When Connection Becomes Community
"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Recently, a volunteer called to let us know that she had not
What Makes Holistic Family Preservation Different?
At Alongside Families, we talk a lot about family preservation. But what does that actually mean? At its simplest, family preservation means helping biological families stay safely together. It means
Seek First to Understand (Our Core Value of grace)
Let's look at another of our core values - GRACE: We suspend judgment and seek to understand.Grace shapes how we respond when:A family we serve or a volunteer communicates with a sense of urgency, eve
Good News: Everything Does NOT Depend on Us (Our Core Value of being gospel-centered)
Our first core value as an organization is that we are gospel-centered.The word gospel means “good news”, and it is a crucial distinction for anyone seeking to understand what makes Christianity diffe
Five Mindset Shifts That Will Change How You Serve Parents in Crisis
Serving isolated families is not only about meeting needs. It is also about how we meet those needs. Parents we serve often feel overwhelmed, judged, afraid, embarrassed, exhausted, or alone during so
None of us are immune
Last week I had the privilege of meeting with a church for a second conversation about partnership. During our time together, they shared an unbelievable story of a family they have been walking along
"Lord, give us wisdom..."
At a recent staff meeting, our Volunteer & Donor Engagement Coordinator, Heather, prayed a simple prayer that caused me to stop and write it down in my notes."Lord, give us wisdom to know what to comm
5 Mindset Shifts that Will Change How You Serve Kids in Crisis
When a child is walking through a hard season, the way we engage with them matters deeply. Children in crisis may be carrying fear, grief, confusion, loyalty, anxiety, or stress that they do not yet h
Faithfulness > Fruit
One of our incredible volunteers, Emily Louis from Uptown Church, recently had the opportunity to share on the monthly Upstream call, a gathering of family preservation organizations from across the c
3 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Community This Month
Three Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Community This MonthLately, I've been thinking a lot about community.Recently, someone in my family walked through a terrifying and difficult season. As we navigat
A Holy Perspective
One small practice the Lord has been teaching me lately has been surprisingly impactful.As many of you know, there are no shortage of decisions to make at Alongside Families. Some are strategic, some
Core Value: DIGNITY
Dignity. It’s one of the core values we hold close at Alongside Families: We empower and do-with rather than compel and do-for.For an isolated family in crisis, dignity can feel out of reach. Parents
Trusting the Hands of the Sculptor
Michelangelo’s statue of David was carved from a twelve-ton block of marble that many artists at the time considered unusable. In fact, the stone sat abandoned for forty years before Michelangelo ever
When a Parent Exhales
We may not be able to eliminate hardship,but we can eliminate isolation.There’s a moment that happens more often than we can count. It’s usually not loud. Not dramatic. Not something that would ever m
5 Reasons Christ Followers Must Also Focus on Prevention
When most people think about helping vulnerable children, they think about foster care. And to be clear, foster care matters. We need families who are willing to step in when children have been remove
Changing the Trajectory
Opportunity. That’s the word that comes to mind as I consider the enormous need in Greater Charlotte to proactively care for vulnerable families. It isn’t so much that the Church should engage in fami
5 Easy Ways You Can Bless a Lonely Parent
Whether in our own neighborhoods or through Alongside Families, most of us know a parent who feels alone.After years of walking alongside families in crisis, I’ve learned something deeply hopeful: the