Just Neighbors

*This is a reshare of the most recent episode of our other show, The Forgotten Podcast. In this very special episode, our usual host, Jami Kaeb, is taking a turn in the guest seat. Stepping in to act as the host is our dear friend (and repeat guest) Jamie Finn! The Forgotten Podcast is celebrating 10 years  of creating content that serves, equips, and encourages those in the foster care community,...

We are wrapping up season three of Just Neighbors! Can you believe that it's already the final episode? This season, we've had the pleasure of welcoming a wide variety of insightful guests to help us challenge how we think about and serve our neighbors—whether that be across the world or right across our street. Our hope is that through these conversations, you have gained some practical ideas tha...

When searching for a home, you likely did lots of research on the local schools, crime statistics, location, and more. But for many of us, we let one key task slip through the cracks—taking the time to learn about the people who live in the homes next to us. According to a study by  Pew Research , only 26% of U.S. adults say they know all or most of their neighbors, and 12% say they don't know any...

Each year, about 20,000 children age out of foster care. Many of these young adults lack essential resources that many of us take for granted—like the skills and community support needed to obtain housing, jobs, and basic medical care. Some do not even have access to their birth certificate or know how to obtain their paperwork. Today, we have the absolute privilege of talking with someone who has...

It can be challenging as a pastor to navigate the line between being a spiritual leader within the community and having the need to confess yourself. But you don't have to be a pastor to know how intimidating the idea of confession can feel. How can church leaders and congregation members work together to create a culture of confession, forgiveness, and grace? Today, author Jamin Goggin is joining...

Poverty alleviation efforts can often feel like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. In spite of our best intentions, many of our efforts do little to bring about real, lasting change. Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes more than donations and handouts to solve it. Today, we're talking with a guest who is deeply familiar with the topic of poverty, as he wrot...

Have you or someone you love been affected by abortion? Have you, as a leader, pastor, or faithful neighbor, wanted to help people heal and find wholeness after the experience of having an abortion—but you find it difficult to broach this sensitive subject? Our guest for this conversation is here to offer some much-needed clarity and direction for Christians who want to respond with both truth and...

Do you recall the first time someone shared the gospel with you? If you grew up in the church, it was likely during a kids' program or a camp hosted by your church. Once you've received the good news, it's only natural that your heart feels called to pass it on to others. But if you've ever struggled to know  how  and  where  and  when  to evangelize, you aren't alone. Nobody wants to feel like th...

We are back with the  third  season of Just Neighbors, where we are learning to practice biblical justice and compassion together. If this is your first time, welcome, and if you are a long-time listener, welcome back to our little neighborhood. Ryan MacDonald, our co-host from season one, is back to share the mic with Jami. Here to help us kick off this brand new season is our first guest, Brett...

We're so excited to be back! In a divided and distracted world, pastors are called to help their people see others with the eyes of Christ—clearly, compassionately, and through the lens of the gospel. This season of  Just Neighbors explores what it means to notice, understand, and love our neighbors with biblical justice and compassion. Through conversations with pastors, theologians, and ministry...

Be the bridge that brings hope by becoming a TFI Advocate:  www.tfiadvocate.org (Applications are open until the end of May!) Hey, neighbors! We are honored to have you on this journey with us as we grow and practice biblical justice and compassion together. In this fan favorite episode, we were joined by Jamie Finn, who is a dear friend of mine. Jamie is the best-selling author of Fostering the F...

We aren't done quite yet! We may have said that the previous episode was the finale of the second season of Just Neighbors, but we were so inspired by today's conversation that we decided to bring you a special bonus episode before we take a break. We're grateful to have a renowned guest joining us to explore how we can build and maintain healthy relationships—both with the people closest to us an...

It's a bittersweet moment—we've officially reached the finale of Season 2! Over the past few months, we've had the privilege of learning from 9 incredible guests here on Just Neighbors, and we couldn't have picked a better guest to close out this season. In this episode, we are talking about how we can continue to be Just Neighbors even when we're discouraged by challenging ourselves to view disil...

With an estimated 153 million orphans worldwide and the costs of adoption on the rise, fulfilling the call of James 1:27 to care for orphans and widows can feel increasingly challenging. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average cost of adopting a child in the U.S. is between $20,000-$45,000. In comparison, an international adoption can cost up to $50,000, dependin...

When we consider difficult political topics, it can be easy to focus solely on change at a large scale. But while positive action on a macro level is vital, every ripple of transformation begins with something small. After all, today's parents are shaping the future leaders of tomorrow, and today's pastors are equipping their congregations to go forward and live out biblical principles in the worl...

On this show, we've talked about many ways you can be a Just Neighbor. But in this episode, we have the honor of hearing from Gabrielle Alzate about what it means to be a community of neighbors walking  with one another: a Just Neighborhood! Research shows that the average American will move 11-12 times in their lifetime! When we relocate so frequently, it can become difficult to invest deeply in...

Abortion is not an easy topic to talk about. It can cause divisiveness among not just individuals, but entire churches as well. With all the strong emotions that are tied to this discussion, we often forget that while abortion is a hot-button political issue, it's also a deeply personal issue. In this episode, Portia Collins explains how we can be a just neighbor to those who have experienced an a...

We all have a heart for children in hard situations, but how often do we consider the circumstances that cause families to enter crises in the first place ? In some cases, there are steps we can take to decrease the chance that children will be removed from their biological families, but before we can take these steps, we must start from a place of compassion.  Joining us to explore this crucial c...

If you've listened to our other podcast,  The Forgotten Podcast , you know our heart for children, families, and workers in foster care. Today, we get to learn from one of our TFI Advocates, Dorothy Mendoza, about how we can extend compassion and be a Just Neighbor to our neighbors in the foster care community. Dorothy is a foster, adoptive, and special needs mom. She also serves with us at The Fo...

Our country is in a season of intense political discourse as the upcoming election rapidly approaches. In this tumultuous time, many Christians are starting to wonder: "How do we come together as the world is coming apart?" Our guest, Joshua Butler, is here to bring us clarity on this question by exploring how we can be Just Neighbors through faithful political engagement. Joshua is a pastor and a...

2.3 million people in the U.S. are affected by incarceration each year, and less than 15% of inmates are serving life sentences (God Behind Bars) . This means the majority of people in prison will be released back into society at some point. Yet, these individuals are some of the most unlikely to see and hear the love of Jesus. The truth is, people who live behind bars are often out of sight and o...

Welcome back for another season of Just Neighbors! I'm your host, Jami Kaeb, and this season I'm joined by Jamin Goggin as my co-host. Jamin is a professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He is also the co-author of several books and holds a MA in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, an MA in the New Testament, and a PhD in Systematic Theology. He lives with his wife and four childre...

Just Neighbors is BACK next week! Season 2 will bring you more of the podcast created for every believer who has been transformed by the Gospel and desires to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God and their neighbors in need. Join hosts Jami Kaeb and Jamin Goggin as they talk with leaders, pastors, and practitioners about how to live a life of biblical justice and compassion. Stay tuned...

Can you believe it? This is the last episode of season one! We couldn't have asked for a better guest to help us close out this season than Jedd Medefind. Jedd serves as the President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), and previously led the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under President George W. Bush. Jedd has also written several books, including  Upended...

Hey, neighbors! We are honored to have you on this journey with us as we grow and practice biblical justice and compassion together. This week on Just Neighbors, I have the opportunity to welcome Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus, the founder of Settled, which is an organization helping churches develop permanent supportive tiny home villages (called Sacred Settlements) designed to address long-term homelessn...