WRITTEN BY: JOY FLORES

I’ll never forget where I was sitting when I heard those words. It was one of those moments that will forever be etched on the inside of my soul.

My brother had been in and out of halfway houses, treatment centers, and 5150 holds (involuntary psychiatric hospitalization due to a mental health crisis) for 12 long years, battling the complexities of mental illness and a life lived on the streets. Our family had called every possible lead and was left with silence. But on that day, we got the blaring news.

“We found Terry.”

His body was at the Los Angeles morgue. For 3 weeks he had laid there, unidentified. Did you know that this year in the United States, on Skid Row alone, there are 5 people dying every day? Is it mental illness? Drug addiction? Laziness? A choice? I have heard all of these. I don’t have the answer. But I can tell you that my brother came from a family just like mine, and now he’s part of this statistic.

From Sideline Sympathy to Sweat Equity

Terry died in the late 90’s; life was different then. There weren’t 75,518 people experiencing homelessness in LA like there are now, and not many people died on the physical sidewalk. My family tried everything in our power to save him—literally everything—but nothing could reach his troubled soul.

I’ve since spent the last 22 years working in urban ministry, taking a holistic, nontoxic approach to addressing systems of oppression. From foster care intervention to prison ministry, working with marginalized individuals in the sex industry or navigating homelessness, I’ve learned a lot over the past two decades when it comes to reaching the hurting, the lonely, and those on the fringes of society. But still, I’m no expert. This adventure found me through heartache, and I’m simply living out what was birthed through the devastation of that day—with Jesus and therapy, for sure.

Father Greg Boyle says, “Compassion isn't just about feeling the pain of others; it's about bringing them in toward yourself. If we love what God loves, then, in compassion, margins get erased. 'Be compassionate as God is compassionate,' means the dismantling of barriers that exclude.”

In Exodus 3 we see the living God tell Moses through a burning bush, “I have heard the cries of my people and I want you to do something about it.” In Matthew 14, we see Jesus moved deeply with compassion for the crowds who had followed him from the towns out into the countryside, and his response was action.

Like Moses and Jesus, we are called to respond actively to the needs around us. In the face of suffering, they didn't stand idly by; they took intentional steps to bring about change.

Going to the margins doesn’t look like sideline sympathy. It looks like real life, in the dirt, gutsy and gritty action. It means ‘dismantling the barriers that exclude.’

Fear can be one of the biggest barriers that leads to our inaction. We are afraid that if we have skin in the game, somehow the pain and horror of others will influence or transfer to our protected communities and families. We want homelessness, crime, and chaos to stay away from our safe suburbs.

This ‘safe suburbs’ mindset began to develop in the 1950’s and 60’s. People in the US fled the inner cities to newly constructed suburban planned communities and were replaced with the working poor. We still coral and contain most of our government funded social service providers to one space, the heart of the city.

Even in the face of this systemic issue, there's a notable urban revival, evident even in places like Los Angeles. Still, it's essential to view the paralyzing fear associated with maintaining 'safe suburbs' as a limiting belief. We were not plucked from eternity and placed onto this planet to isolate ourselves, but to actively participate in its repair.

When we allow fear to paralyze our minds, it prevents us from moving toward the suffering of others and causes us to withhold empathy. In turn, fear compels us to distance ourselves physically from specific neighborhoods and communities, further removing us from the proximity of those in need and perpetuating marginalization. As we become aware of this dynamic, it's crucial to recognize that our call to repair the world extends beyond self-preservation, urging us to confront the fear that inhibits meaningful action.

For some of us, our hearts are moved with compassion, motivating us to get involved, despite feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem and not knowing where to begin. Others of us may be motivated by guilt, wanting to ‘do something’ to make ourselves feel better or to teach our children the importance of giving back so they don’t become entitled. These are all real motivations, and recognizing them is the first step. Because when we are able to recognize and own both our fears and our motives, we can open ourselves up to a move of God as he pushes us through the birth canal of transition from sideline sympathy to sweat equity.

We were not plucked from eternity and placed onto this planet to isolate ourselves, but to actively participate in its repair.

A Holy Rebellion

It’s time for a holy rebellion.

It's time to confront fear head-on and redefine our relationship with it—choosing instead an audacious (recklessly brave) approach to “loving our neighbors”. We can no longer allow fear to dictate our actions or distance us from the very communities we seek to understand and assist. We must shift from passive concern to active engagement, breaking free from the confines of our comfort zones as we intentionally move ourselves toward the lives of those on the margins, to listen, learn, and truly see the world through their eyes.

Friends, look around to find the suffering in closest proximity to you that breaks your heart. This, in and of itself, is an act of resistance—a holy rebellion against the status quo that perpetuates fear and sideline sympathy. Then, get ready to roll up your sleeves, step into the discomfort, and go.

But first, let’s prepare our hearts to engage in this holy rebellion. Before we take the plunge into meaningful action, let’s consider these three questions:

Do I lead with relationship?
Sustainable life transformation happens through trusting relationships. It’s one thing to meet immediate needs like food, clothing, and shelter. But those are temporary. We need to couple those with long-term development, engagement, and resources. I’m sure there were many times my brother received wonderful hot dogs from well-intending people, but imagine if someone learned his name, knew his story, and consistently showed up to build trust with him. That person might have had the opportunity to guide him to an agency with the resources to address his mental wellness and addiction.
Do I assume I know what someone else needs?
As we start to lead with relationship, we quickly find that equality is not the same as equity (check out our Week 1 blog for more on this topic). The church has a growth opportunity in the way we approach outreach, and it begins with acknowledging our inherent lack of awareness. We can’t just assume that we know what other people need. But through proximity and trusting relationships, we can start to identify real needs and respond with purposeful action.
Can I be consistent?

When it comes to following the example of Jesus, going to the margins isn’t a “one-and-done” deal. It’s a lifestyle. There are remarkable organizations that show up 365 days a year. I work at a rescue mission where we house 800 people each night and serve three home cooked meals every single day. We don’t need food, we need people to come serve in our kitchen and help us cook the food we already have. We need volunteers to teach our life skills or anger management classes, or maybe even lead a Bible study.

If we continue to leave people outside, they become devastated in every way: physically, emotionally, spiritually, educationally, financially. But when we show up consistently with the love of Jesus and partner with local organizations that offer not only immediate relief but also comprehensive services and individual case management, we can assist someone in transitioning from dysregulation and survival mode to a state of safety and wholeness. We take the emphasis off of the hot dog and onto the individual’s holistic needs.

One-and-done acts of compassion are simply not as effective as they could be if they were paired with ongoing relationship and trust. Someone who is tormented by complex childhood trauma needs months of consistent therapy and intervention. Our aim is to guide such individuals toward recovery programs and agencies that are equipped to offer these services. We still provide food and meet immediate needs, but this is done in partnership with deeper solutions that can bring about real systemic change. Consistently showing up and building trust establishes a foundation for this work, enabling individuals to trust the services we can offer when they are ready for change.

Your City Needs You

What injustice do you see in your neighborhood that makes you really mad? Take that righteous anger and do something with it.

As we enter the holiday season, it’s a natural time of year to want to give back. Our churches are doing food or coat drives for those less fortunate and we see organizations asking for donations to help make Christmas special. Yes, participate in these things, but consider taking it a step further.

If we want to be recklessly brave this advent season, we can start by finding a real need and filling it. Then, take the next faithful step and lean into building relationship, trust, and consistency. A truly Audacious Advent won’t be scattered with isolated acts or hand outs; rather, it has the potential to take form and restore the life of another by taking steps towards safety. Isn’t that exactly why Jesus came, after all?

“God has always wanted the vulnerable in society to be cared for. He never intended for them to languish in poverty, abuse, slavery, homelessness, or other types of devastation. When we care for individuals who are trapped in these ways, when we show them love and help them move toward freedom and wholeness, we participate in bringing a little part of God's Kingdom back into alignment with His greater plan. We do justice and God smiles.”

― John M. Perkins

As the advent season draws nearer, it feels like our humanity is on fire, screaming for relief. “Tikkun Olam” is an ancient Hebrew saying that refers to various forms of action intended to repair and improve the world. As restorative justice seekers, we can participate with the living God in bringing restoration to those who are right in our own neighborhoods by taking a stand against toxic charity and leaning into the mystery of the Gospel.

Let’s take a step towards restoring the world, one audacious act at a time.

About the Author

Taking a holistic nontoxic approach to addressing systems of oppression, **Joy Flores** has a deep passion to see these forms of modern-day slavery reversed. With over 22 years of ministry experience and currently serves as Vice President of Ministries at Nashville Rescue Mission, Joy has cultivated her desire to see every man, women, and child not only treated with respect and dignity, but also to tangibly reflect the love of Jesus Christ to a world filled with so much brokenness and pain. She has been married to Augie, the most hardworking dedicated man on planet earth, for the past 17 years, and together they have 4 energetic kids. Joy loves Steelers Football, strong coffee, storytelling, laughing, deep friendships, and all things competitive.

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