Introducing a Special Series: The Gap Between Church and Neighborhood

Show notes

Join us, as we explore the relationship between community engagement and the church. What’s the relationship between church and neighborhood? Is there a gap in what churches are doing for the community now and how they come alongside neighbors?

Shawn Duncan, Director of The Lupton Center
Dr. Shawn Duncan is the Director of FCS’s Training and Consulting Division, The Lupton Center. Shawn comes to FCS from the nonprofit leadership sector with research and writing focused on pedagogies for social impact. In his previous careers he has focused on multi-sector coalition building for community impact, content and curriculum design, group facilitation, leadership development, and immigration reform advocacy. As the leader of The Lupton Center team, Shawn brings a visionary voice for innovation, a strategic mind for resource development, and the leadership acumen to support and equip the team for success. He loves being a part of a mission-driven team that finds joy in one another while doing such important work.

David Park, Lead Trainer and Consultant

David Park is a Lead Trainer and Consultant with The Lupton Center. David comes to FCS with over a decade of experience as a local church pastor in a community development setting where he collaborated with and advised many nonprofit organizations to impact local communities. David also brings a variety of experience to this work as an entrepreneur, creative, and affordable housing advocate and investor. As a member of FCS’s Training and Consulting Team, David brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, facilitating, and compassion to the work of community building. He loves being a part of a diverse team that practices and seeks to grow personal and collective wholeness.

Bekah Klein, Development Coordinator / Research and Knowledge Coordinator at FCS

Bekah is a Development Coordinator at FCS as well as the Research and Knowledge Coordinator for the Lupton Center. Bekah comes to FCS from the University of Florida, where she graduated with a B.A. in English, focused on literary works by women and people of color, prophetic activism, and the formation of the beloved community. She recently completed her Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology, where her studies focused on Feminist and Womanist Theologies, nonprofit leadership and management, and cultivating a theology of place. Prior to working at FCS, Bekah worked as an Associate Producer for award-winning documentary Refuge: The Movie. She also led research efforts at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library to formally document Emory University’s history with particular attention to social and racial injustice following desegregation and into the twenty-first century, as well as student activist movements on campus and in the Atlanta area. As a member of the FCS team, Bekah brings attention to detail, deep empathy, and a strong desire to learn and grow. She enjoys collaborating with her colleagues who are passionate about the true flourishing of all people. In her free time, Bekah enjoys reading, running, spending time with family and friends, and doing anything outdoors.

1. For more information about the work of the Lupton Center, please visit our website: https://www.luptoncenter.org/
2. For more information about the work of Focused Community Strategies, please visit our website: https://fcsministries.org/

Special thanks to our podcast editor, Tim Rhodes, for making this episode possible. If you are interested in working with Tim, you can contact him via email at tim@whistlingblue.com, or through his website, whistlingblue.com. If you have questions, feedback, or wish to contact us, please email Rose Silva at rose@fcsministries.org.