Imagine Solomon using his power to create a place of Refuge for the entire land.   This city gate looks down upon the “daughters” which is the area where families’ camped just

outside the city walls.   If an army was coming toward them, they knew they could run to the city for a place of refuge.   These city gates had sewers running down the center (see picture) and then had several sections just inside the doors to find justice, protection, or generosity.    You can see from this picture that by the time of Solomon, they were using six areas just inside the door to meet with people and care for them.

Our church just began work with a group in the city of Cincinnati called CityLink.  The goal is to truly help the working poor.  It is truly a revolutionary program to help the working poor by breaking generational poverty.   Doctors and dentists and other professionals from our church and others will go downtown to befriend and offer free services to the working poor.

Others will mentor them and help them look for jobs, fill out resumes, and get the needed help for their next step.  The relational approach will further help give accountability, “Did you follow up on that job interview?”  and “Don’t forget to show up on time.”

There is a program to help those who are moving through the ladder of responsibility begin to learn how to make payments. How to pay for things on time. How to understand the “hidden” expenses of a car (insurance, gas, maintenance, etc) and teach friends how to begin to prepare and plan for the future.

People of all religious backgrounds are welcome, but the work is done in the name of Jesus Christ.  The great provider of Shalom

The goal, of course, is that the generosity and help provided at our city gates will result in those who do not believe opening their eyes to the grace of God

Isaiah 32:  Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
And princes will rule with justice.
² A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,
And a cover from the tempest,
As rivers of water in a dry place,
As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
³ The eyes of those who see will not be dim,
And the ears of those who hear will listen.
⁴ Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge,

For more information, check out www.godonomics.com