Every Christian is to be a people-helper … Yet the church herself has almost completely conceded this work to secular agencies and authorities.

Timothy Keller

in 'Ministries of Mercy'

ONE BODY HELPS CHURCHES HELP PEOPLE

We think it is time for a change. Our local churches and faith-based organizations are too often vast, yet greatly underutilized and undervalued resource pools in our communities. One Body Collaboratives was formed to help them effectively ‘get into the game’, and become the central and valued players in rebuilding lives and their communities as they were meant to be.

Churches and centers of faith often receive requests for assistance with tangible life needs, but struggle to meet them.

It is a challenge to validate requests, assess complex life conditions, develop goal plans, remain aware of all available resources, facilitate resource linkages, provide regular follow-up, and document the process and the outcomes.

The One Body Clearing House can perform these and other valuable functions for the church and faith community in an efficient, effective, and professional manner. One Body Collaboratives and local church partnerships free the church to be the church … meeting people, getting to know them more deeply, praying with them, and walking with them in their journey to engage more deeply with God and His people.

One Body uses five strategies to assist local churches and faith organizations to more effectively meet individual and community needs.

One Body Collaboratives...

Matches Resources to Needs

One Body operates a phone ministry and resource clearinghouse. We are staffed with volunteers from local churches five days a week. Callers are referred by churches, ministries, agencies, friends and neighbors. One Body will then validate the need, and match appropriate resources with caller needs.

Provides Life Planning

For some people simple solutions may not be enough. A deeper level of personal assessment, goal setting, service coordination, and long term follow-up covering all areas of life may be needed to help break the cycle of dependency and poverty. One Body Planning and Resource Specialists can facilitate a deeper level Life Plan for those willing to make a long-term commitment to lasting life change.

Fills Resource Gaps

One Body helps to identify resource gaps in the community, and then works to engage and equip local churches and centers of faith to provide those resources. This helps to fill in the gaps of community care with much needed specific and manageable responses. These additional community resources are then mobilized and coordinated through the One Body Clearinghouse.

Coordinates Volunteers

Church members often want to volunteer and help but don’t know where their talents and energy would be most effective. One Body has a strong commitment to matching the passion and available skills of an individual, group, or church to the appropriate area of need. Our goal is to effectively engage and empower volunteers to serve effectively in their home church, or elsewhere in the community.

Produces Measurable Outcomes

One Body is committed to documenting and reporting on our collective efforts in producing positive life change and positive community change. Producing documented positive outcomes is a strong motivator to encourage further participation and collaboration.

Coordinates Multi-Church Projects

The ‘One Body Projects’ Team identifies appropriate community projects, and then works to coordinate multiple churches to provide the volunteers, materials, and management necessary to bring those projects from start to finish.