Jan
24
Texas Baptist Hunger Offering helps rescue young women from slavery
Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. In the last ten years, more than 100,000 people have been victims of human trafficking, and more than 30,000 girls and women have disappeared without a trace. Lack of a future has brought a “new national idea” among youth – to leave the country at any price.
Because of this horrific fact, Beginning of Life (BoL), a Christ-centered residential rehabilitation ministry in Chisinau, Moldova, began raising awareness about the problem through press conferences and TV programs. BoL Safe House was born to provide housing, food, medical/psychological assistance, education and society re-integration for young women who are victims of violence and trafficking.
The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, in partnership with Global Women, an ecumenical missions movement to empower women to fulfill her unique purpose, is providing funds in 2012 for food, clothing, shelter, education, counseling and supervision for young women at the Safe House. The ultimate goal is to transition these women (and their children) from sexual slavery, abuse and/or neglect and abandonment to self-sufficiency, through intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual and social support from trained social workers and assistants at Beginning of Life.
During their time at the center, the ladies are assessed for job skills and connected with trade schools for training. After they are trained, the center helps with their job search, allowing them to live at the center at least one month after beginning employment. Re-integration into society is an important priority, along with long-term follow-up.
At the center, there are opportunities for the young women to attend Bible classes and worship in various churches, most of which choosing Evangelical ones. The women have seen the love of Christ shown to them and openly speak about how hopeless their future would be without Beginning of Life.
Nov
18
Environmental Stewardship and Church Energy Policy
Our state’s demand for energy is expected to rise, and rise faster than the nation as a whole, over the coming years. Given our state’s ongoing need for greater and greater energy resources, clean energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass can help us meet our future energy needs. But whether we are quick or slow to diversify with clean energy options, the cost of energy will continue to rise.
The Christian Life Commission has been paying extra attention to the rising energy costs for churches. El Paso churches faced a recent very steep spike in energy costs; the cost increase that was planned hit churches disproportionately to the rise other businesses and residential rates. Churches organized to work with the local energy provider and city officials to compromise and put a ceiling on the rate increase. Austin Energy is currently going through the rate increase process, where many houses of worship could see their bills increase in excess of 80%. If your utility provider is going through a rate case, please let the Christian Life Commission know. We can be of assistance in determining what the effect will be on your church’s electric bill and how to try to mitigate against egregious increases.
Many private sector businesses are preparing for these cost increases by making their facilities more energy efficient in part financed by tax rebates and tax offsets. Public sector buildings, like schools and courthouses, have the opportunity to take advantage of similar energy efficiency measures with funds set aside by the State of Texas. Churches and other nonprofits cannot take advantage of tax incentives, nor are they eligible for public facility funding. This means that churches have been facing the same inevitable energy cost increases but without any help or subsidy to offset initial costs.
A greater and greater portion of a church budget is consumed by rising energy costs. Every dollar spent on the increase in a church’s electricity bill is a dollar that could be spent on ministries. By saving energy we save water, reduce pollution including mercury, protect public health, act as good stewards, and we can spend tithes and offerings on ministry rather than electric bills.
Sep
19
One step closer to recovery
I recently had the experience of testifying in court. It’s quite an experience to stand before a judge lift your hand and promise to tell the truth in a court of law. The words are powerful and can effect the outcome of a case, a life and a family.
Truth is also an important concept in recovery. Unless a person can truly be honest about the reality of their life and choices then true recovery is not possible. Actually telling the truth can be very painful as one admits to short comings, poor choices and sinful deeds. Yet in the pain honesty, forgiveness and restoration can be found.
Step 5 in AA says, “We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” As a therapist, I’ve worked with hundreds of people on this step and have gotten to be a part of the awesome transition from guilt to grace. For as a person is able to fully see the truth about their life and choices, repent, and experience forgiveness then one is free to walk with Christ in His grace.
Part of the struggle of Step 5 is to admit that wrong is wrong. The step is a time to agree with God about the exact nature of the wrong and the fact that the sinful part of ourself is focused on covering up the problem. Part of the freedom that comes in step 5 is admitting what we know deep down inside to be the truth.
One of the most difficult parts of step 5 is overcoming denial. It’s tough because by definition a person has trouble understanding that they are in fact lying to themselves. It’s a person of courage who can honestly ask God to reveal to them the truth. Yet by God’s nature, He already knows the truth and loves us unconditionally. So a part of the step is to trust that even in the ugly, shameful and sometimes heart breaking truth God is big enough, loving enough and faithful enough to always forgive when we are truly repentant.
The Bible says in John 8:32, “For you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” In the process of the telling of the truth, there is an internal peace that was lost years ago that is now found. The truth does lead each of us one step closer to recovery and to a life of freedom in His Grace.
Aug
16
Listen to the Children: Conversations With Immigrant Families
Immigration is a complex and divisive social issue in the U.S. Much is debated and argued about undocumented workers and “DREAMers,” that is, the young undocumented high school graduates who are unable to study, work or enroll in the armed forces. It is not often, though, that we hear anything about how the experience of our immigrant population affects their children.
Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier has recently published a book on this issue that is a highly recommended read. A concise book, just 69 pages, Listen to the Children is written for a broad audience and peppered with real-life stories involving children, which firmly anchor her findings in reality. Her book may very well become the primer for immigrant family counseling.
The first part of the book is aimed for immigrant parents, providing them with practical advice about communicating to their children their intention to migrate to a new land, choosing the right caregiver while they are away, reuniting with them in the U.S. and adjusting to a new life in a foreign land.
Through interviews, Dr. Conde-Frazier writes about the experience of undocumented immigrants from the perspective of their children, shedding light upon their psychological and emotional condition. She brings to the table issues that the Body of Christ should be aware of in order to provide support and help to these children and their families as they go through the difficulties of being undocumented immigrants or children of undocumented immigrants.
Teachers, clergy, and social workers can greatly benefit from Dr. Conde-Frazier’s insights and wealth of information. Here are a few noteworthy facts contained in her book:
- There are an estimated 16.5 million children of immigrant parents in our country.
- There are 3 million children who are born U.S. citizens, but whose parents are undocumented immigrants.
- There are an estimated 2 million children who are themselves undocumented immigrants. They came with their parents to the U.S. when they were babies. They grew up in the U.S. and went to school here. This is the only country they know.
- The average income of almost half of all immigrant households is 200 percent below poverty level. This is the case in only 34 percent for U.S.-born households.
- The poverty that immigrants experience is not alleviated by public assistance of any kind. They are not eligible for Medicaid, Temporary Public Assistance (TANF) and food stamps.
- In 1982 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children in grades K-12 are guaranteed their right to an education regardless of the legal status of their parents. Therefore, no school in the U.S. should require legal documentation from parents before allowing their children to register for classes.
People of faith have not completely ignored the plight of immigrant children. In fact, according to a study conducted by the National Council of La Raza, cited by Dr. Conde-Frazier, churches are often among the first organizations to respond to the immediate needs of immigrant families affected by raids. This shows that, to a degree, Christians are paying attention and respond quickly to families that have experienced separation from one or both parents due to an immigration raid. Dr. Conde-Frazier offers much wisdom and guidance for churches and individuals who are close to these kinds of needs.
Dr. Conde-Frazier ends the book by reminding us “immigrants find themselves in a situation where they need to choose between doing what’s necessary for their families to survive and following laws that deny them the right to survive.” Moreover, “they persevere despite the limitations of their context, and push back against language and laws that deem them as non-persons or persons unworthy of equal status. They create strategies of survival, insisting that their ‘human rights’ and the injustices existing in the two countries gives them a right to disrupt the orderly classifications produced by the state. They push us all toward a status of dignity and justice.”
We must side with those whose dignity and justice is put in doubt by any person or political system and echo the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, who once said “if any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones…it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Listen to the Children challenges us to do everything we can in the power of the Holy Spirit to care for our immigrants and alleviate the suffering of the most innocent and vulnerable ones among them: the children.
May
31
Texas Thrift Report
Texas is a proud state. In particular, we are proud of a robust business climate that has enabled our state to avoid many of the most dramatic effects of the recent recession. However, in many ways our Texas families are hurting. Out of all fifty states, Texas ranks #2 in childhood food insecurity (hunger) and #1 in the percent of citizens who lack health insurance. We are ranked 43rd in per pupil spending on public education, and 43rd in high school graduation rate. We believe it is high time that the state direct as much energy and effort into creating a family-friendly economy as we have in creating our business-friendly climate.
Another set of statistics is particularly troubling for our families. Texas ranks 48th in average household net worth at $45,434 but we have a median installment debt per household of $16, 289, ranking us 46th. By combining the above statistics one can easily see why it is hard for Texas families to thrive. Texas should enact policies that help our citizens become secure and self reliant. The state should do what it can to encourage our families to save, not to go into debt and gamble away their future.
In April, the CLC, in partnership with the Institute for American values, released a report entitled “Thrift or Debt, Which Direction is Right for Texas?” (Thrift Report – Thrift or Debt Which is the Right Direction for Texas.pdf). The focus of the report is the rise of anti-thrift institutions and the public policy decisions which created them. In particular we are concerned about predatory lending and state sponsored gambling. The framers of our state constitution understood how dangerous a debt and bet culture would be to future prosperity. Gambling was completely prohibited in the constitution and any interest over 10% was considered usury. It’s time we recognized the wisdom of these policies and returned to an era of thrift.
As part of the report we engaged Knowledge Networks, Inc. to conduct the 2010 Survey of Texas Savers. The results were alarming –
- More than one-third of middle to lower income households have less than $1,000 in total savings.
- Of households earning less than $30,000 per year, two-thirds have less than $1,000 in total savings.
- Ten percent of households earning under $30,000 per year have only the cash in their wallet or purse.
Yet the survey also found that Texans want to save more –
- For Texans earning less than $100,000 their number one financial goal was saving more – building up a larger emergency fund.
- 52% of survey respondents said it is harder for them to save than compared to their parent’s generation.
The survey revealed Texans have strong attitudes regarding anti-thrift institutions –
- 65% of lower to middle income Texans see payday lenders as unhelpful financial resources
- 56.3% see the Texas Lottery as unhelpful
- 59.6% believe that the gambling industry makes its profit by exploiting human weakness
- 47.3% believe the gambling industry takes advantage of poor people
- 55.5% of Texans surveyed said the state should NOT expand state lotteries and state sponsored casinos.
The entire report can be found HERE
The legislative session is coming to a close; however our work is by no means done. The themes in this report will be a guide for how the CLC will engage churches, the public, and lawmakers on these issues. As long as the state needs to raise revenue gambling industry lobbyists will be paid millions of dollars to try and convince lawmakers that casinos would be good for Texas. While the legislature passed two bills addressing some of the problems with the payday and auto title industry, they are only first steps toward real reform. We will need all of our supporters to bring their sense of biblical justice to the public debate on these issues. The CLC is committed to providing the resources you need to educate yourself, your congregation and fellow church members as well as your elected officials about these issues – the future of Texas is at stake.
Apr
11
Christian Life Commission Teaches Hunger Awareness to Children
Jesus really likes children.
He didn’t ask for childcare when he had a speaking engagement.
He loved their enthusiasm. He impressed upon those he taught how important they were.
So important, that throughout scripture, in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Mark, the Acts, the message is clear…teach the children God’s truth.
Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “…with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” (Is. 11:6) This truth reveals Jesus’ desire for our children to understand their role in caring for others.
Come to the Table, Children’s Hunger Awareness Curriculum, a collaboration between the Christian Life Commission and Dallas Baptist University Masters Education Department, will help you do just that.
Written for preschoolers (age 3-K), younger children (grades 1-4), and preteens (grades 5-6), it is now available for free download. Each age-graded section offers five sessions which include Bible stories, mission stories based on Hunger Offering projects, related activities for the classroom, and activities for the family at home.
Use this curriculum in Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, missions organizations, and/or children’s camps and retreats. Exploring the biblical texts and hearing how Texas Baptists are alleviating hunger and poverty at home and abroad will help the children envision a world without hunger and their part in transforming that image into reality.
Scripture says, “Teach the children.” If we don’t teach them, who will?
Feb
28
…doers of the Word by: Jeremy Everett
I have enjoyed opportunities to be a witness to incarnational agents who seek food security for the hungry over the past two years of working with the Texas Hunger Initiative. These agents for justice manifest Christ’s presence among us and can be found in all sectors of society. They are people in organizing communities like Carol Rigby-Hiebert and Mary Herbert in San Angelo. They are pastors like Dan Trevino in San Antonio. They are policy advocates like JC Dwyer with the Texas Food Bank Network. They work in government like Bill Ludwig and Leslie Lankster at USDA.
MAX FINBERG – Recently, I had an opportunity to interview an incarnational agent, Max Finberg. Max has spent his adult life advocating for the hungry in Washington, D.C., in the non-profit sector until recently being appointed in May 2009, by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to direct USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Housed in the Office of the Secretary, the Center’s mission is to build partnerships between USDA and faith-based and neighborhood organizations to better serve individuals, families and communities. Max is a gifted collaborator, inspiring communicator, and a patient listener. Here is an excerpt from our recent interview:
Jeremy: What is the scope of hunger in the U.S. in 2011?
Max: Almost 1 in 6 Americans struggle to put food on the table. That means 50 million brothers and sisters, 17 million of them children, do not have enough access to food to survive and thrive.
Jeremy: Why do we have so much hunger in such a wealthy nation?
Max: We have not decided that hunger is something we want to end. We have the ability. There is plenty of food, we have a strong social safety net, and there are many people of faith and goodwill that provide access to emergency food. However, we have not made the decision to plug the gaps for people to have access to food all the time. It will require the public and the private sectors working together to become food secure.
Jeremy: Why as a person of faith is ending hunger a priority to you?
Max: Because Matthew 25: 31-46 says, “I was hungry and you gave me some food, I was thirsty you gave me something to drink…and the righteous will answer, ‘When was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?’…Then the king will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Faith is my motivating factor in trying to end hunger since Scripture is full of references to helping the poor and hungry. We cannot get around it.
Jeremy: Why do you feel called to public service?
Max: I grew up with a strong sense of call to working in public service that was modeled for me by my father and my community in the Catskill Mountains of New York. I have been honored to join the Obama administration to answer the call to feed hungry people, and I have been inspired by Secretary Vilsack’s similar sense of call.
Jeremy: How do you see Texans answering the call to ensure food security in our state?
Max: Well, first of all, I commend the Texas Hunger Initiative, Texas Baptists, Texas Impact, the Texas Food Bank Network, and all of your partners including Health and Human Services, Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Department of Agriculture for already demonstrating results. It is fabulous to see a collaborative effort yield Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program resources to an additional 700,000 people in your state over one year! That is a boost for everyone! It put an estimated billion dollars in food insecure families’ hands to purchase healthy food in grocery stores and farmers markets across the state that helped create jobs during our recession. It is great to see leadership form Commissioner Staples and Commissioner Suehs, to see the public and private sector working well together, and to see churches expanding the food pantry ministries to including SNAP outreach and Summer Meals programs for children.
Jeremy: Thank you for your time. I have one final question. What would you like to see Texas do better?
Max: Although, we have increased participation in public and private programs over the past year, the programs and resources available to hungry families are still underutilized in Texas. That means increased hardship for families that are already having a difficult time. Many Texans trust their pastors and so pastors need to step up. Pastors can use their influence to encourage their congregations to do more for hungry families in their communities.
My hope for Texas is that we will heed the call of Matthew 25 like Max has done. I hope that we will realize the wisdom of the Jesus’ words in the Gospel passage that the least of these are members of His family…and thus our own. Together we can make Texas food secure.
Jeremy Everett is the Director of the Texas Hunger Initiative in the Baylor University School of Social Work.
Max Finberg previously was the Director of the Alliance to End Hunger, a non-profit organization that engages diverse institutions in building the public will to end hunger, both in the United States and worldwide.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Mr. Finberg served Ambassador and former Representative Tony Hall (D-OH) for 12 years in a variety of capacities. He was Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, Italy. Mr. Finberg was also Senior Legislative Assistant covering domestic hunger and poverty issues for Representative Hall.
Mr. Finberg graduated with honors from Howard University’s School of Divinity with a Master’s degree in Social Ethics. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife, Kate, and two children, Eliana and Matthias.
We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.
Jan
10
Living the Christian Life – Top Public Policy Issues for 2011
Filed Under Living the Christian Life | 2 Comments
The Texas Legislature convened for the 82nd Legislative session on January 11, 2011. In many respects, our elected officials face the most difficult session in recent memory. The state comptroller has reported that the state will have $72.2 billion in general revenue to spend on the budget for the next two years. According to experts, in order to maintain the current level of state services and account for inflation and population growth, the state would actually need nearly $99 billion. Closing that nearly $27 billion gap will be a difficult task for legislators. The results of the 2010 census also call for legislative redistricting. The drawing of the boundary lines for the Texas House, Senate and U. S. Congressional districts among others, is always a contentious, political process. The state will also be looking to understand what effects the new federal health care laws will have on this state and some will be searching for ways Texas can combat illegal immigration. We will also be welcoming a large number of new lawmakers to Austin who are unfamiliar with the legislative process.
In the midst of all of this, the Citizenship and Public Policy office in Austin has been hard at work. We have been researching, writing, talking to pastors and church members, meeting with legislators and their staff, and working with numerous coalition partners. We’ve met with our commission members and sought their guidance in formulating our priorities for the upcoming session. The entire list of legislative priorities was published in our last enewsletter and can be found here (pdf).
Based on these conversations, a study of the political landscape and our own history, the following four priorities have emerged as our top concerns heading into this legislative session. Below you will find a short summary of each issue area. In the “Ethics in Action” article you can find numerous links to resources that will help you become even more familiar with each issue. Remember, the Citizenship and Public Policy office seeks to be a resource as we speak to and with Texas Baptists on matters of public policy. Should you want to meet with an elected official about these or another issue of which you’re passionate about, please let us know so we can help make your visit a success. We will also be sending out occasional “Public Policy Alerts” at times in the legislative process when your voice can be most influential. If you are a Facebook user, please “Like” the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission as we will be utilizing this powerful social media resource to keep people informed.
This legislative session will be difficult, but by selecting our issues carefully, having an informed voice, a strong message, focusing on policy, not politics, with your help, and with our Christian ethical values, we can make a positive difference for the people of Texas.
Top Issues for the upcoming legislative session
Gambling Expansion
Opposing gambling expansion efforts has been a hallmark of the CLC’s efforts in Austin for years. We are proud of that history, and still believe that the state partnering with a predatory business that plays our fellow citizens for suckers in exchange for a little bit of tax revenue is bad public policy. The CLC, through Weston Ware and Phil Strickland opposed paramutual horse racing and the Texas lottery. Neither venture has fulfilled the promises in the eyes of the public. As our state faces another revenue shortfall, some would like to turn to gambling again. We will fight these efforts by pointing out the failed efforts of the past, calling for a true cost/benefit analysis of any proposal and challenging our lawmakers to find better solutions to our problems. We will also point to promises unmet, and problems created by gambling expansion in other states particularly in regards to Native-American casino expansion. Such a drastic change in the character of our state should be debated on the merits of the proposal, not just to gain revenue in lean times or as a reaction to the actions of neighboring states.
While we still believe that any expansion efforts will face long odds at the capitol, the pressure of the budget deficit will be immense. The gambling industry has donated generously to campaigns and will once again spend millions of dollars on lobbyists. Fighting these proposals will take a great deal of time and energy by the CLC staff and to succeed we’ll need your help.
Predatory Lending
A loophole in Texas law allows predatory lenders, such as payday and auto title lenders, to take advantage of low and moderate income Texans with no limits on the fees they can charge. The Texas finance code already has laws in place to govern these lenders with regard to interest rates, fees along with other protections that allow lenders to make a profit but help prevent borrowers from being trapped in debt. The CLC is working in coalition with other organizations not to advance a new onerous regulatory scheme that puts these lenders out of business, but to simply close this loophole so they have to abide by laws already in place. A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced legislation to do just that.
This is a multi-billion dollar a year industry in Texas that has already begun a vigorous defense. It will take a public outcry to help give legislators the strength they need to enact these reasonable protections.
As part of our efforts, the CLC has partnered with Texas Impact and the Texas Catholic Conference to reach out to the faith community in Texas. Please visit our new website www.texasfaithforfairlending.org to learn more and sign the petition to lend your voice to our efforts.
Hunger and Poverty
Since the last legislative session, the CLC has greatly increased our advocacy around the issue of hunger and food insecurity. In partnership with the Baylor School of Social Work we created the Texas Hunger Initiative to attack the problem of hunger on a community, grassroots level. In Austin we convened a new coalition called the Texas Food Policy Roundtable and we are excited as we work to promote our legislative priorities this session.
The budget deficit makes proposing legislation a difficult task. It is widely understood among advocates that any bill calling for additional general revenue spending will not pass. Fortunately, there are many cost-neutral measures the state can take to help combat the growing problem of hunger in Texas. The coalition has compiled a list of our top priorities that can be found here (pdf). It is vitally important that the state protect the recent advances it has made in timely processing applications for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits. Such benefits help Texas families make it through lean times and have the additional benefit of pumping millions of Federal dollars into the retail outlets in our communities constituting vital economic development.
Environment and Clean Energy
In recent years the CLC has increased our advocacy in the environmental arena. We’ve done so in response to what we see as God’s call for us to be good stewards of his creation. In 2006 the BGCT passed a resolution calling on the CLC to advocate for sound environmental policies in the public square. Since then, we’ve worked on a number of creation care issues including, renewable energy, electronics recycling and energy efficiency.
This session we are supporting legislation that will increase the amount of renewable energy in the state, provide houses of worship with economically viable avenues to increasing their efficiency & promote the proper recycling of electronic waste. Texas has the opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy that will not only benefit the environment, but will also spur economic development in local communities. Energy efficiency measures save churches and families money while reducing their energy use. We expect there to be legislation that would encourage rooftop solar installations, call for more energy efficient building standards, and protect state funding that helps low-income households with their energy bills. It is also important to note that every major state agency overseeing energy and environmental policies will be undergoing the Sunset review process, an opportunity for positive change.
We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.
Nov
24
Hunger Offering branches out in Latin America
A group of Texas Baptists met Belter in the open, upstairs room of a community center in Guatemala. He smiled brightly, his eyes sparkled, and he spoke clearly to the group of gathered Americans. Something, however, did not seem right. He had the look of a 12-year-old boy, but his words conveyed more maturity.
“I want to make something of myself,” Belter said.
It turned out, he was 16 years old. His body, now well nourished, was trying to catch up to his age. But it wasn’t just his body, it was his mind, as well. Belter’s parents had not been able to provide for his education, and the 16-year-old had just completed the second grade. He was obviously bright and in
quisitive, and the world of possibilities was finally opening before him.
Belter is one of many children and youth benefiting from one of Buckner International’s Community Transformation Centers in Guatemala, and the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger is helping expand the model to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.
The CTC model that Buckner has developed is built with local leadership and alliances. The CTCs connect people in poverty with a wide array of services, such as childhood education, nutritious meals, drug and alcohol education, medical and dental care, Bible classes, and whatever else is needed. Each CTC has a trained case worker to help determine community, family and individual needs, but the CTC does not try to provide all needed services. It connects people with already available services and fills in with other services as needed. Therefore, each CTC may look a little different though built on a consistent model.
Now Buckner is expanding to the Dominican Republic, and the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger is a major financial supporter of this new effort.
The house that is being converted to a CTC in the Pedro Brand community near Santo Domingo sits on high ground in the midst of the neighborhood. The building literally sits where the street pavement comes to an end. A rock road leads further downward.
“It gets tougher down the hill,” said Buckner’s Russ Dilday.
The location of the CTC was chosen because of the lack of services and education, as well as difficult living conditions, which include contaminated “dark waters” in the low areas. It is common in the area for girls to go off with boyfriends at age 13, become pregnant and then be left alone to fend for themselves and their newborn. There is little education because the poor cannot afford the books and are unable to get to the schools. And the lack of education eventually makes it impossible for them to get jobs in the nearby city.
The CTC, led by the local case worker, will help change this by bringing a social services model to bear on the situation. But it is not alone. There is a church nearby that is intent on reaching the community, and the church has a school packed with eager children. The CLC is part of a broader community and Christian effort.
The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger is working with another Texas partner in the Dominican Republic, as well – South Texas Children’s Home Ministries. STCHM has been working in the DR for several years, coming alongside a church to support its far flung ministries across the country. Hunger Offering leaders became aware of this vital ministry, and the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission chose to support this ministry, which involves a number of Texas Baptist churches.
”The hunger needs are great throughout the world, and the Hunger Offering cannot meet all of them,” said Ferrell Foster, offering coordinator. “But what we can do is partner with Baptist entities that are committed to meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of hurting people.”
The Hunger Offering “enables Texas Baptists to focus their resources on specific, well-directed efforts that both feed hungry people and help them to develop means of climbing out of poverty,” Foster said. “And all of this is done in a context of Christ’s love for people as expressed through His church.
“Jesus is at the heart of all we do through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. It’s His love working through us as we give; it’s His example that leads us to serve; and it’s His Spirit that is empowering this work throughout Texas and the world.”
Oct
26
It seems that too often churches tend to operate under the guiding principles of “we’ve always done it that way” and, “we’ve never done it that way before.” While holding fast to certain traditions is a virtue in the church, basic procedures and modes of operation have to adapt to changing times. For the benefit of the church and its members, common sense safeguards must be in place to reduce liability, promote a safe environment and insure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Such safeguards are not only necessary to prevent a financial loss, but are also crucial for compelling moral reasons. No church wants be sued by a disgruntled former employee, uncover child abuse, or be the site of an accident. Church members deserve the reassurance that their leaders are good stewards of their tithe and trust.
Several recent news reports testify as to how important and damaging legal issues can be for a church including clergy sexual misconduct (Mega-church subject of sexual harassment suit), hiring practices, and liability issues.
The CLC has a resource that will help church staff and laity to understand what policies need to be in place and what practices should be followed to protect their church.
Keeping Your Church OUT of Court is a legal guidance manual for churches that focuses on prevention. The resource offers recommendations and suggestions on a wide variety of common legal issues affecting churches such as IRS compliance and employment law. It also includes 85 pages of practical guides, including church policy checklists, sample forms, and document templates. Newer churches will find KYCOOC particularly helpful in insuring that basic church structure and policies provide the best possible legal standing and protection. For well established churches, KYCOOC can serve as a reference for common legal questions that arise. After using this resource, churches will be educated and equipped to proactively confront many common, challenging legal issues.
The Christian Life Commission, in partnership with the law firm of Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. of Ft. Worth, first published Keeping Your Church OUT of Court in 1995 and released an updated third version in 2008. The third edition is available in computer disc form or in a printed binder by calling the CLC. In addition to providing this resource, the CLC and Bourland, Wall and Wenzel, P.C., are available to conduct seminars or workshops to provide an overview of the material and answer any questions congregations may have.
Our society is becoming more and more litigious and it seems people are more likely to run to the courthouse or wield the threat of a lawsuit as a weapon. While we would like to think that churches are immune from such conflict, we know that’s just not the case. By practicing sound operating procedures and taking common-sense precautions, churches can avoid potentially crippling lawsuits. Get a copy of Keeping Your Church OUT of Court and take the opportunity to institute positive changes in your church operation.
To order a copy of Keeping Your Church OUT of Court, 3rd Edition please call the Christian Life Commission at 214-828-5190.
We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.