Just Neighbors

*This is a reshare of the most recent episode of our other show, The Forgotten Podcast.

In this very special episode, our usual host, Jami Kaeb, is taking a turn in the guest seat. Stepping in to act as the host is our dear friend (and repeat guest) Jamie Finn!

The Forgotten Podcast is celebrating 10 years of creating content that serves, equips, and encourages those in the foster care community, as well as exalts the name of Jesus. To help commemorate this milestone, Jami will be the one answering questions and filling us in on some of the most impactful moments from the last 10 years as we look ahead to what's coming next.

In this episode, Jami shares key lessons she's learned through hosting the podcast, a little bit about how The Forgotten Initiative began, why it matters to hold both the darkness and the light in our stories, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jamie-finn-s3e9/

We are wrapping up season three of Just Neighbors! Can you believe that it's already the final episode?

This season, we've had the pleasure of welcoming a wide variety of insightful guests to help us challenge how we think about and serve our neighbors—whether that be across the world or right across our street. Our hope is that through these conversations, you have gained some practical ideas that will guide you as you strive to live a life of biblical justice and compassion.

While we may be closing out season three, we can't wait to get a new line-up of guests ready for season four! That's where you come in. If you have a particular topic, question, or guest you would love to see on the show, please let us know by contacting us!

In this episode, we are reviewing some of our favorite moments from season three, reflecting on the lessons we found most impactful, reminding you of each episode's core takeaway, and more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/finale-s3e8/

When searching for a home, you likely did lots of research on the local schools, crime statistics, location, and more. But for many of us, we let one key task slip through the cracks—taking the time to learn about the people who live in the homes next to us.

According to a study by Pew Research, only 26% of U.S. adults say they know all or most of their neighbors, and 12% say they don't know any at all. However, knowing our neighbors' names is one of the most important steps we can take to start living out the Gospel and loving our (literal) neighbor.

Our guest for this conversation understands how to follow the way of Jesus in our neighborhoods. Dave Runyon is the Executive Director of CityUnite, an organization that exists to help faith, government, and business leaders unite around common causes in the Denver Metro area. He started a neighboring movement in 2010 and is the co-author of The Art of Neighboring.

In this episode, Dave shares practical steps to become more connected to your neighbors, what it means to be a good neighbor, why genuine relationships involve both giving and receiving service, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/dave-runyon-s3e7/

Each year, about 20,000 children age out of foster care. Many of these young adults lack essential resources that many of us take for granted—like the skills and community support needed to obtain housing, jobs, and basic medical care. Some do not even have access to their birth certificate or know how to obtain their paperwork.

Today, we have the absolute privilege of talking with someone who has a passion for providing meaningful support to these vulnerable individuals.

Lynn Johnson is the President of ALL IN Empowering Futures. This nonprofit agency focuses on driving national initiatives to combat the crisis of children aging out of the foster care system. Prior to her work with ALL IN, she served as the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families in the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In this episode, Lynn shares why it's important that everyone feels a responsibility to care for youth who are aging out of the foster care system, some of the challenges these young adults often face alone, ways we can help meet their most pressing needs, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/lynn-johnson-s3e6/

It can be challenging as a pastor to navigate the line between being a spiritual leader within the community and having the need to confess yourself. But you don't have to be a pastor to know how intimidating the idea of confession can feel. How can church leaders and congregation members work together to create a culture of confession, forgiveness, and grace?

Today, author Jamin Goggin is joining us to talk about his new book, Pastoral Confessions, as he helps us understand the importance of encouraging honesty, humility, and growth within the church. In addition to being an author, Jamin is an Associate Professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and the Director of the Health Pastor Initiative with Finishing the Task. (And if you listened to Season 2 of Just Neighbors, you'll also remember that he served as our co-host!)

In this episode, Jamin explains how confession gives us the gift of experiencing God's grace firsthand, the danger of using terms other than "sin", responses to the most common objections to confession, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jamin-goggin-s3e5/

Poverty alleviation efforts can often feel like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. In spite of our best intentions, many of our efforts do little to bring about real, lasting change. Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes more than donations and handouts to solve it.

Today, we're talking with a guest who is deeply familiar with the topic of poverty, as he wrote one of the most popular books on it. Dr. Brian Fikkert is the co-author of When Helping Hurts, the co-founder of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, and Professor of Economics and Community Development at Covenant College.

Brian's book reshaped how many approach poverty alleviation—emphasizing a mindset of humility and empowerment.

In this episode, Brian shares why certain charity efforts can unintentionally create pride in the giver and shame in the receiver, how our best intentions may actually be harming those in need, how we can go about ministry in a way that restores dignity and personhood, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/brian-fikkert-s3e4/

Have you or someone you love been affected by abortion? Have you, as a leader, pastor, or faithful neighbor, wanted to help people heal and find wholeness after the experience of having an abortion—but you find it difficult to broach this sensitive subject?

Our guest for this conversation is here to offer some much-needed clarity and direction for Christians who want to respond with both truth and grace. Her work with post-abortion healing ministries gives us powerful insights on how to walk with people in a Gospel-centric way in order to see them come to redemption and healing.

Karen Ellison is the Founder and President of Deeper Still, a ministry devoted to helping men and women heal from the emotional wounds of an abortion. Karen has had an abortion herself and knows what the healing journey entails.

In this episode, Karen shares her personal story of hurt and healing, a more complete understanding of atonement within the context of our sin, how to create a culture of healing in our churches, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/karen-ellison-s3e3/

Do you recall the first time someone shared the gospel with you? If you grew up in the church, it was likely during a kids' program or a camp hosted by your church.

Once you've received the good news, it's only natural that your heart feels called to pass it on to others. But if you've ever struggled to know how and where and when to evangelize, you aren't alone. Nobody wants to feel like they're forcing God's word into the faces of their friends, family, or even strangers in passing. So the question is, how do we go about sharing the gospel in a way that feels loving and Spirit-led?

Our guest for this conversation has made it his mission to equip Christians to have normal but powerful conversations that lead to sharing the love of Jesus.

Jerry McCorkle is the Founder and Executive Director of Spread Truth, a global ministry helping Christians share the gospel with clarity and confidence through practical resources, gospel training, and hands-on missions opportunities.

In this episode, Jerry shares practical ways we can share Jesus with others, the importance of assessing the Lord's leading before taking a conversation straight to the gospel, how to overcome our hesitation to share the gospel, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jerry-mccorkle-s3e2/

We are back with the third season of Just Neighbors, where we are learning to practice biblical justice and compassion together. If this is your first time, welcome, and if you are a long-time listener, welcome back to our little neighborhood. Ryan MacDonald, our co-host from season one, is back to share the mic with Jami.

Here to help us kick off this brand new season is our first guest, Brett McCracken. Brett is an author and journalist based in Southern California. He serves as a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition (TGC), where he writes on the intersection of faith and culture. Today, we're thrilled to share our conversation with Brett about a topic that is weighing heavy on all our hearts.

You don't have to look far to be overwhelmed by the injustice of our world. Our social media feeds are filled to the brim with events that overburden our souls while failing to lead us towards practical actions that bring about justice. The digital landscape is having an impact on how we engage with the culture, our neighborhood, and our fellow humans.

In this episode, Brett leads us to ponder the implications of being engrossed in the digital space, how we may be missing out on developing empathy and compassion for our neighbors, why we should hone our focus on local issues, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/brett-mccracken-s3e1/

We're so excited to be back!

In a divided and distracted world, pastors are called to help their people see others with the eyes of Christ—clearly, compassionately, and through the lens of the gospel.

This season of Just Neighbors explores what it means to notice, understand, and love our neighbors with biblical justice and compassion.

Through conversations with pastors, theologians, and ministry leaders, we'll engage topics that press on real tensions in ministry and offer gospel-rooted encouragement for the journey.

This season, we'll explore:

• Forming our vision – Brett McCracken on how what we feed our souls shapes the way we see others, and Jamin Goggin on leading with humility in a culture obsessed with power.

• Healing and restoration – Karen Ellison on walking with post-abortive women toward gospel-centered redemption, and Tami Taunton on long-term, trauma-informed care for survivors of trafficking.

• Family and belonging – Lynn Johnson on creating belonging for youth aging out of foster care.

• Justice and mercy in practice – Brian Fikkert on poverty alleviation that avoids harm and offers hope, and Jerry McCorkle on evangelism as mercy ministry, proclaiming truth through compassion and presence.

• & more!

Stay tuned for new episodes next week, or catch up on last season right here: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/just-neighbors-podcast/