'Seek Social Justice': DVD Equips Small Groups to Meet Big Needs
Contact: Ken McIntyre, The Heritage Foundation, 202-608-6147, ken.mcintyre@heritage.org
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- A woman in her 30s, mired in drug addiction and prostitution, is pregnant and alone. A middle-aged alcoholic lost his job, his wife, his home. A once-hardened convict struggles to find a job after release from prison.
What's really going on here? These problems are complex. Passion alone won't solve them. Those who desire to make a difference must have effective strategies for overcoming human need.
This is the challenge addressed in Seek Social Justice: Transforming Lives in Need, a six-lesson DVD and study guide for small groups developed by The Heritage Foundation, the leading Washington think tank.
Seek Social Justice--viewable online at www.seeksocialjustice.com -- is targeted at the generation of emerging adults. Many want to get to the roots of the social breakdown and need they see in their neighborhoods, workplaces and schools. They want to know how they, their churches or small groups can ease suffering.
In a time of government bailouts, "stimulus" spending and expanding welfare programs, Seek Social Justice reveals that poverty can't be solved by throwing billions more dollars at it.
"Poverty is much more than financial need; at its core, it's about brokenness in the foundational relationships of life," says Ryan Messmore, Heritage's William E. Simon fellow in religion and civil society, who traveled to churches across America to witness ministries that put Christian faith into action.
"Seek Social Justice challenges assumptions about where to turn to truly transform lives in need," adds Messmore, lead writer of the study guide. "It investigates how to prevent and overcome the kind of problems we see right here in America."
The 64-page study guide is designed to complement six lessons on video. Each lesson digs into roles and responsibilities of family, church, business, government and individuals in promoting social justice by profiling real-world examples.
Chuck Colson, Albert Mohler Jr., Marvin Olasky, Star Parker and Robert L. Woodson Sr. are among church and community leaders who provide insights. Heritage's partners in the project are Compass Cinema and WORLD Magazine, where Olasky is editor-in-chief.
Featured ministries and organizations include: J.V. Morsch Center for Social Justice, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, Tenn.; H.I.S. BridgeBuilders, Dallas, Texas; First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Fla.; Men of Valor, Nashville, Tenn.; and the Orange County (Calif.) Human Trafficking Task Force.
"Seeking social justice starts with each of us, but it's an undertaking that requires more than one person, or even one large organization. It takes families, churches, non-profit groups, businesses and government--all playing their distinct roles--to make progress on complex problems," says Jennifer A. Marshall, director of Heritage's Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, who oversaw and contributed to the one-of-a-kind project.
Visitors to seeksocialjustice.com may see and download the videos and study guide as well as order the DVD and guide for the cost of shipping and handling.
Note: To arrange an interview with Jennifer Marshall or Ryan Messmore, call Ken McIntyre at (202) 608-6147 or e-mail ken.mcintyre@heritage.org. For radio or TV, call Matthew Streit at (202) 675-1761 or e-mail matthew.streit@heritage.org. Visit heritage.org and click on Family and Religion to see related research.
