Helping churches create effective poverty ministries
About the late* Pastor Don Tack — Former Director of Poverty Ministry Consulting
* Pastor Don Tack joined his Savior in heaven on December 10, 2023. His family will still be publishing his book on his behalf.
Don Tack grew up poor in the 1950’s, on a farm outside Hastings, Michigan. He was a teenager when he dedicated his life to to the Lord and to helping the needy. After earning his master’s in Christian Education from Wheaton College in 1972, Pastor Tack has spent over 50 years in direct outreach to the poor and mentally ill homeless - as well as preaching, teaching, writing and consulting about it.
As an Evangelical pastor and Christian college educator, he had concerns about the drift of churches away from direct, relationship-based ministry among the poor. With colleagues and financial support from area churches, he created Servants Center in 1991, and Poverty Ministry Consulting in 2009, both serving the greater Grand Rapids area. His consulting ministry has reached 100’s of church leaders throughout Michigan - giving advice and sharing his vast knowledge about how to be effective with church-based poverty ministries.
His forthcoming book shares what he’s learned about the key role churches need to play to help those who cannot help themselves. Pre-order a copy by contacting us.
Pastor Don Tack — Pictured in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan
About Servants Center
In 1991, Pastor Don Tack created Servants Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that directly serves the unmet needs of our fellow citizens dealing with poverty and homelessness in the Grand Rapids area. Using direct street outreach techniques, they’ve helped thousands of clients. The organization assists with housing and medical issues, and provides guardianship and payee services for their clients. Learn more about their work, donate and get involved by going to www.SCGR.org
Their mission is to enhance the reputation of our Lord Jesus Christ through the provision of high quality, relationship-based street outreach and ongoing support services to the mentally ill poor and homeless people of the community. They also provide educational speaking engagements and events including Sunday preaching, training, seminars and consulting services to help congregations develop ministries among the poor in their own communities - urban, suburban or rural.
Servants Center’s work and staff of nine is funded through private contributions from churches, families, individuals, businesses and foundations. They take no government funding and are accredited by the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability (ECFA).
“How can we worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?”
“...She’s in church every Sunday. We had no idea she was starving!”
Pastor Tack was honored with the “2014 Good Samaritan Award” by Guiding Light Mission, at their annual gala in Grand Rapids at Frederick Meijer Gardens.
He was invited to visit cities where police departments are adding social workers to their response teams, getting an inside look at programs in Memphis and San Francisco.
Testimonials
Pastor Tack has been honored to work with many wonderful people over his career:
Servants Center fills a niche in our community’s efforts to respond with Biblical compassion for the poor and homeless.” ~ Andrew Zystra, Former Director, Kent County Family Independence Agency
“Our inner-city ministry could not be as effective as it is today with patrons who have severe mental illness if it were not for Servants Center.” ~ Marge Parmerlee, Executive Director, Dégagé Ministries
“Servants Center’s ‘in the streets’ approach to seeking out needy mentally ill homeless individuals is not replicated by any other organization in the Grand Rapids area. Thank you for being out there for those who slip through the human services safety net.” ~ Russ Misiak, Investigator, Adult Protective Services
“Servants Center is vital to a population that would be otherwise forgotten.” ~ Gary Bonn, Social Services Clinician
“Calvary Church enthusiastically supports the work of Servants Center. This is a strategic ministry making a great impact in our community.” ~ Bruce Huseby, former Director of Community Ministries, Calvary Church
“As a police officer in central Grand Rapids, I work a great deal in the Heartside District. Servants Center is the first place I look for assistance when dealing with the challenges of the chronically mentally ill homeless.” ~ Kelly Swanson, Officer, Grand Rapids Police Department
“Servants Center fills a niche in our community’s efforts to respond with Biblical compassion for the poor and homeless.” ~ Andrew Zystra, Director, Kent County Family Independence Agency