The Faith-Based Development Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Reggie Blount shares insights on how churches can leverage their assets for social impact, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, discipleship, and shifting from scarcity to abundance mindset.

In this episode, Jacqueline West-Spencer shares her journey from community internship to senior vice president of real estate at Wesley Housing. She discusses the vital role of faith-based organizations in community development, the importance of long-term partnerships, and innovative strategies for affordable housing.

In this episode, Patrick Dugan shares his journey into faith-based development, the significance of God's economy, and practical strategies for churches to leverage their properties for community impact. Discover how faith leaders can transform their congregations into catalysts for social change.

Faith-based development is not about keeping the lights on - it's about turning church land, church people, and church vision into real community power. Reverend Victor Cyrus-Franklin reveals how a small, 60-member congregation in Inglewood is transforming a crisis into a housing justice movement, and why the same playbook could reshape churches everywhere. Victor joins Joe Daniels and Tiffany Daniels to unpack the unexpected path from hip hop ministry to affordable housing development, including the rent control campaign that helped gather 14,000 signatures, the charter school loss that wiped out three-quarters of a church's revenue, and the coalition work that eventually unlocked more than $20 million in tax credits. Along the way, he shows how worship, organizing, and property strategy can work together when the mission is bigger than the building. You'll discover:

• Why Victor says faith-based development starts with calling, not cash
• How LA Voice, city leaders, state officials, and even skeptics became critical partners
• The difference between being transactional and being relational in large-scale development
• How the Nativity story became the framework for housing, healing, and neighborhood rebuilding
• Why listening to the community is more important than guessing what it needs

Victor also names the hard parts most churches avoid talking about - grief, resistance, stalled timelines, political barriers, and the reality that public funding systems often favor developers with power and scale. But he pairs that honesty with a clear challenge: churches already have assets, credibility, and proximity to the people most affected by housing insecurity. The question is whether they're willing to steward them with courage. This conversation is essential listening for pastors, ministry leaders, organizers, and anyone asking how the church can move from survival mode to neighborhood transformation. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to build a hub of hope and healing in the heart of a community, this episode shows you.

Rev. Victor Cyrus-Franklin is a United Methodist pastor, community organizer, and faith-based development leader whose ministry sits at the intersection of faith, housing justice, community engagement, and the stewardship of church-owned property. Since July 2024, Cyrus-Franklin has served as Lead Pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, while continuing to supervise the affordable housing development effort he helped launch at Inglewood First United Methodist Church. He previously pastored Inglewood First beginning in 2017 and became deeply engaged in the housing pressures facing the rapidly changing Inglewood community.

In this episode, Rick Reinhard shares insights on the intersection of community development, faith properties, and the opportunities for churches to transform communities through strategic redevelopment and collaboration.

In this episode, Mark Elsdon shares his journey from ministry to faith-based development, emphasizing the importance of trust, community engagement, and strategic partnerships in transforming church assets into community assets. Discover practical insights on how churches can leverage land and buildings for social impact and sustainable growth.

In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Gina Merritt shares her inspiring journey from a little girl in the Bronx to becoming a nationally renowned affordable housing developer. Her story highlights the unexpected turns in life that lead to fulfilling careers and the deep connections we make along the way.

In this episode, Rudy Rasmus shares his 35-year journey in faith-based community development, highlighting the importance of partnership, resourcefulness, and love in transforming communities. He discusses the personal costs, strategic collaborations, and holistic approaches that have driven his impactful work.

In the world of community development, faith-based initiatives are often at the forefront of transformation. In this episode, we will explore the journey of the Beacon Center project, a remarkable example of how a faith community can impact its neighborhood through intentional development and engagement. We’ll dive into the vision behind the project, the challenges faced, and the key partnerships that made it possible.