Kendra Decker

“A commitment to social justice ministry and restorative action will reveal that we are not the ones who can fix problems. We are simply the ones who share the journey, offering what we have and allowing God to transform us in the process.”
― Michelle Ferrigno Warren, The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

“When our lens is shaped by proximity to the poor, the way we view right and wrong begins to shift our social construct in subtle ways. A social construct is an idea or ideal formed in context. It grows out of societal ideals, so it can impart a sense of authority about the correct or incorrect way to act or believe. Social construct goes beyond social mores; it is based on our understanding of what is acceptable and right. As an educated, privileged white American my social construct was limited to that perspective, which is why proximity to the poor was so powerful--it forced my view to expand.”
― Michelle Ferrigno Warren, The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

“If we are committed to friendship at the margins, all of us need to ask what kind of spirituality will sustain us over the long haul. When we choose to dwell in places that have been devastated by human sin or exploitation, and when we develop friendships with people who are quite different from ourselves in terms of power, resources or life opportunities, what practices will help us maintain integrity and faithfulness?”
― Christopher L. Heuertz, Friendship at the Margins Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission

“In addition, a disturbing number of congregations make it clear that they don’t really want people whose lives are a mess (especially after they’ve become Christians), who aren’t cured of their problems quickly and completely, or who don’t successfully escape troubled circumstances. Our limited patience is evident in how we hide from those with ongoing troubles, how we avoid people with chronic disabilities and those who are dying.”
― Christopher L. Heuertz, Friendship at the Margins Discovering Mutuality in Service and Mission