Lent is a season of reflection. We look inward, name what’s broken, and walk with Christ through the wilderness. It’s meant to be a time of spiritual clarity, not distraction.
But for many pastors and ministry leaders—in California, Washington, and Colorado—Lent isn’t marked by stillness. It’s marked by Zillow tabs open at midnight. Another rent increase. A landlord planning to sell. Spouses quietly asking, “How much longer can we do this?”
The spiritual weight of Lent is colliding with the practical crisis of pastoral housing.
If Lent is a time to examine what we’ve avoided, we have to ask:
Are we willing to face what our own leaders are carrying—emotionally, financially, spiritually—just to stay here and serve?
The Inertia of Boards. The Quiet Despair of Leaders.
We know the struggle. Churches care deeply about their staff. Leaders are doing everything they can. And still—budgets are tight, real estate is daunting, and the topic feels too loaded to bring up in a meeting.
But when a pastor is unsure whether they can stay in the community, they’re not just navigating personal stress. They’re leading through it—preaching, discipling, supporting others—while quietly wondering how long they can hold on.
Housing insecurity may not cause a crisis overnight. But over time, it wears down trust, stability, and mission.
Churches Don’t Need to Fix It Alone—But We Do Need to Act.
You don’t have to solve the housing crisis. But you do need to take it seriously.
- Have you started creating a housing policy or pathway for your staff?
- Are you sitting on underutilized property, parsonages, or potential investor relationships that could be activated?
- Are you assuming generosity only flows through the budget—when in reality, members of your community may gladly invest in housing as a separate, mission-aligned initiative?
Lent calls us to stop avoiding what matters. For many churches, that means finally reckoning with what it would take to keep your leaders rooted and thriving in the place they’ve been called.
Aslan Can Help
At Aslan Housing Foundation, we walk alongside churches and ministries facing these challenges. We help you move from awareness to action—with spiritually grounded, financially sound, and context-specific solutions.
We offer:
- Consulting on housing strategy and property stewardship
- A Down Payment Assistance Program that connects churches, donors, and investors in shared-equity partnerships
- The Aslan Marketplace, matching available rooms and homes with ministry staff in need of stable, below-market housing
We’re already supporting churches and organizations across California, Washington, and Colorado—and we’re ready to help you, too.
This Lent, Take the Next Faithful Step
Faith isn’t just about belief. It’s about stepping into what’s hard, uncertain, and worth doing anyway.
If your church is ready to look inward this Lent, start with housing.
Start with the people leading your community every day.