Calvary Faith in Action Focus: Income Inequality and Bay Area Youth

Reverend Joann • May 3, 2020

Interested in learning how income inequality in the Bay Area is adversely affecting youth ages 16-24? Please join us for a video conversation with Mark Cole, Chief Operating Officer at New Door Ventures, one of Calvary’s non-profit community partners. Mark will also talk about the impact of the coronavirus on New Door Ventures programs and the youth they serve. Mark Cole, Chief Operating Officer of New Door Ventures, oversees New Door Ventures’ social enterprises, Ashbury Images and Pedal Revolution, in addition to finance, human resources, administration and organizational learning functions. He also leads planning and development of key strategic initiatives.



New Door Ventures helps disconnected youth – those without a job and not in school, between the ages of 16 and 24 – get ready for work and life. Many of the youth have experienced homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, or other challenges. At New Door, youth work on completing their education, learn job readiness skills and are offered real jobs at one of their social enterprises. They depend on partners and volunteers like Calvary to help them with mock job interviews, resume review, career panels, as well as financial assistance.

A family escaping, the text reads 'immigrants and refugees welcome'
By Rev. Joann Lee December 28, 2025
Not long after the birth of Christ, King Herod's fragile ego led to the slaughter of innocents. Jesus and his family, however, were able to escape this massacre by seeking refuge in Egypt. When we welcome immigrants and refugees, we welcome Jesus who knew what it meant to be displaced and how it felt to have to leave h
A black night with a lit up Christmas tree - the text reads ‘the people who walked in darkness’
By Rev. Marci Glass December 24, 2025
The prophet Isaiah tells the story of people who walked in darkness. He also tells of how God shines light into the dark and shadowy places where people walk. What is our call, as followers of the Christ child, to reflect God's light for people who are walking in darkness today?
A dark teal image with the text ‘soon and very soon advent 2025’
By Rev. Marci Glass December 21, 2025
In a dream, Joseph received a startling message from God turned his world upside down, and Joseph's faithfulness in responding to God's dream, changed the world. We rejoice for all who hear God's dreams and respond with faith instead of fear.
A pink image that says ‘soon and very soon advent 2025’ in darker pink and a few stars
By Rev. Marci Glass December 14, 2025
God chose an unwed teenage girl to bear the son of God. It reminds us that God is willing to be vulnerable. Because Mary was vulnerable. There was a more than decent chance that this pregnancy could have resulted in Mary being stoned to death. God does not just have a preference for the poor and the weak. God became po
A teal image with the text ‘soon and very soon advent 2025’ in lighter teal and stars
By Rev. Joann Lee December 7, 2025
Repentance is part of the work of preparation – and both activities have individual and collective elements. As crowds come to John for baptism, their repentance becomes a community event. Preparing the path of God also requires communities to engage in peace, love, and justice.
A purple and pink image that says ‘soon and very soon advent 2025” with stars
By Rev. Victor Floyd November 30, 2025
“Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” But when? There is no holy itinerary for God’s arrival — no day or hour, no platform or gate. In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches us that if we want to live good and meaningful lives, we must keep awake: stay alert, attentive, expectant. God’s ever-dawning presence is
A night sky with a lone silhouette of a man, it says ‘sheep without a shepherd’
By Rev. Marci Glass November 23, 2025
The Bible has a tendency to compare us to sheep. In the 23rd Psalm, it is a good comparison because God is the shepherd and God's pretty good at the shepherding business, leading us to still waters. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that sometimes human shepherds let God's flock down. How can we be helpful shepherds, fil
A giant waterfall with water roaring down
By Rev. Joann Lee November 16, 2025
Amos was a small-town shepherd when God called him to be a prophet for justice. This relatively unknown "nobody" spoke boldly to those in power, railing against their policies and systems that favored profit over people. Join Amos on his quest for a fair and equitable society where justice rolls down like waters...
A foggy mountain scene that says 'a sound of sheer silence'
November 9, 2025
Elijah is a very relatable prophet. He has moments of great faithfulness, and moments where his fear gets in the way and his hope dissolves into despair. How does God respond to Elijah, and to us, in those moments when we forget just how great God's faithfulness really is.
A cityscape of San Francisco during a foggy sunrise with the text ‘light of the world’
By Rev. Marci Glass November 2, 2025
Toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples to be the 'salt of the earth' and 'light of the world'. How is God calling Calvary to be light for the world?
More Posts