We huddled together awkwardly as the thick metal door finally clanged shut behind us. A split second later, an identical door began to slide open just in front of our group. We waited until the gap widened enough to pass through, and then the four of us proceeded down the long hallway.

We were now officially inside Marion County’s Jail II.

Some of you may not believe it, but this was my first time seeing the inside of a jail. And as I walked down that long hallway, I did my best to mimic the casual approach of my companions, hoping to conceal the underlying tension I felt. I wasn’t fearful of any dangers, mind you, or worried about my safety, but my senses were clearly heightened as I tried to absorb these altogether foreign surroundings. Everywhere I turned, I saw metal, concrete and thick plexiglass.

County Jail II is a large, rectangular building and houses around 1,000 inmates at any given time. The non-descript exterior does no justice to the realities on the inside of the building.

We boarded the elevator, accompanied by the jail’s chaplain, who was escorting us to the second-floor chapel for a Sunday afternoon church service. We disembarked and walked towards the chapel at the end of the hallway.

Along the way, we passed expansive “pods” on either side of us, each consisting of a large open room crammed full of bunk beds and dozens of men in orange jumpsuits. A few of the inmates stared at us from behind the large, plexiglass windows of the pod doors. I kept my cool, but opted against making any real eye contact. A strange feeling filled the air, and it was one I had never experienced.

A Reality on Edge

The very nature of a criminal detention facility generates tension. Like any other creature, we as humans, aren’t intended to live in close confinement. Something about it is unnatural. Something about it breeds anxiety, restlessness and angst.

Not only are people locked up for unlawful actions of their own, but they’re locked up with other people behind bars for similar activities. It can easily be a recipe for disaster, and the instinctive tenets of jungle law are often the unwritten rules of the land.

Downtown Indianapolis can be seen a few blocks away from the visitor’s entrance. Many of the inmates’ windows face the same direction.

To make that tension worse, freedom is mere inches away for inmates at Jail II, located here in Indianapolis, Indiana. They can look at a bustling downtown Indy through the tiny, barred windows that line the four-story building, but that’s as close as they come to the outside air until a judge or county prosecutor says otherwise.

Jail II is the primary hub for any number of people in the correctional system. They may simply be serving out a short sentence handed down for petty crimes committed within the county’s jurisdiction.  They may have an ongoing case in the city’s court system. Or they may be awaiting transfer to one of the larger state penitentiaries. At any given time, about 1,000 inmates are housed there.

Breaking the Chains

For George “Midget” Whirley and Jim Harmon, that’s 1,000 souls in desperate need of Hope. And that’s the reason I’m here.

These two guys are members of Unchained Ministries, a Christian motorcycle club that started a prison outreach program about 30 years ago. They call the prison ministry the Unchained Gang, referring not only to the freedom found in Christ but also to the contrast of the chain gangs often associated with prisons of yesteryear.

Both Midget and Jim have their own stories of desperation and redemption, and God is at the center of it all. They’re now compelled to visit the jails and prisons of Indiana, shining Light into dark places, speaking to folks defined by hopelessness and providing the same message of grace they now cherish.

George “Midget” Whirley, vice president of The Unchained Gang, leans against his work truck after an early morning visit. When he isn’t riding his motorcycle or visiting prisons and jails, Midget helps run a tree service based on the south side of Indianapolis.

But they’re not the only ones from Unchained Ministries. The club has six chapters in Indiana (and one in Ireland, go figure), visiting over 40 jails and prisons in the state on a regular basis.

I sit here and ponder folks like this, and a part of me can only hang my head.

The Bible is chock-full of scriptures addressing the issue of prisons and prisoners.  And when all is said and done, our faith must move beyond words and beliefs. It must include actions!

“Faith without works is dead,” as James so bluntly wrote. If we profess Christ, we have no excuse to sit on our laurels.

I love the simple distinction Jesus makes in Matthew 25. There are plenty in the Church who give a whole lot of lip service to God and to their faith. They may even know all the Sunday school answers.

But what separates the lip service from the true service within the Church? Easy…

“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…”

What a privilege I have to follow along with these guys in the coming weeks!! And what a blessing they are to those they visit! They seek no recognition for their efforts, but I’m going to give it to them anyway.

They want all glory going to God…a sign of true service at its finest.

I’ve spent three weeks trying to keep up with Safe Families for Children as they worked throughout Indianapolis. These guys dedicate every waking (and sometimes interrupted sleep) moment to helping families and children in crisis. What’s the incredible tool they use to bring help and hope to these families?

Regular people like you and me.

Suburban families are turning their homes into safe havens for children in need of temporary placement. Volunteers are surrounding families in crisis to help them get back on their feet. Families from different worlds are opening their hearts to one another and forming relationships.

Safe Families works for great kids like Bethany.

Everything I’ve seen here in Indianapolis has touched me, but I know it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Safe Families operates across the United States to reconnect communities, inviting us to reclaim our role as true neighbors to one another. As you’ll read about here, amazing things happen when we answer that call.

It Just Makes Sense

I’m diving into Safe Families, Indianapolis. They may be ordinary people caring for children and families in crisis, but you’ll see their impact is extraordinary…

Click here to read this article…

Safe Families on the Road

Ride along with Safe Families volunteer Jan Clark as she explains what makes this awesome organization tick.

Click here to read this article…

It Takes a Village

Meet a woman whose struggle overwhelms but inspires me. She is facing big obstacles with even bigger support from Safe Families.

Click here to read this article…

Photo Gallery: It Takes a Village

Now that we’ve heard Tabby’s story in “It Takes a Village,” it’s time to see everyone who’s involved in supporting this incredible woman and her family.

Click here to see this photo gallery…

We Have Room

Read about my experience living with the Smith family and the children they are hosting through Safe Families. This family knows what it means to open their home and hearts to others…

Click here to read this article…

Encouraging Perspectives

Meet Tracy and Lisa, the Safe Families social workers who I’ve grown to love. Listen to their perspectives on how God is at work in this ministry…

Click here to read this article…

The Messy Stuff

What happens when a Safe Family must say goodbye to the child they hosted? In the case of the Ray family, the farewell marked the beginning of a much bigger experience.

Click here to read this article…

I’ve spent time diving into what Safe Families is all about—how they work, the people involved and what goes on inside the home of a volunteer family. But what happens next? What happens when a child returns home and the relationship between the Safe Family and the biological family is officially over?

Well, it turns out there’s no expiration date on that relationship. In the case of the Ray family, taking care of a child through Safe Families initiated an unanticipated bond between two families that persists today.

Hesitation

The journey of Cheri and Jason Ray began in a manner no different than many volunteer host families for Safe Families. They heard about the organization through friends at church but had reservations. Cheri feared the pain of welcoming a child into their lives, bonding and then having to give him or her back to the biological family.

Luckily, the Ray’s teenage daughter, Hannah, didn’t give in to her mother’s hesitation. Hannah urged her parents to join the Safe Families network and proceeded to guide them through the online training. Within weeks, the Rays became a certified Safe Family.

Cheri and Jason with a picture of baby Micah

“God loves hearing us say ‘I can’t, or I could never…,’” reflects Cheri on the family’s initial hesitation. “It gives Him the chance to show us what He’s capable of doing through us.”

In this case, God chose Micah to teach that lesson. Micah—a five-week-old baby boy—bridged the worlds of two very different families.

Part of the Family

I sat down in a cozy family room across from Cheri and Jason with many questions floating around my head. Here sat two people who formed a supportive, loving relationship not just with a child they had welcomed into their home, but with his entire family as well.

The idea is beautiful in theory, but when I think about the particulars of what it means to love a family in crisis it just seems messy.

Cheri and Jason admitted they felt comfortable taking in baby Micah in January because Safe Families had specified an “end date” to the placement. The Rays learned that Micah’s mom, Shameka, was a single mom, struggling with post-partum depression. She desperately needed a break from raising her eight children alone, so Safe Families placed them with different host families for four weeks.

The Ray’s house, north of Indianapolis

But during that time, a relationship took root between the Rays and Micah’s family. Cheri talked to Shameka on the phone every day, giving her updates on baby Micah. The conversations became more and more personal as Cheri learned more about Shameka and her family.

And of course, the whole family fell for beautiful baby Micah. Jason and Cheri couldn’t help but light up as they talked about this little guy. By the end of four weeks, Micah was a part of the Ray family.

No Easy Fix

Micah went home, but Shameka and Cheri kept in contact. The Ray family regularly visited Shameka and her children, and Micah came back to stay with the Ray family on and off as needed. The Rays found themselves falling not only for Micah, but for Shameka and the entire family.

The friendship isn’t always easy. Jason and Cheri are learning the frustrating details of what it means to live in poverty.

Baby Micah (Photo from Cheri)

“It’s a sadly vicious cycle,” Jason concedes. “It just seems like there’s so much need out there!”

“It almost gets to the point where it’s like, ‘Are we making a difference?’” echoes Cheri. “I mean, I know we are, but you kind of look at it and want to jump in there and just fix it. We want to grab them out of the inner city…but we don’t think it’s God’s plan for us to rescue them. It’s trying to figure out how to equip her with the tools for life and not just run in there and throw a band aid on it to fix it.”

Cheri and Jason focus on loving Shameka and her family, and from that, they’ve found instances when helping is appropriate. A few months back, Shameka mentioned some problems around her home, so Jason pointed out that these were things a landlord should deal with and accompanied Shameka to talk with him. Jason and Cheri also put Shameka in contact with a job placement agency which helped her secure work.

Understanding

The walk alongside Shameka moves at an inconsistent pace and sometimes takes unexpected turns, but it continues to enrich both families.

The Ray’s refrigerator with pictures of Micah, his family, and other children who have stayed with the Ray’s through Safe Families.

“We’re getting as much out of it (as Micah’s family), if not more,” Jason admits.

Cheri and Jason encourage others to become Safe Families, even though it’s not always easy. They explain that their own kids, Mitchell and Hannah, have benefitted from the opportunity to look outside of themselves and their own lives.The Rays also advise Safe Families to enter the experience with an open mind.

“From the outside looking in, somebody might say, ‘Why does she have eight kids? She should be responsible,’” explains Cheri. “But if you look into her story, it gives you compassion…events in their life brought them to where they are.”

Reckless Love

So what’s the secret to easing through the Safe Families process unscathed? There isn’t one. Opening your home to a child may just be the gateway to falling in love with a family in need. And it can be messy.

It’s messy like God’s choice to love us despite our screw-ups is messy.

We certainly don’t love each other with as much grace as God, but we can choose to fill our lives with relationships that teach us about persistent, imperfect, infectious love. God can work with that. In fact, I think it’s the most revolutionary tool God has for healing our communities and our world.

Cheri, Jason and Shameka with some of her children (Photo from Cheri)

“I was hesitant in telling our story…because it’s not about us.  It’s not about what we did for (Shameka) or what we did for Micah.” Cheri concludes. “It’s all about God and what he is doing in her life and in our lives.

“Several people have said to me, ‘You’re such a blessing to Micah and his family.’ But the truth is that blessings go both ways and there has been so much blessing on our end:  The blessing of getting to love on an adorable precious boy, the blessing of getting to see God working and providing second chances through us, and lastly the blessing of having our lives intertwined with Micah’s family and to feel a love for them and from them that we never expected.”

Safe Families is home to some of the most dedicated and passionate staff around, including two full time social workers—Tracy and Lisa. These women are constantly in motion. They dedicate everything they can to the people they serve.

They spend unexpected time baby-sitting when parents don’t show up. They meet with clients at all hours and answer phone calls and texts soliciting parenting advice. They help struggling families find housing and transportation. Most importantly, they hold people accountable in a loving way that challenges but encourages them to improve their situations.

Basically, their job description is ever-expanding. But these women take everything in stride with humor and openness. Lisa and Tracy accurately represent the outstanding quality of the people behind Safe Families.

Listen to their perspectives on Safe Families and how God is involved in their work.

I clutched the phone to my ear waiting for Lorie’s* response to my spontaneous proposition:

“So! I’m writing about Safe Families for Children …I heard that you’re about to take in three kids—wow, that’s a lot! Would you mind if I move in too?”

As the words fell from my mouth, I realized the request was a lot to add to the plate of someone who was already opening their home to three school-aged children for the next eight weeks.

“Just for a few days…no big thing…I’m low maintenance!” I blurted awkwardly, trying to convince her to say yes.

Luckily, I was speaking to the woman I now know to be “super mom.” She laughed at the request and shot back, “Sure! We have room!”

At Home

I approached the Smith’s front door and took in the rather ordinary look of the neighborhood. Their house could fit in on any suburban cul-de-sac in the U.S., from the well-kept grass to the welcome mat under my feet.

Lego project in progress

Lorie invited me into her home with the same openness she expressed over the phone and introduced me to the new extension of her family : three boys, ages six, seven and nine, who will spend the coming weeks with the Smiths as their mom finds a new job. It sounds sort of radical—this working couple with four grown kids opening their home to complete strangers—but it felt nothing short of normal.

I found Michael* and TJ*, the youngest two boys, engrossed in a Lego project strewn about the family room. They murmured a shy hello to me then returned to their work. Their older brother, Anthony*, came inside from an afternoon of playing with the neighborhood boys who embraced their new neighbors without hesitation.

In the kitchen, Lorie and her husband, Matt*, prepared dinner fit for their new guests: macaroni and cheese, chicken, green beans, biscuits, applesauce…basically, a meal to cover ALL the bases. Lorie and Matt’s own kids are now adults. But they obviously know children, and they know what it means to provide a loving, supportive home.

The family dinner table after a meal with boys

Signing On

The Smiths joined Safe Families less than a year ago after hearing about the organization through their church.

“We decided we had a lot to offer,” Matt says. “(We have)—a stable home, a good marriage, plus the extra rooms, now that our kids are gone.”

I asked how their children felt about the idea, and he laughed saying, “When I told her, our youngest daughter responded with three words: ‘It’s about time!’”

Since they started volunteering with Safe Families in January, God has filled their home and their hearts with children. Lorie and Matt both work, so they agreed to take in school-aged kids and they are open to siblings as well. Nine children in total have called the Smith’s house their home through Safe Families.

The Smiths admit that each experience brings unique challenges, but in my time with them, they seemed to have many more sweet memories than sour ones.

Routine

Nightly devotional with the boys

I sat down for dinner with the Smiths and the boys with some trepidation. Michael, the youngest, was already goofing off, and he was (of course) seated next to me. Admittedly, I know little to nothing about parenting…especially when it comes to little boys.

My concerns vanished when Matt and Lorie began gently setting boundaries for Michael: feet under the table, use the spoon please and use an inside voice. These guys are pros.

It was just like any other family dinner. As we ate, Matt and Lorie told the boys that dinner was a good time to share about what we did during the day. We each took a turn talking about our day at work or school while everyone listened attentively.

After dinner, it was homework, baths, pajamas, a phone call to the boys’ mom and a little devotional time. Lorie, Matt, the boys and I sat down together for the beginning of what would become the bedtime ritual for weeks to come.

TJ untangling his fishing line

We read through the first story of an illustrated devotional while the boys sat, rapt in attention to the plot. At the end, we bowed our heads to pray. Matt prayed aloud for the boys and thanked God for bringing them to the Smith home. He then prayed for their mother, asking God that she be able to find a job and bring her boys back home as soon as she can.

His words summed up the interesting dynamic that makes up a Safe Families home. The Smiths are blessed by the presence of Anthony, TJ and Michael, but above all, Matt and Lorie want the boys to return home. In the interlude, they create a safe, steady place for the boys to continue living with a sense of normalcy—going to school, making friends and growing up.

Beneath the Surface

The next morning began at 6:15 a.m. with Fruit Loops, and toothbrushes followed close behind. Then, we packed bags, zipped coats and stood on the corner by 7:15 sharp to wait for the bus. When the goodbye moment arrived, Anthony turned to no one in particular and softly stated, “I need a hug.”

Lorie and Matt surrounded him quickly while, “Me too! Me too!” echoed from TJ and Michael. We all shared hugs and well-wishes then urged the boys onto the bus for their second day at a new school.

That afternoon was a blur of Legos and bike rides that masked the fact that these little guys were far from home. But at the end of playing around, TJ walked up to me, rested his head on my stomach and sighed, “I miss my mom.”

I tried to comfort him with a good hug and reassuring words, but I knew this was going to be a rough couple of months for him and his brothers.

The family fishing outing

Filled Up

It broke my heart to watch these little guys struggle to figure out their new home and new temporary life, and it humbled me to know Matt and Lorie volunteered to shoulder the burden of keeping them—not the burden of cleaning sticky fingers and washing sheets, but the burden of caring for them in this difficult time.

Matt and Lorie know they are only temporary parents to Anthony, TJ and Michael. They certainly love the boys. They practice spelling words, take them fishing, and teach them how to talk to God, but they never will—nor want to—replace the role of their mother who is working hard to bring them home.

They welcomed these boys knowing that they can never “fix” what is going on in their lives. Instead, the Smiths made room in their home and in their hearts to love these boys and to love their mother through a difficult time.

Most importantly, they’ve done so with the same eagerness that Lorie expressed to me on that initial phone call, “We have room!”

And because of that one simple declaration, their hearts are filled.

*Name has been changed

Safe Families for Children is diving into caring for families in communities across the nation, including families like Tabetha and her girls. Tabby wants all the best for her children, but she struggles to parent them since a hit and run accident left her wheelchair-bound. Now, her two youngest daughters are safely at home with Safe Families volunteers while Tabby works to recover (Read more about Tabby’s story here).

In my walk with Safe Families and Tabby, I see that this organization works with a mission more powerful than housing children in crisis—they work to restore community where God’s love and hospitality reigns.

See the journey of Safe Families and Tabby…

Watching someone hand over their children to a stranger is uncomfortable. I know it happens every day in the Safe Families network, but I never imagined witnessing it until I sat across from Tabetha as she prepared to do what no parent should have to do—all because of a regrettable accident.

In January, Tabetha was the victim of a hit and run. The accident nearly killed her. She survived after four months in the hospital, but she lost both of her legs above the knee. That alone is overwhelming, but there’s more: Tabby is raising a five year-old and three year-old twin girls alone.

The Meeting

Tabby’s beautiful twins—Brittany and Breanna

I cautiously took a place at the table in a downtown community center where the meeting had already begun. Tabetha filled out paperwork while her three year-old twins, Brittany and Breanna, ran circles around us all. Safe Families social worker Lisa guided Tabby along as the two Safe Families moms for the twins asked questions about bedtimes, favorite foods and other details that they would need in order to care for Brittany and Breanna over the next few months.

Lisa and the Safe Families moms offered Tabby every reassurance they possibly could. She couldn’t have found more trustworthy hosts for her girls, and a more trustworthy organization to watch out for them.

Regardless, these are her children. I fidgeted nervously as Tabby whispered a quiet but emotional goodbye to her daughters and sadly watched as we buckled them into their car seats and drove them away to their temporary homes.

Eye Opening

A few days later, I visited Tabby. I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I drove through her neighborhood to the chorus of a loud dispute on someone’s front porch, and further down the block I passed a house just in time to watch the police escort someone out in handcuffs. As I turned onto Tabby’s street, I spotted the house by the extensive wooden ramp leading up to her door (compliments of Shepherd Community Center, Indianapolis).

Shepherd Community Center coordinated this ramp leading up to Tabby’s door

Tabby welcomed me into her home where Bethany—Tabby’s bouncy five year-old—greeted me and told me about her day at school. As I looked around the house, I realized that things weren’t all exactly “wheelchair friendly”. Stair steps, high cabinets and all sorts of normal household features suddenly seemed like blaring obstacles.

I settled into a chair in a family room lined with photos as Tabby moved across from me, smoothly maneuvering her wheelchair to face me. After a little catching up, she began sharing more about what she’s been through. It shook me more than I was prepared for.

Her Struggle

Tabby recounted the shock, confusion and pain of the accident in vivid detail. She also explained what it felt like to wake up and realize her legs were gone. The accident altered Tabby’s life in a matter of moments. Most strikingly, it changed her ability to parent.

Her girls are wonderful, but they’re still young. Tabby painfully recounted the story of one of her daughters running out of the house and into a busy road in a matter of seconds, and she couldn’t run after her. She expressed frustration that when her little twins acted up, they only had to run up the stairs to avoid discipline.

Women from Grace Community Church lending a hand in Tabby’s home

To make matters worse, Tabby’s girls contracted head lice. I can say with firsthand knowledge that these little buggers are tough to kick, and Tabby already struggled with the normal day-to-day responsibilities of parenting. The situation wasn’t working.

Help

Then, Tabby did perhaps the bravest thing she could have for her girls: she sent them to be with  a Safe Family.

Tabby decided to place her two young twins with Safe Families until she sorts some things out at home and in her own life. Even though she sees her girls often, it’s hard to be without them. “You get that feeling of emptiness for a while, you’re just like, why can’t I keep this together?” she told me through tears.

Her frustration washed over me until there tears wet my cheeks as well. Tabby struggles to pull her own life back together, but her priority is making sure that her girls thrive.

Brittany patiently sitting through lice treatment

I asked where her strength comes from, and she instantly told me, “My kids. I want them to know no matter what that I love them.” When Tabby learned about Safe Families, they told her “…they would help me get through this. That’s all I’m praying for now—gettin’ through one more step, to the next step.” And Safe Families walks beside her in more ways than expected.

Abounding Support

Brittany and Breanna live in wonderful, caring homes right now, and they’re lice free! Safe Families staff took it upon themselves to help with hair treatments of the twins and their sister Bethany who is still at home. I will fondly hold the image of Safe Families staff tirelessly “nit-picking” these squirmy little girls in my mind forever. That’s love.

Safe Families also dispatched a “GO Group” from Grace Community church to help clean up around Tabby’s house. I joined these eager women along with Krista and Lisa from Safe Families as they tackled every surface with sponges and bleach, eager to lend a hand.

Above all of the tangible, physical help that Safe Families is lending Tabby, they walk beside her emotionally. Tabby joined the Safe Families network the same week as the organization’s annual benefit. In (divinely inspired) coincidence, the speaker for the event was Josh Bleill—a young man who lost both of his legs in the war in Iraq.

Safe Families staff quickly invited Tabby to the event where she not only saw Josh speak, but she sat down and spoke with him about the pains and frustrations of learning to use prosthetic legs—something that Tabby had given up on at the time.

Tabetha and her family member watching Josh speak at the Safe Families benefit

Josh’s encouragement was invaluable. Tabby confidently told me that she would keep trying the prosthetics and that merely seeing Josh walk around restored her hope. “I’ll walk again,” she said, “and my kids will be excited to see it.”

Moving Forward

Tabby’s strength is humbling. This open, unassuming woman radiates determination. I would find her situation crushing if not for the help that she has around her. Tabby has a long road ahead, but I am at ease knowing that she is well supported—more like dearly loved—by so many people who are surrounding her.

This support reaches into complicated places of need that require more than prescriptive fixes. Yes, she obviously needs a ramp to get into her house, and she needs help cleaning, but she also wants to feel at home in her own skin again and be at peace with the loss of her legs. More than anything, Tabby wants to be a good mother to her children.

Safe Families and her other supporters can’t do these things, but they can clear Tabby’s path of obstacles. Now, she is free to heal and move forward with the strength that is already inside of her.

I liked everything that I heard about Safe Families before I experienced the ministry first hand. It’s an organization committed to caring for children and families in crisis—needless to say, they’ve generated pretty positive word of mouth.

Before my first visit, people described the ministry to me as incredible, unstoppable, innovative, and all-around awesome, which was why I was a little surprised when I wandered into the office for my first meeting with Krista Davis, the director. The headquarters of this “incredible” ministry seemed pretty…well, regular.

Seemingly Ordinary

I made my way past a friendly receptionist into a space with quiet, plain rows of cubicles where Krista approached me with a warm smile. Everything about Krista was calm, together, and kind.  She led me into a conference room to discuss Safe Families a little.

We sat across from one another under pretty standard office conditions—rolling chairs , conference table, bookshelves, etc. It was all so tranquil…not really what I’d imagined. I’m not saying I was expecting the Law & Order theme song to be playing…but kind of. Wasn’t this supposed to be a cutting edge, high impact ministry, fighting injustice one child at a time?

Krista Davis, local Safe Families director.

After basic introductions, Krista began explaining how Safe Families works, and within five minutes, I realized that this ministry wasn’t “incredible” and “unstoppable”—it was much more.

The Need

Krista may have begun the Indiana chapter of this growing organization, but she doesn’t take credit for the design behind it—that one belongs to God. Safe Families is simply orchestrating a system in which people can act as a community. It’s just a matter of matching a need with people who are ready to meet it.

The need is big: safe places for children when their families can’t care for them. In my mind, I thought that foster care had this covered, but it turns out that our system has a gap between keeping an eye on children in nurturing environments and caring for children who need legal intervention on their behalf.

I was shocked to learn who falls into this unfortunate gap. We are surrounded by people who are raising children without support—single parents, people without extended family, some people who haven’t connected with anyone that they can trust to take care of their children when a situation arises.

Children like this little guy are in need of a safe place to stay while his mom gets back on her feet.

What happens when you’re a parent without a support network? Krista explained that something as simple as checking into the hospital to get a necessary surgery becomes impossible. Getting evicted from your home puts not only you but your children on the streets. Overcoming an addiction becomes especially difficult as you try to cope and parent simultaneously.

In these situations, children enter into the care of the state. Well, they did before Safe Families arrived.

Jumping In

Last week, I decided to “ease” my way into the Safe Families world by sitting down at their weekly staff meeting with the fulltime staff at the core of the organization. We began with a serious moment of prayer for the work ahead—a prayer that included things like, “Lord, we know sometimes you have to break us to bless us.” What was I stepping into?

Immediately following prayer, we got to work. Each staff member brought forth what was on her plate at the moment—children in placement, children who need placement, moms struggling to get back on their feet, volunteers who are looking to help…

As we jumped from case to case, I was distressed. I listened to the story of woman who is wheelchair bound after being hit by a car, and now she needs someone to take care of her young children while she recovers. I listened to the story of a woman who has entered back into an abusive relationship that the staff of Safe Families is trying to pull her out of. We discussed case after case of heartbreaking situations, all taking place within miles of that meeting.

Safe Families employee Diane.

Meeting the Need

It was a lot to take in, but I was in awe of the women around me. Not only do these ladies know the ins and outs of their clients and their needs, but they know exactly who can help. They brought up volunteer after volunteer from memory and discussed who would be the best fit…oh, and this was out of a database of over 160 volunteer families.

That’s right. 160 local families are opening their homes to children. Beyond that, there are countless volunteers who offer rides and other services to families hosting children and to the families in crisis.

But the volunteer families don’t just take in children, they become invested supporters of the family in crisis. Even after a child is returned to his or her biological family, the volunteer host family maintains a relationship with them.

Safe Families volunteers reviewing cases together.

So this is what people mean by ‘innovative’ and ‘incredible’, but those labels aren’t exactly fitting for what’s going on here. To put it in the words of Krista, the model of Safe Families “just makes sense!”

Community in Action

Now I understand the hype. Safe Families is more than an organization—it is a functional community. The staff has created a network where people can step up to serve one another. They are invited to truly be neighbors to one another, to offer support when it’s needed most.

Honestly, the proposition is a little daunting. Making a conscious decision to embrace need in our own backyards can be exhausting—just ask anyone who has been involved in placing 649 children through Safe Families in only three years of business.

Safe Families social worker, Lisa, waiting with two little girls as they prepare to head home with their new temporary families.

But it’s certainly right.

Krista explains it as mercy we are all carrying, “…a mercy that needs to be poured out, and when you do, it fills you.”

These are the people I’m excited to meet. We are surrounded by people who are full, people who have embraced caring for children and caring for families as an extension of their own families. Their actions are not heroic, not far removed from anything that we’re capable of—they’re just doing what makes sense.

From what I’m learning, what makes sense is revolutionizing how we live in community with one another.

This past week I have been working on a small side project for Elanco, an Indianapolis-based animal health company with a strong focus on ending global hunger.  For the project, I spent time interviewing several families and individuals connected with Shepherd Community Center, one of World Next Door’s partner ministries.

Each story I heard gave such a unique perspective on hunger, poverty and the incredible work of Shepherd that I had no choice but to share them here.

You’ll find the other stories here.  I encourage you to read them all.  Who knows?  Maybe they’ll change your perspective as much as they did mine…

———

Homelessness is a difficult issue to deal with.  It’s messy.  It’s complicated.  It’s hard.

I got a taste of just how complicated it is when I lived homeless for four days in Manhattan six months ago.  The frustration, the uncertainty, the shame… After only a few days on the streets I had a newfound understanding of what can come from living without a home.

That’s why I am always amazed to find homeless and formerly homeless people who exude strength, love and joy.  Frankly, they don’t make sense. 

Fredrick (“Freddy”) Crawford is no exception.  I sat down with him a few days ago at Shepherd Community Center to hear his story and I am still baffled at his uplifting and joyful attitude…

Welcoming a Stranger

I met with Freddy in Shepherd’s food pantry.  We sat in a couple of metal folding chairs while he told me where life has taken him up to this point.

Freddy, an amazingly joyful man.

One of the first things that struck me about Freddy was how intentional he was in simply being there.  I knew he had other things to do, but Freddy was with me 100% and never turned his attention away.  He answered my questions and told me his story in a way that simply made me feel respected.

As I spoke with Freddy, I was surprised at how quickly I felt at home.  His kind eyes and warm smile made me feel welcome, even though he had no idea who I was.

It would have been easy to write all of this off as the byproduct of speaking to a genuinely nice person.  But the more I heard Freddy’s story, the more amazed I grew that he is warm and kind at all.

Freddy has every right to be bitter.  Nobody would blame him for being cold.  After the things he’s gone through, it would come as no surprise if Freddy was a distant and angry man.

But he’s not. 

Freddy is loving.  He’s kind.  And, as you’ll see in a moment, unbelievably selfless.

His is a story of transformation that can only be found through the power of the kingdom of God…

The Spiral

Freddy, 46 years old, is originally from New York City.  At the age of 25, he found himself living on the streets.  I’ve written about homelessness in NYC before, so I won’t go into too many details about what it is like.

The streets of The Bronx, where Freddy lived for many years.

I’ll simply say that homelessness often becomes a downward spiral for people caught in the middle of it – a long series of events, decisions and circumstances that lead farther and farther into desperation.

Freddy’s life on the streets followed that pattern exactly.

Although he was able to move around from New York to Chicago to Indianapolis, his situation got steadily worse each year.  Freddy moved in and out of countless homeless shelters, but more often than not chose to sleep on the streets.  Discomfort, he decided, was far better than the theft, violence and rape that often took place in the shelters.

Depression and anxiety came to dominate his emotions.  Eventually, Freddy became hopelessly addicted to cocaine.

“It took me to places I wasn’t expecting to go,” he said. 

Altogether, Freddy was homeless for 20 years. 

A New Life

But then, in May of this year, Freddy finally decided to put his past behind him.  After spending a very cold winter sleeping under a highway overpass, he decided to give up his “freedom” for the sake of a better life. 

Homelessness often takes a deep emotional toll.

He got plugged in with Horizon House, a homeless empowerment organization on the near east side of Indianapolis.  They got him cleaned up, linked in with a case manager and connected to Shepherd Community Center.

Today, Freddy spends his days volunteering in Shepherd’s food pantry.  Horizon covers the rent for his small, one-bedroom apartment, and Shepherd provides him with food.

Although he doesn’t get paid for his work, Freddy often puts in more than 40 hours a week at Shepherd.  Sorting donations, doing intake work, interacting with volunteers…  Freddy is an integral part of the food pantry, and one of the reasons Shepherd is able to help so many people.

Freddy hopes to be hired one day by Shepherd, but not just because he wants to be financially self-sufficient.  Freddy loves Shepherd Community Center.  In his words, “This is my sanctuary.” 

Jumped

Listening to Freddy as he spoke, I could tell that he is a changed man.  He exudes joy and confidence.  Even after a lifetime of struggle, he has a smile on his face.

This came as even more of a surprise when I heard what had happened to him just one month ago.

Today, Freddy has purpose, a life and a caring community around him.

At the end of September, Freddy was jumped by a group of thugs as he walked down the street one evening.  Despite the fact that he didn’t have anything of value on him, they beat him up, breaking his jaw in the process.

Wishard Hospital did what they could to fix him up, but Freddy still suffers daily pain, especially when he tries to chew solid food.

And yet, he is still a remarkably joyful man.  He spends his days tirelessly sorting cans of corn and boxes of cereal, doing his part to help vulnerable families in his new neighborhood.

Transformed

Freddy’s story speaks volumes about the power of a transformed life.  But it also reminds me of the importance of organizations like Shepherd.  Their staff welcomed Freddy in, despite the difficulties of his past. 

To Shepherd, grace is more than simply a buzzword.  It’s the foundation of their ministry.  This is why they are so effective.  They care for those who have been forgotten and abandoned by the rest of us…

Thank you, Freddy, for showing me the true meaning of transformation.  And thank you, Shepherd, for opening your arms wide.

It is stories like these that show me just how powerful the kingdom of God can really be…

This past week I have been working on a small side project for Elanco, an Indianapolis-based animal health company with a strong focus on ending global hunger. For the project, I spent time interviewing several families and individuals connected with Shepherd Community Center, one of World Next Door’s partner ministries.

Each story I heard gave such a unique perspective on hunger, poverty and the incredible work of Shepherd that I had no choice but to share them here.

You’ll find the other stories here. I encourage you to read them all. Who knows? Maybe they’ll change your perspective as much as they did mine…

———-

 I’ve written about the plight of immigrants in American before (this article, for example).  Every year, thousands upon thousands of people flood into the U.S. looking to escape the poverty of their home countries.  They follow the dreams of a better life promised to them by American TV, movies and advertisements. 

But that dream quite often becomes a nightmare. 

Vast unemployment, deep poverty and a lack of healthcare lead many immigrant families to a day-by-day existence.  With a seemingly endless supply of cheap manual labor in our country, immigrant workers often live on the edge of a knife, knowing that even a single broken bone can lead to financial ruin.

The other day I met with one of these families.  Gabriela, whose name I changed for the sake of anonymity, sat down with me in her dilapidated old house to talk about what she goes through day by day.

Gabriela

Gabriela is not fluent in English.  As we spoke, she often drifted into Spanish, especially when she wanted to make an emphatic point.  Thankfully, I am able to understand a whole lot more Spanish than I can speak.  Somehow we made it work.

Gabriela’s house. An old and crumbling building.

Gabriela has six children from two marriages.  Her three oldest children are grown and currently live in Guadalajara, Mexico.  Her youngest three, still in elementary school, were born in the U.S. 

Her husband is a roofer.  For a while, this meant that he had a steady job.  Although the hours were long, the work was backbreaking and the pay was meager, her husband could make a living. 

Then the housing market collapsed.  Construction firms went bankrupt.  Suddenly, there were a lot of roofers looking for only a handful of jobs.

Today, he has a very hard time finding work.  And now, as winter approaches, Gabriela’s family must face a very uncertain future.

But a lack of work is not the only problem that comes along with winter…

The Luxury of Heat

When the weather gets cold outside, things become very difficult for Gabriela and her family.

Gabriela can’t afford much furniture. Most of the space in her house is empty.

After moving in to their current home, they quickly learned that heat in the winter was a luxury. They still use gas to heat their water and to cook, but keeping the gas on to heat their old, drafty house made their utility bills simply too expensive.

So, with no other option, they use small space heaters to stay warm.

Although it was only the beginning of autumn when I visited, I had to keep my jacket on inside.  I couldn’t imagine how cold it would get in the winter.

For My Kids

But despite the discomfort and hunger she herself faces, Gabriela has something much more important on her mind.  As we spoke, she told me over and over about her primary focus in life.  “I’m here for my kids.”

Like many immigrant parents, Gabriela has decided to forgo her own comfort, health and dreams of prosperity to ensure that her children have a chance to lift themselves out of poverty.

The near east side of Indianapolis is home to thousands of immigrant families eking out an existence on very little pay.

Because they are American citizens, her children are eligible for Medicaid and food stamps.  Gabriela, however, is not.

Whenever she gets her family’s monthly allotment of food stamps, Gabriela is able to feed her children well.  When I visited (at the beginning of the month), there was a nice chicken dinner simmering on the stove. 

But it is not always like that. When it gets to be the end of the month, and when the food stamps run out, Gabriela struggles to get food on the table.

Loving Community

Thankfully, Gabriela’s children don’t have to go hungry.  Right across the street from their home is Shepherd Community Center… a place of hope in a hopeless part of town.

Shepherd touches Gabriela’s family in a multitude of ways.  Her children have been able to develop a love of learning through Shepherd’s after-school program.  Her family has made it through the difficult months with food from Shepherd’s food pantry.  Each summer, her children get to enjoy Shepherd’s exciting summer camps.

On top of that, Shepherd Community Church is able to support Gabriela with a loving and supportive community.

“What would you do if Shepherd wasn’t here?” I asked.

She thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t know.  I don’t know what we would do without Shepherd…”

——-

Dinner on Gabriela’s stove. For now, at least, they have food on the table.

Gabriela’s story is not unique.  In fact, there are millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who struggle with deep and cyclical poverty. 

That is why the work of Shepherd is so important.  Giving hope to hopeless people, giving a decent education to children at risk of illiteracy, caring for basic human needs such as hunger and medical care…

When I think about what Shepherd has done and will do for my city of Indianapolis, I can’t help but echo Gabriela’s sentiments exactly:

“I don’t know what we would do without Shepherd…”