Unemployed 6 Months? Help!

Odds are that right now you know at least one person who is suffering unemployment, and there are at least four things you can do to help.

For example, yesterday Marty posted this prayer request on our network…

“Please pray for employment for my wife and I. I have been unemployed for 6 months, many interviews, no jobs… I trust that God will bring us jobs, but am worried.”

Marty is one of 7,635,000 Americans unemployed and looking for work.

For Marty and his wife, being unemployed for 6 months is a 100% crisis, not just a statistic. He is, however, a nearly perfect reflection of the average duration of unemployment – 25.1 weeks.

Help Needed

Thirty years ago, we started helping people get jobs and make career transitions, learning lessons along the way…

• Of everyone’s five highest felt needs…
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Health
  • Wealth
  • Work is #1
• If you don’t have work, then nothing works.
• The greatest real need is spiritual – AKA finding and following Jesus. It is true and to be believed that…

We are all God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

Which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

• Therefore, the solution to the jobless problem requires community that provides practical, emotional and spiritual help and hope in the form of contacts, counsel and encouragement every day.
• We have learned, developed and refined a 7-step process, workbook and website that help people walk through crossroads in their careers. On the practical side, these resources offer job connections, resume help, interest profiles and lessons in how to network and wow interviewers.

Four Ways You Can Help

First and foremost, pray for those who are unemployed. Ask God to not only provide them a job, but also money to bridge the gap. Pray for their spiritual growth, as well as their emotional and physical strength.

Second, if you know or meet them personally, be their friends. Share with them whatever contacts, counsel and encouragement you can.

Third, volunteer your time and talent to help directly, at your church or through community ministries or nonprofits.

Fourth, share some of your treasure. Donate to nonprofit ministries that are directly helping people who are struggling to find work.

In the Charlotte metro area, more than 57,500 people are unemployed and looking for a job. Five churches have come together to plan with other community organizations a series of career events to help people find a good job, maximize their careers and hear God calling.

Would you consider a donation of $25, $50, $100 or much more? Together we can help people like Ray who posted this request earlier this week…

“Please pray. My financial situation is terrible. I don’t have enough money to pay my rent and the landlord is warning me – I am 2 weeks late. I have been applying for many jobs but I have had very few interviews and I need to start working right away. I desperately need to start earning money!”

Learn more about Crossroads Career Network.