Document

Member Name: Sonia Miranda-Lopez

Service Site: Boston Higher Education Resource Center (HERC)

Location: Boston, MA

Project Focus:

Sonia Miranda-Lopez's year-long project produced a manual for coordinators of the Passport Program, a college advising and enrichment program for high school juniors and seniors at the Boston HERC. This manual includes many helpful tools for Passport coordinators, including rules and guidelines, checklists for weekly sessions, templates for documents and resource lists, as well as exercises to do with the students.

COPING WITH CONFLICT

Jesus warned his followers to expect conflict: “Do not think that I have come to bring
peace on earth” (Matt. 10:34–36) If holistic ministry were not controversial, more churches
would already be doing it! Risks and change will inevitably “threaten those individuals within
the congregation who had a deep commitment to and vested interest in the existing
programs and priorities,” warns Leading Congregational Change. Sit in on a meeting of
elders or deacons, church staff, or the congregation-at-large in the process of considering
a shift to holistic ministry, and watch the sparks fly. Sparks? Sometimes it’s more like
missiles hurled at opponents.

Dealing with Fears: Counting the Cost, Looking for Treasure

As a church considers a call to holistic ministry, people will want to assess the price
tag. Some in the congregation will focus on the risks associated with any new endeavor:
to your membership, budget, personnel, property, facilities, or reputation. Leaders should
not ignore these concerns. Rather, leaders should heed Jesus’ warning and count the
costs:

Getting There from Here: Starting Compassion Ministry in Your Congregation

Like many Christians, you long to make a difference in the world. You believe in
God's plan to restore broken lives and rebuild troubled neighborhoods through local
mission that blends evangelism, relief services, advocacy and community development.
Whether you are a pastor, ministry staff, or lay member, you desire your church to become
a vessel for the healing, transforming presence of Christ in your community.

I grew up in an alcoholic family. Both my father and my mother came from alcoholic homes, too. Because I grew up in such a very chaotic home, I was running the streets from an early age.

My first drinking experience was when I was just twelve years old. I was "turned on" to pot at age fourteen, and went to jail twice for selling marijuana, hashish, and LSD, before I was eighteen years old.

The attached document outlines how Charitable Choice, and the accompanying national conversation about how best to
support the social contributions of faith-based organizations, are opening new doors to
direct government funding of the social service work of congregations.

Life After Birth: Bible Studies and Encouragement for the Teen Mom

Finally, a resource that will help you connect with a teen mom at a time when she is likely to drop out of church. Life After Birth is great for one-on-one mentoring as well as outreach programs for non-churched teen mothers of all backgrounds.

Chapters Include:
Intro: I never owned a diaper bag
1. But I chose life!
2. The baby steps of forgiveness
3. The lowdown on loneliness
4. From wild child to raising one
5. Like mother, like daughter
6. The wages of sin are stretchmarks
7. Your choices, your child’s future

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