Types of Options
These organizations, or variations of them, are likely present in your city. If you are not sure where to begin, ask a pastor or ministry leader for referrals to trusted agencies.
- Inner-city Churches (providing Bible clubs, tutoring programs, computer labs, neighborhood outreach)
- CCDA affiliated organizations (see CCDA.org for a listing)
- Habitat for Humanity or other housing-oriented ministries
- Homeless or Crisis Shelters
- Soup Kitchens
- Community Development Corporations
- Advocacy Groups
- Christian Medical Clinics
- Schools, or school-linked neighborhood resource centers
- Leadership Foundations of America affiliates (see LFofA.org for a listing)
- World Vision clearinghouses
- Refugee Resettlement Ministries
- Love, Inc. or similar (phone crisis line connecting people in need with churches that can help)
- Salvation Army
- Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO) or similar, local community organizing entities
- Food Banks and Pantries
- Prostitution Ministries
- Christian thrift stores and clothing ministries
Multiple Sites
Some programs choose an array of diverse sites and send students in pairs or teams. The whole Program benefits by broad exposure to many forms of ministry in the city. Some programs link a student's major to their assignment, e.g., placing medical students at clinics or engineering students at housing ministries, education majors at tutoring programs, etc.
Single Sites
Some programs choose to work with a single site, such as a church or a specific ministry, giving the entire program one common experience. In these cases, it is ideal if this site can be a church with a multidimensional, holistic ministry involving several kinds of work, ranging from direct compassionate action to more systemic forms of influence.
Relationship with Site
An Urban Program Director’s relationship with the church or agency is paramount. This should be cultivated throughout the year on as regular a basis as possible, through contact or friendship with the agency director or a specific staff. Both parties should sign a written “Memorandum of Understanding” covering expectations and hopes for the program.
