Faith and REAL Action
Monday, March 05, 2007
Is your UCC church making a REAL difference? Let us know so we can share it with others.
We need to see more of this - a great deal more of this. From the Frederick News-Post:
Another from the Frederick News-Post:
We need to see more of this - a great deal more of this. From the Frederick News-Post:
The Evangelical Reform United Church of Christ pastor is on her way, one of 26 people on this trip, to assist the Back Bay Mission, a UCC ministry to the poor in Biloxi. The group will rebuild homes, paint, do plumbing and maybe some electrical work.More "Faith and REAL Action" from stories submitted by UCCtruths readers:
The local church sent Back Bay a list of people, and their skills, and the organization determined where and on what projects those people would work, Kershner Daniel said.
The pastor held an orientation meeting to discuss Back Bay, the impact of Katrina, and what the church could do to help. Not everyone has a skill, but those without will be put to good use.
"You always need people to drive to the hardware store and stuff, those kinds of things" she said. "We can use everybody for anything."
Another from the Frederick News-Post:
MIDDLETOWN -- When Merle Guyton's electrician's license was up for renewal in 2005 he almost let it expire.Is your UCC church making a REAL difference? Let us know so we can share it with others.
Guyton, 70, retired from Allegheny Power in 1996 but to avoid the hassle of reapplying for a new license, just in case he needed it someday, he decided to renew.
At the time he had no idea that his skills would be key in helping transform an outdated former rental property at 10 East Main St. into a home for a homeless family.
The house, owned by Christ Reformed United Church of Christ, will be leased free to Advocates for Homeless Families Inc., for the next six years. During that time it will provide transitional housing for at least three families.
On Sunday, Guyton was one of dozens of church and community members who meandered through the clean, furnished rooms of the renovated three-bedroom home during an open house and ribbon cutting.
The church, which has owned the house since 2001, decided in January 2006 to partner with Advocates and rehabilitate the structure.
Beth Scott, a Christ Reformed member, led the task force of volunteers that did the renovations. Advocate's mission appealed to the church, she said.
Advocates, which started in 1988, helps families overcome homelessness through a two-year structured program that provides housing assistance, education and other support services.
