top of page
The poor are poor largely because they live in networks of relationships that do not work for their well-being. Their relationships are often oppressive and disempowering as a result of the non-poor "playing god" in the lives of the poor.
--Bryant L. Myers, Walking with the Poor
Search
Jack H. Bender
Sep 19, 20193 min read
Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence (Part 2)
This is the second part of a two-part series on Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence. Be sure to read Part One from last week....
Jack H. Bender
Sep 19, 20193 min read
Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence
This is the first of a two-part series about Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence. Over 10 million Americans experience domestic...
Jack H. Bender
Sep 5, 20192 min read
The Amazing Sidewalk
I’ve always had an interest in home design and have enjoyed reading about what others consider to be the best roof design or where the...
Jack H. Bender
Aug 29, 20193 min read
NOLA - No One Lives Alone
A favorite story in Margaret Wheatley’s Turning to One Another is what happened after friends began discussing the needs of children in a...
Jack H. Bender
Aug 15, 20193 min read
Where Faith and Justice Meet
I believe there is a disconnect between Christians and the poor. Most Christians, including me, don’t act like Jesus who spent his...
Jack H. Bender
Aug 9, 20192 min read
Four Quarters Giving Circle
Like the young boy who plugs the leak in the dyke with his thumb, we know of situations where even one person can make a big difference...
Jack H. Bender
Aug 1, 20193 min read
Benevolence is not Justice
I often learn from reader feedback. Friend Pat shared with me the four-word title of today’s blog. It’s a very good mantra for those of...
Jack H. Bender
Jul 25, 20193 min read
70x7 Life Recovery
You’re homeless. You’re jobless. You’re getting out of jail or prison. Who can help? I reached out to Marybeth Apple Sims, Donor...
Jack H. Bender
Jul 4, 20192 min read
Building More Houses Faster
Building More Houses Faster At Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity’s annual luncheon, Executive Director Don Wilkinson remarked that Habitat...
Jack H. Bender
Jun 19, 20192 min read
Where did you sleep last night?
In talking with professionals about local homelessness, they remind us that if we don’t see homeless people, it doesn’t follow that there...
Jack H. Bender
Jun 12, 20193 min read
Connecting with Neighbors
All of us know the value of family, friends and neighbors. We develop friendships in many ways. Becoming good neighbors to each other may...
Jack H. Bender
Jun 6, 20193 min read
Jay Van Groningen, Part 2
Jay Van Groningen is a Holland resident who walks the talk and has a great deal of experience in community building and helping others...
Jack H. Bender
May 30, 20193 min read
Jay Van Groningen, Part 1
We don’t have to start from scratch when we commit to social justice work. Others have been on the path already. Their education and...
Jack H. Bender
May 16, 20193 min read
Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity
Recently I attended the upbeat Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity annual luncheon held at Holland’s DoubleTree’s Conference Center. LHH is...
Jack H. Bender
May 10, 20192 min read
Refresh
The First United Methodist Church of Holland, in partnership with Community Action House, hosts Refresh, a program of “Hygiene and Hope.”...
Jack H. Bender
Apr 30, 20192 min read
Bed Ministry
Once a person becomes sensitive to those who struggle under the stress of poverty, that person sees and hears about poverty everywhere,...
Jack H. Bender
Apr 25, 20192 min read
Panhandling 101
In the past, I’ve read advice on how to respond to panhandlers, but I wanted to check what a local expert would say. I called Community...
Jack H. Bender
Apr 17, 20193 min read
The Big Giveaway
On Saturday I attended a 2.5 hour presentation on connecting faith and justice. This is the third time I’ve heard Jack Jezreel speak. He...
Jack H. Bender
Apr 11, 20193 min read
Hi. I'm Laura
Some of us are making a significant shift in our understanding of poverty and of those experiencing its challenges. This, from a reader...
Jack H. Bender
Apr 4, 20192 min read
Pray. Feed. Repeat.
I like something Pope Francis has said—You pray for the hungry, then you feed them, that is how prayer works. Said another way, think...
bottom of page