Editor’s note: Since 1983, the Inner City Ministry of Cru® has been serving vulnerable and marginalized residents in some of the nation’s largest cities. What motivates these teams of missionaries and church partners to provide resources and spiritual guidance in these struggling neighborhoods? We tackle that question in our three-part series “Being Seen.” In Part 1, we examined the motivation behind inner-city ministry. Last week, in Part 2, we explored the Scriptures that inspire some of our team members. Today, we conclude the series with a look at several more Scriptures and what they mean to our team.
Red felt weary, the cold reality of shame adding to the weight of the intense Chicago winter. He was apprehensive as he approached the smiling strangers handing out Homeless Care Kits, bundles of blankets with warm accessories, toiletries and gospel literature tucked inside.
As they greeted him, the 60-year-old Red shared a familiar story of substance abuse that whittled down his self-worth and eroded his faith.
Pastor Joyce and her team listened, then reminded him that Jesus still loved him and longed to set him free. They prayed for Red before he politely shuffled off, with the pastor’s business card in his pocket. She tried to follow up but was not surprised to discover his phone number was disconnected.
A few weeks later, a nurse called from a local hospital. Red had a stroke and, without any next of kin, they called Pastor Joyce after finding her business card in his things. In the weeks that followed, Pastor Joyce routinely visited as Red struggled to regain mobility. She prayed with him as he blinked his responses to her yes-or-no questions.
His body slowly healed, as did his heart. He was moved to a nursing facility, where Pastor Joyce’s visits continued. One of his first acts after regaining use of his voice was to declare his decision to follow Jesus. Soon, he was encouraging Joyce to reach out to the facility’s residents.
“He often says that God has his attention,” Pastor Joyce said. “He’s praying more and reads his Bible that I gave him.”
In the two decades that she has been reaching out to her neighbors through her Better Days Ministries, Pastor Joyce has witnessed similar life transformations through Inner City’s Compassionate Products™, like the Homeless Care Kits.
“Those are phenomenal in helping the homeless population,” Pastor Joyce said. “I can’t begin to tell you how blessed the individuals that we see get these care kits. “It’s not just a blanket. It’s the tracts. It’s your conversation that you partake with them, and making them feel that they are important and special, and not just an individual that is down on their luck.”
The ministry of being seen is what drives our Inner City teams. Last week, we examined Scriptures that help believers to See with Intention, See with Humanity and See with Compassion.
This week, we close out our series with three more see statements: See with Worth, See with Hope and See with Open Hands.
See with Worth
Veronica Palma, co-director of the Los Angeles team, said one of her favorite ministry verses is 1 Samuel 2:8:
“He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world” (ESV).
“It highlights that the Lord’s perspective on worthiness is radically different from our own,” she said. “We might not automatically consider the needy worthy of sitting with princes or inheriting a seat of honor. Yet, the Lord elevates the poor and needy from the lowest place to the highest, not because of their inherent deservingness, but because He knows their hearts.”
‘The Lord elevates the poor and needy from the lowest place to the highest, not because of their inherent deservingness, but because He knows their hearts.’
The verse, Palma said, is also notable because it is contained within Hannah’s prayer. Her prayer reaches beyond Hannah’s “own deep suffering from being unable to bear a child” to “express the holiness and sovereignty of the Lord.”
Finally, she said, the verse demonstrates both divine sovereignty and rest as Hannah declares, “for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s.”
“(It) serves as a crucial reminder that the Lord sustains the entire world. Even when facing times of suffering or overwhelming circumstances, we can find peace and rest in the knowledge that the Lord is in control and upholds everything.”
See with Hope
Richard Garcia, who directs the Inner City team in Bakersfield, located in California’s Central Valley, said Isaiah 58:12 is the verse that most inspires his work with Cru.
“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in” (ESV).
“This passage serves as a powerful reminder of our mission,” he said. “It suggests that by bringing hope to the hopeless, we can restore what has been destroyed and provide a foundation for the future. It encourages me to know that our work is not in vain, but rather serves to rebuild and restore the communities where we live and work.”
That emphasis on building a foundation for the future is evident in his efforts to foster the spiritual development of teens and adults. In recent years, dozens of teens and young adults have participated in ongoing discipleship training at local churches.
“He’s given us this opportunity,” he said. “For me, this is why I work with Cru. It’s what we do. It’s what we’re called to do, to help churches grow their believers.”
See with Open Hands
Jefte Villalta, who co-directs the LA team with Palma, said two Scriptures drive his inner-city work: Deuteronomy 15:11 and Luke 4:18.
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:11, NIV).
He said that in the Old Testament passage, God acknowledges “straight up,” there will always be poor among us, but “He doesn’t let us off the hook. He follows it with, ‘so be openhanded.’”
“I love that God keeps it real. No sugarcoating. Just a fact. Poverty isn’t presented as a surprise or a failure of faith; it’s a reality of a broken world. But instead of letting that reality harden us, God uses it to shape us. The presence of poverty becomes a call to action. It’s like God is saying, ‘As long as there’s need, there’s work for my people to do.’”
For Villalta, that work is clearly outlined in Luke 4:18:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor” (New Living Translation).
“When Jesus announces His mission, He says He came “to bring good news to the poor.” Not later. Not as a side project. Right out of the gate. Jesus centers (on) people who are usually pushed to the margins and says, “This is who the kingdom is showing up for.”
From Villalta’s perspective, the verses in Deuteronomy and Luke create a well-rounded mandate for all Christ-followers.
“Put those two passages together, and it’s clear: caring for the poor isn’t charity, it’s discipleship. It’s not about guilt or savior complexes, it’s about alignment. Alignment to God’s heart.
‘Caring for the poor isn’t charity, it’s discipleship. It’s not about guilt or savior complexes, it’s about alignment. Alignment to God’s heart.’
The stories that motivate Inner City’s missionaries are as varied as the people they serve. The Scriptures that speak to their heart, coupled with their life experiences and love of Jesus, make them formidable servants as they bring light into urban communities.
“God’s heart has always leaned toward those in need, and Jesus makes that unmistakable,” Villalta said. “Following Him means keeping our eyes open, our hands open, and our lives available for the good news to be felt, not just heard.”
