The Church as a Front Door to Hope

Faith can play an important role in fostering hope in communities. In addition to community partnerships, faith-based groups also have opportunities to express hope within this framework.

It begs the question: What can it look like when the church and state partner with one another, especially in the nonprofit sector?

Ben O'Dell of the HHS Center for Faith led a faith-based discussion during the Restore Hope Annual Conference, asking essential questions to faith leaders about the church's role in serving those who need it most.

"Bravery says we have to honor that there are different types of groups and different strengths, and different weaknesses. So what does that look like for the work that you're doing for facilitating that respect, both for government and also for faith communities?"

Joining O'Dell was Greg Baker of the Church Ambassador Network. He discussed the ideas about how uniting prevention efforts with government and the church leads to welfare reduction, boosting education, and better outcomes for correction systems.

"With government, and with the church of Jesus Christ, we can cut those numbers again and again in the welfare space. And you all know that's gonna impact our education scores. That's gonna impact our corrections system. It is amazing how much that fuels."

Baker also added that although the church and state carry separate roles, they share a collective impact. Understanding their roles and fostering partnership leads to community transformation, healing, and reconciliation.

Speaking alongside Baker and O'Dell was Morgan Warbington, director of the Arkansas Governor's Faith-Based Initiatives. Working closely with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other members of state leadership, Warbington witnesses firsthand how the partnership between faith and state organizations can strengthen efforts across Arkansas communities.

"We simply want you to come to the table because we as a state recognize that you are doing and serving people way better than the state can or ever will."

She emphasized the importance of taking initiative and stepping in to support those in need rather than waiting for partnerships from the state.

"Don't wait on the state to come and ask you to partner. Come to us," Warbington said. "We can either get out of your way, we can cut red tape, or we can get in the trenches with you and fight those battles alongside of you."

Warbington also clarified the overall meaning of "separation of church and state," which she knows has been a common point brought up to her and other governmental figures.

"It just simply means that as the government, we cannot tell you which religion or what religious organization you have to be a part of. And here in America, we are so blessed to have religious liberty and religious freedom."

This discussion reminds people that the door is open at the federal leveland at the state level. It is now up to faith leaders to come through that door and fully give themselves to their communities.

O'Dell, Baker, and Warbington are encouraging people to put aside their fears of working with the government and become active participants in conversations about healing and strengthening the community around them.