Presenter: Dr. Cynthia Westfall
How can our churches stand in the gap with those desiring to leave behind damaging lifestyles? Come hear about opportunities for our churches to provide community living opportunities that go beyond transitional toward transformational.
One alternative for effective transformational housing involves faith-based long-term housing, where hurting people heal in community. This session will describe how Hamilton stands in a particularly strong position to benefit from transformational housing. Hamilton has an acute need combined with a proactive community culture and a heart for the city in the churches which is fostered by TrueCity. This session will impart the vision for transformational housing, describing briefly both the history and success of transformational housing that is based on principles and unique distinctives that include church relationship, live-in staff, counseling and long-term residency. The session will show how the residents are further assisted a number of other support ministries such as community welcome centers, recovery groups, special needs support groups and daily prayer groups. You will hear of opportunities for church involvment or participation in transformational housing that range from urban churches having their own homes, to very practical involvment in the programs and structures that are in place. The final two components of the session are the importance of commitment on the part of house directors to networking with other support organizations and joining in together in prayers sessions as God moves in this vital area.
