“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

As we begin a new year, I want to share an update with you about our Circles Douglas County program that we host here at FPC Douglasville. In March, it will be four years since our church began Circles. Circles Douglas County builds community to end poverty for people in our community. We talk about social capital. Social capital has to do with building a network of relationships that can encourage and support people to reach their career and financial aspirations. As Christians we believe in holistic wellbeing: body, emotions, mind, and spirit. Poverty affects our wellbeing.

As we journey together with our Circle Leaders (people trying to get out of poverty), Allies (mentors who support the Circle Leaders), volunteers, donors, Advisory Council, and Staff, we don’t hide the fact that we do this as a faith community. We are a community of people who believe in the goodness and presence of God and is about a work of healing and restoration in our lives and in our world. As we get to know each other, we extend invitation to events that are happening in the life of the church, and we offer to pray for each other when we face challenging circumstances.

As we begin 2026, we have five Circle Leaders in our 4th cohort, and we have started training six Circle Leaders in our 5th cohort. We’ve seen some wonderful changes happen in the lives of our Circle Leaders in cohort 4.

Mikiesha started Circles in a situation of unemployment. She had been a teacher but no longer felt able to continue in the role she had studied for. With the support of her Allies (both members of FPC Douglasville), she got a part time job working as a support worker for people with learning difficulties. As her confidence grew, she applied for other positions and towards the end of 2025 secured a full-time role in Administration with the Salvation Army.

Erika was also unemployed and having kids was finding it difficult to manage home life with the need to care for her kids. We began looking for remote working opportunities and came across an agency that helped to connect people looking for remote work with companies that need employees who can work online. After several weeks of intensive training, Erika secured a position with American Airlines.

Shondra is also making great strides. Towards the end of November 2025, she secured a position with Comcast with their Core Intelligence Group. We’re thankful for all the new and good things that are happening in the lives of Circle Leaders and our Circles community.