Urban ministry leaders, pastors and their spouses rarely take breaks. Many have never had professional counseling to help them navigate through the chronic stress that they usually have no idea they are suffering from. This lack of self-care often results in depression, burnout, or worse.
I Am My Brother's Keeper cares deeply for these leaders and their spouses and we are determined to help them maintain a healthy balance between ministry and family so that they can continue to serve in the communities that desperately need them.
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Chuck Allen
Founder and Director
Chuck has served in education and urban ministry for more than three decades..
Personal Testimony - Chuck Allen
I began serving in urban ministry in 1999. Within five years, we planted a church (Servant Community Church) and founded a Christian non-profit organization (The Urban Scholastic Center). I was always working, rarely took breaks, and I became increasingly frustrated with ministry. I was worn out emotionally, mentally, and physically. Our board of directors urged me to take a sabbatical.
During this extended break, I realized that we had only taken 12 days of family vacation in 14 years. I was broken and ashamed. My wife and I began seeing a counselor; I set boundaries on my time and ministry activities, and got a life coach.
It was during this time that the Lord put it on my heart not to allow these same things to happen to other urban ministry leaders.
In 2018, I began meeting with and caring for urban pastors and ministry leaders in Kansas City. My primary goal was to make time to sit and listen to them. Because I had experienced many of the things that these urban pastors and ministry leaders were going through, they opened up and shared their hearts. Many of them were (and are) carrying burdens that are wearing them out.
Since 2018, we have connected several of these ministry leaders and their spouses to coaches and counselors to help with their mental and emotional health. We've also made it possible for some of their families to take much-needed breaks.
After more than a year of serving these men and women, the Lord made it clear that I was to devote even more time to caring for urban ministry leaders. I Am My Brother's Keeper was established as a non-profit corporation in November 2019.
Support educators and ministry leaders who serve in urban communities.