VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION

Keith Carlson:
I love our partnership with Shepherd. We’re committed to it and I know we need it as a church because it continues to shape us and to form us.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
About four years ago, we got involved with the Shepherd Community and I wanted to be more involved with the kids. I wanted to know more about the children. So when we started this with Shepherd, I said, “This is in our backyard.”

Keith Carlson:
One of our greatest investments is in the children in Indianapolis and that’s going to be the greatest way that we can be involved in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
The power of relationships, it’s unmatched by anything else you can do. I think, in our world today, people need somebody to talk to, somebody that’ll listened to them.

Keith Carlson:
Despite how connected we are, if you dig down a lot deeper, people are lonely. People are isolated. They’re crying out to be loved, to be known, to be celebrated. It’s an opportunity to get beyond that loneliness and isolation, and actually connect in a deep and authentic and real way with someone.

Keith Carlson:
It’ll be part of our own healing of something that we know deep down we need.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
There’s not words that can describe me the power of relationship and, again, that’s something else that we’re gaining. We’re the benefactors here. We find great joy in spending time with these children.

Keith Carlson:
Anyone can mentor. All you have to be is someone who is able to show interest in someone else.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
This is something that all Indianapolis needs to get behind. Their presence in this community is making a difference. We can make the future for the children and those who come to Shepherd and make the future better for them.

Keith Carlson:
Shepherd brings a great deal of experience. They bring a great deal of training, but they also bring a great deal of support around the people that are mentoring.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
I really can’t think of anything that you could possibly do in a local church setting that would be anymore rewarding than what working at Shepherd is. My vision for what we’re doing at Shepherd goes until they graduate and hopefully beyond into their adult lives.

Keith Carlson:
I’m absolutely convinced that God is working at Shepherd to break the cycle of poverty. I’ve seen it in the leader’s hearts and in their eyes, the kids, the youth that have been impacted, the families and what’s happened in transforming families.

Rev. Gary LaFary:
Whatever happens at Shepherd, it brings a smile to my face. We’re truly doing something I believe that God wants us to do.