The Greatest Commandment

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matt. 22:37–40

I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Ruby Payne for the past ten years. Over the years, Dr. Payne became Ruby, my friend, and, as friends do, we engaged in many conversations. Interestingly, the more we talked, the more our discussions naturally turned toward faith, Jesus, and how her insights and the work I was doing with under-resourced students and families could also serve the church. Specifically, we explored how this understanding could enhance outreach, deepen worship, and help share the love of Jesus.

Ruby’s work has challenged me in profound and unexpected ways. In particular, it helped me recognize how judgmental I could be toward those living in poverty, something I should have understood more deeply through Jesus’s teachings. This journey has truly transformed me as a person.

Applying Ruby’s work to the church’s calling to serve the “orphans and widows” (James 1:27) in our communities is meaningful and impactful. It not only aligns with our mission of addressing poverty but also has the potential to make a genuine difference. I am deeply grateful to Ruby for allowing me to be a part of sharing this transformative learning.

This is my favorite training! The training guides faith communities to love their neighbors biblically,using Dr. Payne’s research and Scripture, especially James, to reshape perceptions of poverty.

It equips volunteers to engage compassionately, address fears, and provide resources that promote lasting stability.

The program also helps churches identify and overcome barriers to outreach, empowering volunteers to serve with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and deepen their faith and community impact.