I Prayed have prayed
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Pray for Dr. Ben Carson to have compassion and wisdom as Secretary of HUD. Thank God that Dr. Carson puts his faith and trust in Christ.

Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. (Matt. 10:16 MSG)

We should all want Ben Carson to succeed. If he does, the fight against poverty can be won. If he does not, then we continue down the same road we’ve been on for more than half a century. It goes in never-ending circles of more spending, more promises and fewer results. This endless loop of liberal orthodoxy brought us 80 uncoordinated means-tested federal welfare programs costing $744 billion annually.

We have no way of knowing if public benefits truly help anybody. How many people became self-sufficient due to food stamps, Section 8 vouchers, home heating assistance and cash welfare benefits? You see, the government does not measure outcomes on metrics such as employment or ending drug abuse. If the government did measure such things, we would know where to target resources instead of trying to meet every human need imaginable.

Dr. Carson took the job few conservatives in Washington want, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While HUD does not represent the entire welfare state, more than any other Cabinet department, its sole reason for being is to help Americans join the middle class.

When President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation creating HUD in 1965 he said, “We must not let our cities become symbols of a sordid society.” Fast-forward to today and President Trump, in his speech to Congress, cited Baltimore and Detroit among examples of urban decline. Nobody can argue with that. The mayor of Detroit campaigned on fixing broken street lights. Baltimore went up in flames following a fatal police encounter with an unemployed, young black man. Dr. Carson is intimately familiar with Detroit, where he was born and raised, and Baltimore, where he spent his career as a neurosurgeon.

HUD is missing in action when it comes to addressing the ills of urban America. It has meandered way off course during the Obama administration, inserting itself into local land-use decisions through its fair housing rule, a politically correct and meaningless focus on climate change, and providing Indian and rural housing where other departments and agencies already have a role. Such mission creep will not help anyone escape poverty in Baltimore, Detroit or anywhere else. Perhaps a physician is what we need after all, somebody who can diagnose, triage and treat the problem of poverty in America. But don’t say that to the poverty-industrial complex.

When Mr. Trump announced Dr. Carson as Cabinet secretary, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter told The Wall Street Journal: “For the serious practitioners of public policy, I cannot imagine those professionals could be more demoralized by this announcement today.” Thank you, Mayor — you just summed up the entire problem. The HUD secretary should not be going to work every day attempting to please practitioners of public policy.

Dr. Carson told senators during his confirmation hearing that he will take a “holistic” approach to public housing. That means addressing the underlying conditions that cause homelessness in the first place such as substance abuse, lack of education and job skills, and broken families. Organizations like ours, and many other private, nonprofits across the country, train our case managers to ask open-ended questions when someone needs to stay in our homeless shelters or enroll in our drug rehabilitation program: “What brought you here?” Answering that question elicits a response that identifies entrenched problems that go beyond putting a roof over someone’s head.

Contrast that with the approach of the last eight years. The Obama administration sought to warehouse people with no questions asked about maintaining sobriety or trying to find work. How did that happen? The Obama administration promised to end homelessness, and appointed officials and bureaucrats followed suit, devising a program called Rapid Rehousing, which sweeps people off the streets and into subsidized housing.

Illustrating the liberal mindset of fighting poverty, previous HUD Secretary Julian Castro asked Congress for $11 billion to create a new entitlement for this program. To justify this request, Mr. Castro pointed to a massive HUD report that nobody has time to read. Someone did read it — the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness — which concluded, “Definitive answers were nowhere to be found” regarding Rapid Rehousing’s results. So much for the brilliance of public policy practitioners.

Dr. Carson will face a stubborn bureaucracy, big-city political machines, lousy media coverage and members of Congress who will question his every move. The first challenge has been met: putting someone in charge who can look at poverty and homelessness anew. Perhaps the first step, if HUD is to be relevant in fighting poverty, is to stop the status-quo madness and back someone to lead it without a government resume. (Contributor: By Vann Ellison for The Washington Times – Vann Ellison is the president and CEO of Naples, Florida-based St. Matthew’s House.)

Comments (13) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Patricia
May 3, 2017

Lord, You keep Your Word. You said that Your people would abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in a quiet resting place. You said that ask for a house and believe you will receive. Help us follow Your ways according to Luke 14:28 that states that for which of you, desire to build a tower (become a homeowner), does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?. Lord, You said, we do our part and You will do Yours. Bless these programs and organizations that help Your people rise up financially so You can be glorified. Without You, nothing can be accomplished. Your Word is what we receive as final authority. We praise You because You have a good plan for us and we thank You that You are able to move on our behalf, in Jesus name! In Jesus name! Amen.

Darrin Stilwell
April 6, 2017

Darrin S says:
Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I thank you for Dr. Carson’s heart to make an impact in America for all those that are less fortunate. I pray you will fill him full and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. May he rule and reign in his position of power and may you overshadow him in all of his decisions. May his words go forth in power and move all barriers that may hinder his work. Father, make his paths straight and may you bless the work of his hands and all those involved in this operation (HUD). I bind the enemies in the spiritual and physical realms from any and all attempts from hindering progress in this ministry. Father, help all those that need help from our government, and may you richly bless them so that they can get to the place in life that they are helping themselves and others. Father you are very generous in your love and favor on your people that serve you with a pure heart. I pray that you will send willing co-laborers to join the team of Ben Carson. I pray that you will work in and through each one mightily being led by your Spirit. Father, I pray your will be done in America through HUD in Jesus Name. Amen

Sharon L Buck
April 2, 2017

Heavenly Father, You have a heart for the homeless and the poor. You told us that we need to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. You also told us to lift up the less fortunate, to help them attain to the stature of the fullness of Christ. Without homes and security, people cannot be lifted up. I thank You that Dr. Carson has “been there, done that” in regards to living in poverty. I thank You that You have given him eyes to see and ears to hear what the problems are, and the wisdom to go forward with solutions to those problems. I pray that You will strengthen him with Your might in his inner being, that he will turn a deaf ear to those who would attempt to distract him or mislead him, and that You will give him the programs that will work. I also pray that You will show him what needs to go, and that he will be relentless in moving aside the rubble so that the new can be put in place! Encourage him, Father. Give him successes. Enlarge his vision. Bring him wise counselors and hard workers who will put their shoulders to the wheel and keep moving forward. Bring life back into places where death reigns, and light to replace the darkness! Thank You, in the great Name of Jesus!

Shirley Kufeldt
March 31, 2017

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, Thank you that Dr. Carson has committed his life to Jesus Christ and now he is on assignment. HUD is an organization that has not offered neither hope nor solutions to the millions of people who have been beneficiaries of the program. Without hope, there is little incentive or direction. However, Dr. Carson did not “enjoy” success, he created success through hard work, diligence and a mindset that taught him to examine a problem. Then a plan could be devised that ended in success. So I pray that Dr. Carson will use the skills that You have developed in him to diagnose the challenges faced by those in poverty. The correct diagnosis is the critical first step. Implementation, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will lead to success for those who have lost hope but not finally see an end to poverty and a new life, with challenges, but respect in their own abilities. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Stella Applebaum
March 31, 2017

May the same creative Holy Ghost that hovered over the earth when it was formless/void, give the creative power that can only come from the force/knowledge of Heaven’s thrown enlighten Dr. Ben Carson and his great/ministering staff insight/instruction how to move. The results from God. You have been given revelation in your life time and again. Receive from God Almighty direction needed today for task before you today. Just as Nehemiah too given in this hour the most impossible task; but with God’s strength courage & steadfast as you hold your swords at ready and build-up in record time safety for homeland and training institutes/programs, on Earth as it is in Heaven!

Debra K. Mundine
March 31, 2017

I am a regular significant prayer warrior for people, our nation and Israel and everything that is right and just. Therefore, I will read the information above and then fast to ensure that my prayers are at their most efficient degree of power.

A chosen natural born saint, set apart Firstborn daughter of the Almighty Heavenly Father, also a long-suffering sacrifice of God (broken spirit and contrite heart), witness, light in the world, salt of the earth, Head not the tail, lost sheep FOUND and remnant of Israel ( ancestral links–tribes of Judah and Levite). Just letting you know I AM THE REAL DEAL!!!!

Gaby luevano
March 31, 2017

lord Jesu, Creator of all great and small. Lord if you speak it into existence and if it is your will let it be for your names sake. forgive us of our sins heal our broken system . Place in Dr. Carson a hedge of protection, wisdom that comes from you and is measureless, knowledge to do your will. Lord Jehova you are the great physician use Dr. Carson mightily as he relies on you to rid of the beauracratic forces, the political forces that have failed to care for the sick marganilized and poor. Father I pray for tremendous strength courage and compassion as he works to take care of those in need. Lord give him a whole picture of the situation that he would know exactly what is going on and provide methods solutions and ideas to reach out to those in need. May you bless his wonderful wife and family. I pray EZ.3:9 over him in Jesus name.
I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

Jacquelyn Jackson
March 31, 2017

Praying Isaiah 58:9-12 over the work of Dr. Carson in this enormous task of rebuilding and restoring. May people of faith step into their callings as priests and kings and bring the Good News of Christ to the streets of the inner cities.

holly harrington
March 31, 2017

Praying for an anointing on Dr. Carson for this job & ministry. May no man nor power nor spiritual force come against him. Bless him Lord God with your wisdom and direction for creative ways to help many people come out of the poverty cycle and have hope. Open doors for him and provide all he needs to go forward and accomplish much. May many people become open to God’s work in their life through him and accept the Savoir. Use him Lord God as a healer of bitter, angry hearts and minds to turn them to light & truth. In Jesus precious name.

Barbara B
March 31, 2017

Lord God, I ask that you fill Dr. Carson with wisdom, boldness, tenacity and compassion as he works to completely overhaul the system for housing in America. There is such a lack of affordable housing for many, including the mentally ill. May Dr. Carson seek You and the solutions that will meet the needs of the people requiring assistance in order to eliminate homelessness and poverty in America. In our great country blessed by God, no one should live on the streets. And I would also pray that the Church would wake up, rise up and speak up to do its job to help and actually take care of the widows and the orphans and all who need a place to call home as the Bible instructs. I speak protection and provision and support and trusted helpers for Dr Carson. Let him be Your mouthpiece. Father God, we thank You for what You will accomplish through Dr Carson. Amen. I call those things that are not as though they are!

Deanie C.
March 31, 2017

As I watch the events of our “new/old” government continue to hold us all captive in their tenacious and deeply entrenched methods of self promotion – – I am inspired that we need to pray this verse toward a Wilberforce anointing to come upon Dr. Ben, President Trump and all “light bearers” working toward Godly change. Mercy, Father. We need Your merciful favor to outsmart and out maneuver the enemy while winning to Your kingdom the masses who have been so wickedly deceived.

Julie K
March 31, 2017

I hope many other intercessors will pray for Dr. Carson. May God bless him for being willing to take on a challenge that few others would want. Perhaps others will pray me today in praying Ps. 31 for him.

Bernadine Reid
March 31, 2017

Praying for Dr.Carson, is a definite must. I am also concerned about the State of New Jersey, where I reside because they’re talking about cutting out a program that helps people who are 55+ to work part time training through Agencies that help the prevention of homelessness. It’s not meant to be permanent but a stepping stone to better. President Trump, wants to cut these programs like Pathstone which would cause more harm than good. I am a Veteran and I receive HUD-VASH which is equivalent to Section 8 . This aids in helping me with rent and I know that there are other Veterans who depend upon this to be able to live in their own apartment. So, this is just one of the many reasons that I will be praying for Dr. Ben Carson, to stand up for righteousness in our Government and that the spirit of greed will be thrown down and crushed, in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.