The Local Church: Unlocking Hidden Community Assets

What is the biggest or most valuable resource in your community?

Many agencies and organizations may come to mind, but according to Jeff Piker, people are more valuable assets than agencies. One of the largest gatherings of people can be found in churches.

Furthermore, Piker says every local church has a core desire to help people. It is an essential characteristic of their faith.

He encouraged communities to engage the local church as a valuable resource. "Find a way to get those people involved," he told the crowd.

Piker said that although many churches want to help, they simply don't know how.

He recounted a recent situation where a local pastor and a plumber from the church stepped up to prevent a family crisis. During an investigation, a child welfare worker reached out to Piker’s church with an urgent concern: a mother, doing her best to provide for her children, was facing the possibility of having them removed from her home because they lacked running water. The situation was dire—without access to running water, the children’s safety and well-being were at risk, and child services would have no choice but to intervene.

Piker contacted a local pastor to see if anyone in the church could assist. As it turned out, there was a plumber in the congregation who was more than willing to help. This church member visited the family’s home, repaired the water system, installed a new water heater, and ensured the family had functional plumbing. As a result, the children were able to stay with their mother, avoiding the trauma of foster care.

For the church, this was a major victory. The plumber’s willingness to step up not only made a huge difference in the lives of the family but also gave the congregation a sense of pride and purpose. Piker emphasized that the church was able to help because they had the right people in place—people with skills, compassion, and a desire to serve.

Piker said whether it’s plumbing, carpentry, or car maintenance, congregations are rich in resources, but many churches don’t realize how much of an impact they can have. By reaching out and asking for help, organizations and individuals can activate this hidden potential, creating meaningful partnerships that change lives.

Piker concluded this example by saying that the plumber and his team felt empowered and energized by the opportunity to help. They even told Piker to call them again if another family needed assistance. It’s a simple but powerful reminder that when churches engage their members in community service, it’s not just the people being helped who benefit—it’s the church itself, which grows stronger and more connected in the process.

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