Reflecting on the past year, Sacred Sector Program Manager Virginia Creasy shares the stories of two faith-based organizations that participated in the Sacred Sector learning community, and how those organizations are making an impact in their communities.

Brigid’s Path, a newborn recovery center in Dayton, Ohio, improves the health of newborn babies and mothers impacted by addiction. By accessing a wide range of community services with the assistance of family advocates, Brigid’s Path strengthens families during their bonding journey. In this interview with Brigid Path’s Executive Director, Jill Kingston, Sacred Sector Director Chelsea Langston Bombino gets more insight on how the organization is fulfilling its mission.

Those who work in advocacy and lobby efforts are often viewed as ruthless and amoral.  However, faith-based organizations (FBOs) who include advocacy and lobbying as a part of their mission or values provide a double blessing. Their efforts in these areas help to assure their longevity but also provide valuable avenues for their stakeholders to embrace civic engagement as followers of Jesus Christ. Tricia Bosma, 2019 Sacred Sector Fellow, highlights The Office of Social Justice in the Christian Reformed Church of North America, and the ways these faith-based organizations promote political discipleship through their Climate Witness Project.

Seven Baskets, a faith-based nonprofit focused on community development in Columbus, Ohio, collaborates with the public sector to transform the lives of Ohio’s urban residents. Providing tutoring, extracurricular programs, meals, discipleship, and workforce development, this faith-based organization exemplifies the meaning of community renewal through its collaboration with other faith-based organizations, as well as through creative government partnerships. In this interview with Seven Baskets CEO JeffMansel, Sacred Sector Director Chelsea Langston Bombino identifies the ways Seven Baskets has uniquely partnered with the government to help nourish the Columbus, Ohio residents it serves.

This article will discuss organizational best practices for Michigan churches and faith-based organizations (FBOs) that receive, or are considering receiving, government grants or contracts. It emphasizes how an organization can maintain its faith-based mission and identity even if the organization is considering partnering with government. This resource will help an FBO consider guidelines for accepting government and private funds in a way that aligns with its sacred mission.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (February 27, 2019) – Earlier this month, dozens of faith-based organizational and church leaders in Grand Rapids and the greater Western Michigan region launched a new learning community called Sacred Sector Western Michigan. Sacred Sector is an initiative of the Center for Public Justice, a Christian civic education and public policy organization. The learning community will be run in partnership with the Urban Church Leadership Center located at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.