Today on the show we are talking to Justin Lonas of the Chalmers Center. The Chalmers Center equips local churches to address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty, living out Jesus' Kingdom today. The Chalmers Center was founded in 1999 by Dr. Brian Fikkert, the author of the best-selling book, 'When Helping Hurts.'
Justin read When Helping Hurts with his church missions committee in 2009, starting a shift in his thinking about poverty and the church that led to his joining the team at Chalmers in 2016 after serving in different roles for 10 years at an international missions organization. At Chalmers, he coordinates the work behind books, articles, blog posts, online courses, video projects, small group curriculums, and produced by Chalmers’ staff and ministry partners around the core concepts of a biblical framework for poverty alleviation and works with churches and organizations to help them apply these ideas in their ministry programs. Justin and his wife, Rachel, have four daughters, and he has served his local church as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and outreach volunteer. He enjoys the outdoors, literature, writing, and cooking for his family and others. He holds a B.A. in communications from Bryan College (2006), and is a current M. Div. student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta.
Next week we are talking to Charles Stone about his book, 'Holy Noticing: The Bible: Your Brain, and the Mindful Space Between Moments.'