Here are some hard facts about Tallahassee that are making us weep right now: There are more than 13,000 families making less than $38,000 (family of 4) who cannot afford their rent and make monthly decisions about rent vs. medicine, rent vs. childcare, rent vs. gasoline, and more. Many do not know where they will live next month. In 2022, 19 people died, and 91 were injured from 108 shootings in Tallahassee. Each represents a family forever changed.

by Tisha Keller, Justice Ministry Team Leader

Jesus was a “doer” not just a talker. His example of compassion and intercession for those who suffer wasn’t just to pray—it was to speak on behalf of injustices and to be in the spaces where injustices took place. Time and time again, Jesus calls us to pray with our feet by being advocates for and instruments of social change. In the synagogue or the street, Jesus was showing up to call out inequity and bring attention with his presence to the injustices that made his Father weep. Trinity’s Justice Ministry is committed to standing in the gap of injustice for those whose voices are not being heard.

Here are some hard facts about Tallahassee that are making us weep right now:
There are more than 13,000 families making less than $38,000 (family of 4) who cannot afford their rent and make monthly decisions about rent vs. medicine, rent vs. childcare, rent vs. gasoline, and more. Many do not know where they will live next month.
In 2022, 19 people died, and 91 were injured from 108 shootings in Tallahassee. Each represents a family forever changed.

Trinity’s Justice Ministry exists to help create the Tallahassee that we want to see, one reflecting God’s love for humankind and our church’s “heart for the city.” We are part of the Capital Area Justice Ministry (CAJM), a diverse faith community striving for social equity in our community. As part of this 16+ coalition of religious congregations—from Jewish to Unitarian—our Trinity Justice Team Leaders and members are working to bring voice to those who need it most in our community. Each year, the coalition undertakes a three-part social justice initiative based on faith that encompasses (1) listening to the community, (2) researching viable solutions with community and national experts, and then (3) publicly asking our local leadership to initiate change.

These are our issues for 2022-23: affordable rental housing for very low- and extremely-low-income families, an end to gun violence, and curbing youth arrest to stop the arrest-gun violence cycle in our city. You can support these efforts this spring by helping us turn out as many people as possible for the CAJM Nehemiah Action on March 27, where we will publicly call for our local leaders to make real impact on these issues through specific calls to action.

Trinity’s goal for this turnout is 175 people. Will you show up and “pray with your feet”? Join Rev. Dr. Matthew Williams, Dr. Nick Quinton, Tisha Keller, and our many team leaders as we prepare to lend our prayer and physical presence to demand answers for the inequities in our community.

Stand in the Gap for Justice and Pray with Your Feet!
Monday, March 27 – Nehemiah Action: We need 175 Trinity members + friends to join us at this event! Be part of 1,000 people asking local officials for specific remedies for affordable rental housing and the youth arrest-gun violence cycle. Join us at 6:30 p.m. at Old West Florida Enrichment Center, 2344 Lake Bradford Rd.

Please reach out to Tisha Keller at 850-241-8269 or tishakeller@gmail.com if you want to learn more. We are always looking for new justice ministry team leaders within Trinity, and any time is a good time to join the effort. If you’d like more information on our issues, the research, the potential solutions, or the process, please reach out to Tisha or visit capitalareajustice.org.