October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and Safe Families for Children (SFFC) wants to acknowledge and honor pastors for the vital role they play, which extends far beyond the pulpit, as they are on call 24/7 to provide spiritual and emotional support to their community.
At SFFC, we deeply believe that the Church is not merely an institution or a building, but a gathering of God’s people called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The Church – not Safe Families – has been and always will be His primary means of bringing hope and healing to our world. It is our privilege to serve churches as they live out the Gospel and love their neighbor.
Recently, we had a pastor and his wife share their story of how they became involved with Safe Families.
“It was the summer of 2022, and we were introduced to a passionate group of people who consistently challenged me as a pastor to be a part of the solution to the family crisis in our nation. Their mantra was a faith that was fueled by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion. To be honest, it took me some time to understand their ministry model. However, I couldn’t shake the fact that what they were describing to me looked like Jesus.
I am drawn to a sheltered, predictable, and convenient Christianity, and Safe Families for Children could offer me none of that. Yet, I knew that to follow Jesus was to walk down this road toward the unknown. It has been messy, unpredictable, and definitely not convenient, but totally worth it. Safe Families for Children offers hope through community, friendship, support, and love. It is what Jesus did and continues to do through the church family in an organized way, as we come alongside a family in crisis, working together to help them move toward the goal of being a healthy and whole family again. Kids need a healthy and whole family to thrive. Safe Families takes a family who is alone and facing crisis and surrounds them with a Circle of Support that supports each other and works towards getting the family healthy, whole, and together again.
Our volunteers are sometimes tired, sometimes challenged, and sometimes confused about what to do next, but that’s what happens when you choose to love people in the midst of their messy lives. We are new to this adventure and still learning and growing together. What I see is not just another church program, but I am watching my team love those that Jesus called ‘poor in spirit.’ What’s interesting is that as we minister to the poor in spirit, it’s as if they become our teachers. Jesus teaches us how to love as He loves – one person at a time.
If you’re looking for a simple, predictable ministry that makes you feel good, consider something else. If you genuinely want to see the power of the gospel in front of your face, one person at a time, look into Safe Families for Children. You will quickly discover that radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion are more than a mantra; they are the Gospel in action.”
Pastor Tom and Melissa Tommaro, New Life Church