8 Ways Churches Can Come Alongside Those Laid Off during Government Shutdown

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One of the most frightening things that can happen to a family is when one or more spouses lose their job. With the government shutdown barreling toward its third week and the heels of both parties dug in deep regarding finding a compromise, those who have been furloughed are likely beginning to feel the pinch of not having a paycheck. In 2025, Investopedia noted that 67 percent of people are living paycheck to paycheck, which is 4 percentage points higher than last year.

At a time when the price of everything is increasing and the companies that are hiring aren’t in any hurry to fill open positions, this is a great time for churches in every community to come together and come alongside of those who are furloughed or laid off. There are only a few differences between being furloughed verses laid off. Those who are furloughed are subject to recall and might get to keep some of their benefits while waiting to be recalled. So the church needs to see this situation for the ministry opportunity that it is, and consider brainstorming about what their community needs the most. Below are a few ideas to consider.

1. Give Out Some Practical Gift Cards

Churches might want to look at increasing the size of their benevolence fund to help those who have been furloughed or laid off in their congregation with some of the basics of life. Making gift cards to grocery stores and gas stations available can be a huge help. Once the people in the congregation are taken care of, then consider others in the community. However, definitely make a point of letting people who are a part of the congregation know that this is available to them, and that there’s no shame in asking for help.

2. Start a Car Repair Program

One of the biggest expenses a family can face is an unexpected car repair. If there are people in the congregation who can help with the basics of an oil change, breaks, changing spark plugs and other small repairs, that can be a great place to start. This is also another area in which a gift card can be a huge blessing if someone is facing larger repairs that really need to be done in a shop.

3. Hold an Employment Preparation Job Fair

The way jobs are applied for has changed a great deal over the past decade or so. This is where people in the congregation who have experience in the area of Human Resources can really shine, and can assist with assisting job seekers. People who have been in the same job for years may appreciate assistance with updating their resume, tailoring cover letters to prospective employers, tips to remain organized in their job search, and practicing for job interviews. Some people may need assistance with learning how to be more efficient at using platforms such as Indeed, LinkedIn and other employment platforms. Many employers like to use Zoom or Teams for preliminary interviews, and save an in-person meeting for later in the process. So helping people learn how to use these applications can help them to feel less intimidated and have a stronger interview when that opportunity comes around.

One church that took this idea and really ran with it is City of Praise Church in Palm Springs. Not only did they hold a job fair, but they are also offering financial literacy classes and mental health counseling.

Former FEMA employee Stacey Eldridge attends the church and said the assistance she has received from her church has changed her life.

“Community is everything,” Eldridge told NBC Palm Springs. “We’re not in this by ourselves, and knowing that I have a church family and friends here who care makes all the difference.”

4. Assistance with Paying Utility Bills

This is another area in which City of Praise Church has made a point of coming alongside of those in their congregation and community.

“When the government shuts down, the church has to step up,” one church organizer told NBC Palm Springs. “We have opportunities to help people pay utility bills, cover basic needs, and remind them they’re not alone.”

RELATED: Finding Hope during the Government Shutdown

5. Child Care Assistance

To some extent, interviews can be scheduled when the kids are at school, but if a family has preschoolers, knowing that there is someplace they can take little ones when they finally get the interview they’ve worked so hard to get is huge. Not everyone has family in town, and even if they do, those members are not necessarily available. Retirees at the church who love kids or maybe moms or dads who already work from home as a stay-at-home parent might find a ministry here that would be a huge blessing while someone is trying to find a job.

6. Temporary Assistance with Healthcare

Healthcare is expensive when you have to go it alone and you aren’t working for a company that offers that benefit anymore. The extra stress of being unemployed is hard on both job seekers and the family, and prolonged stress can lead to illness. Or sometimes life happens and someone just gets sick while in between jobs. So a willingness on the part of the church to step in, whether that’s because of healthcare providers who are members and have that option, or the church provides funds that may be needed to cover an urgent care visit can really be a huge blessing.

7. Prayer Support and Encouragement

Finding a new job that meets the needs you have can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Sometimes it might even feel like you’re playing the lottery and the job is the lottery prize because of the number of resumes reeled out and the number of interviews you go on. So prayer is actually a very important element in searching for a job, especially having prayer partners who will agree with you in prayer that god leads you to the right opportunity. God does promise us that He’ll provide all of our needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:19), but He will do that on His own time table. Often times, he also does that through His own people. That being said, this is the time to stay close to Him in prayer and make a point of spending time in His Word, because these two items are the very tools that will help with experiencing His peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7) while waiting on Him to move in your circumstances.

8. Take Care of Yourself

Looking for work is exhausting and emotionally draining. So it’s important to make sure that you’re getting adequate sleep, eating right, and just taking care of yourself. Adequate sleep helps reduce stress, and so will taking a bit of time to squeeze in some exercise. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy. It can be a walk around the neighborhood, a hike at a local park, a ride along the bike path, a dance class, a trip to the gym if that’s affordable, or whatever gets you moving and is a form of exercise you know you’ll enjoy. The release of endorphins helps minimize the intense negative feelings that can come with being unemployed, and help provide clarity of thought and a fresh outlook on life.

Image credit: © Getty Images/tuaindeed

Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.