The document discusses how churches are dealing with increasing needs for financial assistance from newly unemployed members and community residents due to mass layoffs. It describes one church's approach of evaluating needs on a tiered system and providing limited cash assistance along with counseling and support services. It also highlights a program called Love INC that facilitates partnerships between multiple churches to pool their resources and match those in need with services and aid. This reduces the burden on individual churches while allowing them to work together to help meet growing demands in their communities.
Cooperators of Opus Dei
Saint Josemaría Escrivá founded Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church, on October 2, 1928. Its purpose is to contribute to the Church’s mission to evangelize the world, fostering among people of all sectors of society a life consistent with one’s faith, in the ordinary circumstances of daily life and especially through the sanctification of work.
The message Opus Dei tries to spread is that all honest human work can give glory to God and be “divinized.” For St. Josemaría, to sanctify work means to work with Jesus’ spirit: doing our work conscientiously, seeking to give glory to God and to serve others, and thus to contribute to the sanctification of the world.
The Work provides spiritual formation and pastoral attention to its faithful and to everyone else who wants it, so that each one, in his or her own place in the Church and in the world, may get to know and love God better, giving witness to the faith and striving to help provide Christian solutions to society’s problems.
The Prelature of Opus Dei is made up of a Prelate (Bishop Javier Echevarría) with his clergy, and lay faithful, both men and women. Many other people also take part in its activities, and among them many ask to be Cooperators.
Cooperators of Opus Dei are men and women who by their prayer, almsgiving and work help further the activities organized by the Prelature of Opus Dei, each according to their specific possibilities.
This brochure offers a few testimonies of how Cooperators help, and why.
CONTENTS
What is Opus Dei? 4
Cooperators of Opus Dei 6
The joy of giving 14
An unexpected greatness 22
Friends of God 30
St. Josemaría, a saint close to us 38
Information Office of Opus Dei in The Netherlands
Jacob Obrechtstraat 74
1071 KP Amsterdam
Tel. (31) 20. 671 58 37
info.nl@opusdei.org
www.opusdei.nl
Request from 117 Haitian Religious Leaders to Re-Designate and Extend Tempora...Stanleylucas
We are writing as pastors and other faith leaders who are directly from Haitian heritage. We are grateful to serve our fellow Haitians who live across the United States. We are writing in this vital time because our community members are expressing anxiety every day after hearing that Haitian TPS may end on January 22, 2018. We strongly urge that you reconsider this decision immediately to ensure that Haitian TPS recipients will have their status renewed for a full 18 months (117 Haitian Religious leaders)
A Guide for United Methodist Church AmbassadorsRodney Bowen
2013 marks the 125th anniversary of The Permanent Fund which was established to provide a permanent source of funding for the ministries of The United Methodist Church. With your help, we can ensure it will continue to grow into the future. Between 2004 and 2010, The Permanent Fund contributed more than $3 million to provide a permanent source of funding for the ministries of The United Methodist Church and for missions around the world.This Ambassador Guide is designed to give you easy steps to assist us in educating members of The United Methodist Church about the critical role of The Permanent Fund and how they can be involved. http://www.umcglobalimpact.org
This is a presentation developed primarily as a self-guided orientation for deacons from Christian Reformed (CRC) and Reformed (RCA) congregations in West Michigan.
Cooperators of Opus Dei
Saint Josemaría Escrivá founded Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church, on October 2, 1928. Its purpose is to contribute to the Church’s mission to evangelize the world, fostering among people of all sectors of society a life consistent with one’s faith, in the ordinary circumstances of daily life and especially through the sanctification of work.
The message Opus Dei tries to spread is that all honest human work can give glory to God and be “divinized.” For St. Josemaría, to sanctify work means to work with Jesus’ spirit: doing our work conscientiously, seeking to give glory to God and to serve others, and thus to contribute to the sanctification of the world.
The Work provides spiritual formation and pastoral attention to its faithful and to everyone else who wants it, so that each one, in his or her own place in the Church and in the world, may get to know and love God better, giving witness to the faith and striving to help provide Christian solutions to society’s problems.
The Prelature of Opus Dei is made up of a Prelate (Bishop Javier Echevarría) with his clergy, and lay faithful, both men and women. Many other people also take part in its activities, and among them many ask to be Cooperators.
Cooperators of Opus Dei are men and women who by their prayer, almsgiving and work help further the activities organized by the Prelature of Opus Dei, each according to their specific possibilities.
This brochure offers a few testimonies of how Cooperators help, and why.
CONTENTS
What is Opus Dei? 4
Cooperators of Opus Dei 6
The joy of giving 14
An unexpected greatness 22
Friends of God 30
St. Josemaría, a saint close to us 38
Information Office of Opus Dei in The Netherlands
Jacob Obrechtstraat 74
1071 KP Amsterdam
Tel. (31) 20. 671 58 37
info.nl@opusdei.org
www.opusdei.nl
Request from 117 Haitian Religious Leaders to Re-Designate and Extend Tempora...Stanleylucas
We are writing as pastors and other faith leaders who are directly from Haitian heritage. We are grateful to serve our fellow Haitians who live across the United States. We are writing in this vital time because our community members are expressing anxiety every day after hearing that Haitian TPS may end on January 22, 2018. We strongly urge that you reconsider this decision immediately to ensure that Haitian TPS recipients will have their status renewed for a full 18 months (117 Haitian Religious leaders)
A Guide for United Methodist Church AmbassadorsRodney Bowen
2013 marks the 125th anniversary of The Permanent Fund which was established to provide a permanent source of funding for the ministries of The United Methodist Church. With your help, we can ensure it will continue to grow into the future. Between 2004 and 2010, The Permanent Fund contributed more than $3 million to provide a permanent source of funding for the ministries of The United Methodist Church and for missions around the world.This Ambassador Guide is designed to give you easy steps to assist us in educating members of The United Methodist Church about the critical role of The Permanent Fund and how they can be involved. http://www.umcglobalimpact.org
This is a presentation developed primarily as a self-guided orientation for deacons from Christian Reformed (CRC) and Reformed (RCA) congregations in West Michigan.
A collection of tips, advice and success strategies from leading industry influencers and pastors to help you leverage the power of the pulpit in motivating members to become more generous with financial support and volunteer hours.
Presentation given to a group of African-American Pastors at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN about the changing landscape of church giving.
1. [ Click to print | Close window ]
The following article is located at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2002/fall/6.47.html
The New Needy
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
Valleytown Baptist Church in Andrews, North Carolina, can handle an occasional request for
financial assistance. They're used to supplying food coupons, clothing for children, or medicine
to the needy. This assistance is funded by the church's monthly special offering. But pastor
Ron McClure believes tougher times are ahead, as he gazes from the church's front porch
across the street toward another company suffering massive layoffs.
What is a pastor to do in a town where over one-third of the workforce has lost jobs due to the
declining economy?
Until recently, compassion ministries usually reached out to homeless individuals who required
only a hot meal and some bus tokens. Now benevolence has taken on a new look. Today's
needy are clean-shaven and often educated, but still in need of help.
Mass layoffs have increased in the past 18 months. The total layoff events for 2001, at
21,345, and the total number of initial claimants, at 2,496,784, were about 25 percent higher
than the previous year (15,738 layoff announcements and and 1,835,592 claimants, according
to the U.S. Department of Labor). And the trend is escalating in some sectors, such as
information technologies.
Pastors are asking, "Just how much should the church help these people, if at all?"
So far seven families in Pastor McClure's church have been affected. He believes the best
action, for now, is to wait. "Right now they have severance packages, retirement, and
unemployment. We as a church are willing to help, but we will have to look at them on an
individual basis. I'm not sure where we're going, but it does make you wonder how you're
going to pay the church mortgage next year, and how your people will make their house
payments."
Reality check
One church directly faced with that question is Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California's
Silicon Valley, an area hit hard by layoffs in the technology industry. David Peterson, who
serves as director of congregational care, explained the issue of supporting a family's home
mortgage was not a question of "should we?" but "can we?"
"Rent is $1,000 to $4,000 a month in this area. A mortgage payment is $2,500 to $8,000 a
month," Peterson said. "How do you address those kinds of financial burdens?" The church
realized that benevolence may mean offering something more valuable than cash.
"The first program we developed in that ministry was targeted for people in crisis at the
moment. Prayerworks is a weekly prayer meeting where we probe the Scripture to get
encouragement and gain an understanding of who God is during this time of crisis," said
ChristianityToday.com http://www.christianitytoday.com/global/printer.html?/le/2002/fall/6.47.html
1 of 3 2/19/2009 8:09 PM
2. Katherine Leary, who runs Market Place Ministries, the church's ministry that provides support
services for those out of work.
Leary also offers a weekly business luncheon where networking is encouraged and
professionals speak on career topics. The group boasts a strong Internet community that posts
resumes and job opportunities.
Menlo Park still receives the traditional kinds of benevolence requests—more than 700
homeless people live in the area around the church—so Peterson and the staff have developed
a hierarchy of need to evaluate the calls for help.
Street people. "When the homeless come here, we make sure we get them connected to
the local urban ministry. We usually give them a certain amount of coupons at the
grocery store, maybe $15 worth, and we give them a couple of bus tokens.
1.
Occasional attenders. "Then there are the people lightly connected to us. They are not
members, but attend a social function now and then, or are connected to a support
group. We give them food coupons up to $100. We try to keep a cap of $500 per person.
We might refer them to support groups, or financial counseling. Sometimes we will offer
to pay for counseling.
2.
Members. "In the third category are long-standing members that are part of our
congregation. They are well known. When they come, we make an exception to the rules
in order to help them through that time. Often they are the ones who feel most
self-conscious asking for help." Confidential assistance, where possible, may reduce the
embarrassment. The more difficult question is how much financial help can a church give
its members. A $500 gift doesn't go far toward the average middle-class mortgage. Now
may be the time to ask the stewardship committee to explore the topic. What is the
church's limit? Will the church consider extending a loan to help a member keep the
family home? And if so, under what criteria?
3.
Peterson believes allowing the recipient to return some of their charity when they are able
brings them a sense of relief, thereby restoring their dignity. "One lady was so delightful. She
never referred to it as a gift, but as a loan. She has gotten involved in our singles ministry.
One day she said, 'I have work now, so I want to get on a plan to pay back this loan to you.' I
told her that it really was a gift, but if she wanted to pay it back to just give through the
offering."
Preserving the dignity of those who receive help can be quite tricky, as Cory Miller, pastor of
Tabor Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas, discovered. His congregation has partnered with
two other churches to provide a food pantry as well as other benevolent ministries. He found
that shame goes deep.
"We had our people go out to one family and patch their roof and chop wood for them," Miller
said. "At first, the woman came to church. Then she felt ashamed because of all the help we
gave. Eventually, she felt so overwhelmed, that she didn't want to fellowship here."
Benevolence incorporated
More than 7 million people in the United States receive some type of government assistance.
The traditional, low-income families and single-parent households qualify for many federal and
state-funded programs; but the new needy—suddenly unemployed with high mortgages—most
likely won't meet government criteria.
And churches accustomed to the food-pantry-off-the-church-kitchen approach to benevolence
may feel overwhelmed by the sudden need. One answer may be teaming with other churches
in the community.
ChristianityToday.com http://www.christianitytoday.com/global/printer.html?/le/2002/fall/6.47.html
2 of 3 2/19/2009 8:09 PM
![[ Click to print | Close window ]
The following article is located at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2002/fall/6.47.html
The New Needy
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
Valleytown Baptist Church in Andrews, North Carolina, can handle an occasional request for
financial assistance. They're used to supplying food coupons, clothing for children, or medicine
to the needy. This assistance is funded by the church's monthly special offering. But pastor
Ron McClure believes tougher times are ahead, as he gazes from the church's front porch
across the street toward another company suffering massive layoffs.
What is a pastor to do in a town where over one-third of the workforce has lost jobs due to the
declining economy?
Until recently, compassion ministries usually reached out to homeless individuals who required
only a hot meal and some bus tokens. Now benevolence has taken on a new look. Today's
needy are clean-shaven and often educated, but still in need of help.
Mass layoffs have increased in the past 18 months. The total layoff events for 2001, at
21,345, and the total number of initial claimants, at 2,496,784, were about 25 percent higher
than the previous year (15,738 layoff announcements and and 1,835,592 claimants, according
to the U.S. Department of Labor). And the trend is escalating in some sectors, such as
information technologies.
Pastors are asking, "Just how much should the church help these people, if at all?"
So far seven families in Pastor McClure's church have been affected. He believes the best
action, for now, is to wait. "Right now they have severance packages, retirement, and
unemployment. We as a church are willing to help, but we will have to look at them on an
individual basis. I'm not sure where we're going, but it does make you wonder how you're
going to pay the church mortgage next year, and how your people will make their house
payments."
Reality check
One church directly faced with that question is Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California's
Silicon Valley, an area hit hard by layoffs in the technology industry. David Peterson, who
serves as director of congregational care, explained the issue of supporting a family's home
mortgage was not a question of "should we?" but "can we?"
"Rent is $1,000 to $4,000 a month in this area. A mortgage payment is $2,500 to $8,000 a
month," Peterson said. "How do you address those kinds of financial burdens?" The church
realized that benevolence may mean offering something more valuable than cash.
"The first program we developed in that ministry was targeted for people in crisis at the
moment. Prayerworks is a weekly prayer meeting where we probe the Scripture to get
encouragement and gain an understanding of who God is during this time of crisis," said
ChristianityToday.com http://www.christianitytoday.com/global/printer.html?/le/2002/fall/6.47.html
1 of 3 2/19/2009 8:09 PM](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/57cb2988-3a37-4b8a-9d3a-141e5ab23e03-161020215242/85/The-New-Needy-Leadership-Journal-1-320.jpg)
