Have you seen the film, “The Artist”? It won this year’s Oscar for best picture. It’s the story of George Valentin, a silent movie star whose career is sunk by the advent of “talkies” in 1930. Valentin goes from famous to forgotten in a matter of months. He descends into a deep depression, refuses the help of others, and even attempts suicide.
America in 2012 is full of George Valentins.
Millions of men lost their jobs in the great recession. It’s been dubbed the “he-cession” because almost 80% of the job cuts fell upon men. Male dominated fields such as construction, finance and transportation shed millions of jobs. In 2011, for the first time in US history, more women than men were gainfully employed. Joblessness is running nearly 50% among young men in some European countries.
Men are suffering. They’re confused about their roles and their futures. What a perfect opportunity for the church to step forward and offer help.
Your church may want to launch a ministry for people who need jobs. Trinity Episcopal Parish in Princeton, NJ has offered a JobSeekers meeting every Tuesday since 1982. It’s billed as “an instruction and support group for people who are unemployed or changing careers.” JobSeekers has ministered to over 25,000 individuals over the past 30 years.
If you want to start a Job Seekers ministry in your church, visit the Career Transition Ministries Network Web site.
Unemployed men also need friendship and spiritual encouragement. It’s a great time to invite them to join a small men’s group, because they have one thing that working men don’t – lots of spare time. The bigger challenge is getting them to come.
Unemployed men tend to isolate themselves. They’re ashamed not to be working. They don’t want to socialize with other men because when guys get together they tend to talk about their jobs.
So be gentle but persistent when inviting unemployed men to join a small group. It may take a while, but many men eventually overcome their fears and end up happy members of the group.
If an unemployed man joins your group, caution the other guys not to talk about work. Keep the small talk focused on things every guy is interested in – sports, hobbies, family and the like.
The Bible is full of stories of men who lost their positions in life. Joseph was jailed. David was exiled. Elijah fled for his life. Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Hosea’s wife cheated on him. Paul was betrayed by his closest companions. Help men see that their unemployment is not a punishment from God, but rather a normal part of life. Encourage them not only to ask God for a new job, but to reveal his purpose for their lives.
It’s often difficult to convince a man of his need for God when he’s on top of the world. But when he reaches the end of his rope he’s often more willing to “humble himself under the mighty hand of God.” We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help displaced men gain a bigger vision for their lives. Let’s not waste it.
Scott Williams, an author for the LA Times, wrote a practical guide on helping the unemployed.
Nearly 2.2 million people are unemployed in California. While some of them have savings and family to support them, others are struggling. If you wish to reach out and help those hurt by the weak economy, here are five ways to lend a hand.
Help them network. Friends and family can be “invaluable resources” for job seekers, noted Linda Rolie, author of “Getting Back to Work.” You may be able to provide job leads, practice interviewing techniques or simply help them brainstorm for work ideas.
Listen. Author Michael Laskoff, who describes losing multiple jobs in his book, “Landing on the Right Side of Your Ass,” said his first move after a layoff was “to seek out the one person who can patiently listen to the retelling of the whole wretched affair.”
Volunteer. Many organizations gladly accept help. A notable one is the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which needs folks to assemble food packages for the poor and needy. No time to volunteer? You can donate food or give money instead.
Donate clothing. Scores of organizations collect clothing for the needy. “Next time you do your spring or fall cleaning, keep an eye out for those clothes that you no longer wear. If these items are in good shape, gather them together and donate them,” suggested the website JustGive.org.
Build. Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people earning 30% to 80% of the median family income. Go to http://www.habitatla.org for local volunteer and donation opportunities.
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/business
October 09, 2011| By Scott J. Wilson, Los Angeles Times