Cookman United Methodist Church: Holistic Ministry in a Government-Funded Program Cookman United Methodist Church: Holistisk ministeriet i et statsligt finansierede Program

Cookman United Methodist Church: Holistic Ministry in a Government-Funded Program Cookman United Methodist Church: Holistisk ministeriet i et statsligt finansierede Program

After learning about Charitable Choice, Rev. Donna Jones decided to develop an explicitly Christian ministry for welfare recipients, which would address not only job readiness but the "spiritual issues that keep people from full empowerment." Efter at have hørt om Charitable Choice, rev Donna Jones besluttet at udvikle en eksplicit Christian ministerium for bistandsmodtagere, hvilket ville ikke blot tage job parat, men den "åndelige spørgsmål, der holder folk fra hele empowerment". The State of Pennsylvania shocked her tiny inner-city church, Cookman United Methodist Church, by awarding it a $150,000 welfare-to-work contract for Transitional Journey Ministries (TJM). The State of Pennsylvania chokeret hendes lille indre by kirke, Cookman United Methodist Church, ved at tildele det en $ 150000 velfærd-til-arbejde kontrakt for Overgangsbestemmelser Journey ministerier (TJM).

The TJM handbook proclaims to participants, We want you healed in your Spirit, mind and body. De TJM håndbog proklamerer til deltagere, Vi vil du helbredt i din Ånd, sind og krop. We want you self confident and self assured. Vi ønsker dig selv tillid og selvregulering sikret. We want you totally prepared for, and able to participate in the world of work. Vi ønsker dig helt parat til og i stand til at deltage i arbejdslivet. We know with God's help and your determination, you will succeed. To achieve these goals, students are provided both job skills and spiritual resources. Vi ved, med Guds hjælp og din beslutsomhed, du vil lykkes. For at nå disse mål, studerende leveres både job færdigheder og åndelige ressourcer. Students learn computer skills, study to pass their GED tests, and are matched with employment opportunities. Eleverne lærer computerkendskab, studier til at videregive deres Ged test, og er matchet med beskæftigelsesmuligheder. The church's food and clothing closet are available to meet immediate needs. Kirken's mad og tøj skab er til rådighed til at imødekomme umiddelbare behov. Classes on such topics as life skills, budgeting, and self-esteem develop confidence and work readiness, and address emotional barriers to progress. Klasser på emner som liv færdigheder, budgettering, og selvværd udvikle tillid og arbejde beredskab, og adresse følelsesmæssige hindringer for fremskridt.

The program also includes several explicitly religious elements: weekly worship services, group and individual prayer, and a spiritual development class ("Sisters of Faith") which explains the gospel and invites students to make a faith commitment. Programmet omfatter også en række eksplicit religiøse elementer: ugentlige gudstjenester tjenester, grupper og individuelle bøn, og en åndelig udvikling klasse ( "Søstrene af tro"), hvilket forklarer evangeliet og opfordrer eleverne til at gøre en tro engagement. It is only the inner strength that comes from faith, Rev. Jones explains, "that is going to sustain them when the kid is sick, the boss is calling, they have to work overtime, and they have to take the third shift." Det er kun den indre styrke, der kommer fra tro, Rev Jones forklarer, "at komme til at fastholde dem, når børneværelset er syg, boss kræver, er de nødt til at arbejde overtid, og de er nødt til at tage den tredje skift." As required by the state, the spiritual components of the program are privately funded and optional-students may choose a non-religious educational activity instead. Som krævet af staten, den åndelige komponenter af programmet er privat finansieret og valgfri-studerende kan vælge en ikke-religiøs uddannelsesmæssig aktivitet i stedet. Students entering TJM sign waivers stating that they are aware of its Christ-centered nature and of their right to opt out of religious activities. Studerende ind TJM underskrive dispensationer om, at de er klar over sin Kristus-centreret karakter og om deres ret til at fravælge religiøse aktiviteter.

TJM also addresses spiritual and emotional needs in an informal, relational way. TJM også adresser åndelige og følelsesmæssige behov på en uformel, relationelle måde. The handbook assures students: "If you have any special needs or problems and you need prayer, . . . If you need someone to talk to or you just need a hug, we are here and we want to help you." Håndbogen sikrer studerende: "Hvis du har nogle særlige behov eller problemer, og du har brug for bøn,... Hvis du har brug for nogen at snakke med, eller du bare har brug for et knus, vi er her, og vi ønsker at hjælpe dig." Students note that TJM feels different than other programs where staff have demoralizing, condescending attitudes. Studerende bemærke, at TJM føles anderledes end andre programmer, hvor personalet har demoralizing, nedladende holdninger. At TJM, the availability and caring of staff, almost all of whom are Christians, are a key reason for students' openness to the religious message. På TJM, tilgængeligheden og pleje af personalet, næsten som alle er kristne, er en vigtig årsag til de studerendes åbenhed over for det religiøse budskab.

TJM seeks to build up the women as whole persons, so that they are better equipped to overcome the multidimensional challenges they face. TJM søger at opbygge de kvinder som hele personer, så de er bedre rustet til at overvinde den flerdimensionale udfordringer, de står overfor. "It's a joy to see people living life to its fullest," testifies Rev. Jones. "Det er en glæde at se mennesker, der lever livet i sin fulde," vidner Rev Jones. "It's a joy to see people open up and become complete." "Det er en glæde at se folk åbne op og blive færdig." Secular agencies can effectively provide goods and services to meet people's needs, she acknowledges. Verdslige agenturer effektivt kan levere varer og tjenesteydelser, der opfylder befolkningens behov, hun har erkendt. People who do not know the Lord can become success stories of rehabilitation or financial independence. Folk der ikke kender Lord kan blive succeshistorier om revalidering eller finansielle uafhængighed. But when God takes hold of someone's life, a new seed of shalom is planted. Men når Gud tager fat i en persons liv, et nyt frø af shalom er plantet. Rev. Jones explains, "Someone who's been impacted by holistic ministry is able to go back and be a righteous citizen of our country." Rev Jones forklarer: "Nogen der har været påvirket af holistisk ministerium er i stand til at gå tilbage og blive en retfærdig borger i vores land."

Shawna (not her real name) came to TJM with ten children, a eighteen-year history of substance abuse, and a fourth grade education. Shawna (ikke hendes rigtige navn) kom til TJM med ti børn, et hundrede og otte-årige historie stofmisbrug, og en fjerde klasse undervisning. Her life was in turmoil, and the five-year limit on her welfare clock was ticking. Hendes liv var i oprør, og de fem-års grænse for hendes velfærd ur var tikkende. The program's therapist helped her set goals and develop an action plan, but Shawna was simply unable to cope. Programmet's terapeut hjalp hende sætte mål og udarbejde en handlingsplan, men Shawna var simpelthen ikke kan klare. She became suicidal. Hun blev selvmorderisk. The therapist asked Shawna if she wanted to meet with Pastor Jones (whose salary is wholly paid by the church) for spiritual counseling. Den terapeut spurgte Shawna hvis hun ønskede at mødes med Pastor Jones (hvis løn er helt betalt af kirken) for spirituel rådgivning. In Rev. Jones's office, Shawna reaffirmed her faith in Christ, and from that point started attending services at Cookman. I Rev Jones's kontor, Shawna bekræftede hendes tro på Kristus, og fra dette tidspunkt begyndte at deltage tjenester på Cookman. Eventually she graduated from TJM with a job. Til sidst hun dimitterede fra TJM med et job. To mark the start of her new life, Shawna was baptized at Cookman along with three other students from her TJM class. For at markere starten på hendes nye liv, Shawna blev døbt på Cookman sammen med tre andre studerende fra hendes TJM klasse.

TJM has succeeded in helping many people like Shawna achieve both financial and spiritual liberty. TJM har haft succes med at hjælpe mange mennesker gerne Shawna opnå både økonomisk og åndelig frihed. If it were not for their autonomy under Charitable Choice to follow a holistic approach, Rev. Jones doubts their efforts would be as worthwhile. Hvis det ikke var for deres autonomi under Charitable vælge at følge en holistisk tilgang, Rev Jones tvivl om deres indsats ville være lige så værdifuld. "Before, I never considered federal money because I felt it meant we couldn't maintain our religious integrity," she explains. "Før jeg aldrig overvejet føderale penge, fordi jeg følte, det betød at vi ikke kunne opretholde vores religiøse integritet," forklarer hun. "The gospel is liberating, and we're dealing with people who need to experience that freedom and hope." "Evangeliet er befriende, og vi beskæftiger sig med mennesker der har brug for at opleve, at frihed og håb."

For more on TJM, see Jill Witmer Sinha, "Cookman United Methodist Church and Transitional Journey: A Case Study in Charitable Choice" (Washington, DC: Center for Public Justice, August 2000). For mere om TJM, se Jill Witmer Sinha, "Cookman United Methodist Church og Overgangsbestemmelser Journey: A Case Study in Charitable Choice" (Washington, DC: Center for Offentlige Retfærdighed, august 2000).

[chap. 5, pp. 5, pp. 117-118]