north america: loving your neighbours
As a student, Joe George participated in an InterVarsity group (part of the IFES student movement in the USA) and was challenged by what he learnt in the Bible studies about loving his neighbours – all his neighbours. His college was located in the well-to-do community of Claremont, California, but Pomona, a city nearby, is one of the poorest cities, per capita, in the US.
After graduation, Joe began his career as an English teacher and started attending church in Pomona, where he met others who were concerned about the needs of that city. Frustration at the conditions in his neighbourhood would not let him rest. Joe pulled together a team to create a faith-based organization aimed at community transformation. 'We knew that Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel could take things that had remained the same for a long time and change them for the better,' he said.
In order to help parents who were concerned about a lack of educational support for their children, they also created Pomona Hope Kids, an after-school program that meets three afternoons a week in the First Presbyterian Church building. So far, they have made room for about 30 kids who come for tutoring by college students and adults.
Joe grew up in a homogenous neighbourhood. It was not until he was a college student in the InterVarsity student group that he was faced with issues of social justice and the biblical challenge to love people cross-culturally. Now he is using what he has learnt to change a whole community.
Published: Tuesday 01 April 2008
Region: north america
Country: united states of america
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