood education, ensuring children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn;
• assisting families with troubled teens; and
• training and equipping young men to become better fathers.
We are committed to use our God-given platform to motivate the body of Christ to love our neighbor as ourselves, securing resources at-risk families need to shepherd their children according to God’s Word. Using our voices, we educate policymakers and the public about proven investments that encourage personal responsibility, give kids a solid foundation early in life, and help families shepherd the next generation in healthy and positive ways.