Skip to Content
 
 
 
Find:
Advanced Search

What's Working: Program Snapshots to Educate and Inspire

 

WHAT'S WORKING

PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE

You’ve heard the saying, “A picture paints a thousand words.” Since our beginning in late 2003, FASTEN has collected dozens of “snapshots” (of sorts) of effective, multi-sector collaborations solving social problems in diverse communities throughout the nation.

In this new “What’s Working: Program Snapshots” feature on FASTEN, faith leaders considering launching new initiatives can “see” plausible models of ministry, gaining inspiration and creative ideas. As FASTEN learns of additional effective models, we will add them to our “photo album” for your perusal, so check back regularly to see what’s new.

Brief program profiles are listed alphabetically below by the type of social service offered. Please remember that this is in no way a comprehensive list of strong FBO programs! Rather, what you’ll find in the “What’s Working” department are brief sketches of programs that have come to FASTEN’s attention through our research, networking, and the Partners in Transformation competition. We welcome your submissions—if you know of a program achieving strong, demonstrable outcomes that other FBOs can learn from, please let us know by emailing us at support@FASTENnetwork.org.

 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 

 

Read more

Personality Psychology

Personality psychology


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read more

Youth Entrepreneurship: Scranton Road Ministries

 

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Scranton Road Ministries CDC (Cleveland, OH)

Who They Serve : High-achieving, low-income public high school students

What They Do : Provide students with technological, business, and financial literacy training and experience

Brief Description :

Their “Digital Connectors” program works with high-achieving, low-income public high school students, providing them with technological, entrepreneurial, business and financial literacy training as well as experience as computer instructors. The program seeks to train students in these specific skill areas and increase their employability overall with leadership and communication training, professional behavior training, and assistance in creating their vocational aspirations. Scranton Road Ministries partners with the Cleveland Housing Network and the Shorebank Enterprise Group in operating this program. One of its unique features is that the students also serve as teachers, helping adults from public housing communities to learn basic computer skills.

Tip : Check out FASTEN’s Youth Entrepreneurship Toolkit for more program ideas and resources for starting a new program.

Entreneuity, a Christian nonprofit that helps young people start businesses, is also a terrific resource.

 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 
Read more

Youth Tutoring: Coopersville Reformed Church

 

YOUTH TUTORING

Coopersville Reformed Church “Kids Hope” (Coopersville, MI)

Who They Serve : At-risk public elementary school students

What They Do : Recruit, train, match and supervise church members to tutor/mentor at-risk kids for one hour per week in the school

Brief Description :

Kids Hope recruits, trains, matches, and supervises church members to mentor at-risk children for one hour each week, working on academic subjects as well as emotional and spiritual issues. Approximately 80% of children in the program have increased their positive behavior, self-regulation, self-control, and academic skills. The program's motto is "One Child – One Hour – One Church – One School ." Using this as a model for the program, church volunteers find a productive way to serve at-risk children, the schools see an improvement in children's behavior and grades, and the children themselves begin to see themselves as worthy of receiving attention and love from a caring adult.

The Coopersville project is part of the national Kids Hope USA model. It has helped churches in 26 states to set up one church-one school partnerships through which over 3800 children are being mentored.

Tip : Check out FASTEN’s Tutoring Toolkit for more program ideas and helpful start-up resources.

 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 
Read more

Congregational Stories to Inspire

 
EFFECTIVE CONGREGATION TOPIC
Developing Vision
 Stories to Inspire

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Profile of Second Baptist Church: This instructional profile tells how this church leads a multi-church effort to serve the city schools of Springfield, MO.
View this Resource

Profile of Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale: This profile describes how this mega-church has transformed the foster care system in southern Florida.
View this Resource

Profile of Calvary Church Grand Rapids: This instructional profile describes how this large suburban church went from commodity-based benevolence to a more holistic, relational approach.
View this Resource

Profile of Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church: This 8-page profile shares lessons from this multi-congregational church’s shift into greater external focus and holistic, relational ministry.
View this Resource

Profile of Rolling Hills Community Church: This instructional profile tells how this 3000-member church in OR has connected over half its congregation in community service by building partnerships with numerous ministries/agencies.
View this Resource

Profile of First Baptist Church Huntsville: This Texas congregation centers its community ministry efforts on supporting correctional officers and assisting ex-offenders.
View this Resource

Profile of Perimeter Church: This large church in suburban Atlanta has given leadership to a multi-church network called UNITE! to facilitate greater church engagement in transformational community ministry.
View this Resource

Profile of Fellowship Bible Church North: This 4000-member church in Texas dramatically increased its community impact by putting an outreach face on their small group ministry.
View this Resource

Profile of Midwest Church of Christ: This profile details how Midwest Church of Christ was able to minister to the city of Louisville, Kentucky and gives tips on how other churches can do the same.
View this Resource

Profile of New Song Community Church: This small inner-city congregation has had a major impact in revitalizing its neighborhood by following the “3 Rs” of the Christian Community Development movement.
View this Resource

Profile of Hope Evangelical Free Church: This instructional profile tells how this church has greatly multiplied its impact in the community by vibrant partnerships with existing social ministries/agencies, including the public school system.
View this Resource

Profile of Lincoln Village Ministry of Southwood PCA: This instructional profile relates the story of a suburban church’s deep engagement in a low-income neighborhood five minutes from the church.
View this Resource

Profile of Tenth Presbyterian Church: This instructional profile relates how this PCA church launched a vibrant diaconal ministry to serve Philadelphia’s homeless and down-and-out.
View this Resource

Profile of LifeBridge Christian Church: This instructional profile relates the journey of this church’s move from internal to external focus.
View this Resource

Profile of Mariners Church: This instructional profile relates the story of a mega-church’s development of a large-scale community ministry department mobilizing thousands of parishioners for service.
View this Resource

Recommended Books
Urban Churches, Vital Signs: Beyond Charity Toward Justice: An inspiring and challenging collection of stories of churches across America involved in dynamic urban ministry among the poor.
View this Resource

Street Saints: This book collects numerous, diverse stories of effective faith-based ministries in the U.S., with advice on imitating their approaches.
View this Resource

Cup of Water, Bread of Life: This collection of stories of effective, holistic ministries from around the world offers inspiration and guidance to church leaders for balancing evangelism and social action.
View this Resource

 

Profile of Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale
Profile of Second Baptist Church
Profile of Tenth Presbyterian Church
Profile of Lincoln Village Ministry of Southwood PCA
Profile of Perimeter Church
 

 

Read more

Domestic Violence Recovery/Prevention: Help Foundation

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RECOVERY/PREVENTION

The HELP! Foundation (Little Rock, AR)

Who They Serve : Female heads of households who have been victimized by domestic violence and therefore find themselves homeless

What They Do : Offer referrals, counseling, job training, housing, and computer training

Brief Description :

The HELP! Foundation serves women in Little Rock who have been victimized by domestic violence by offering referrals, counseling, job training, housing, and computer training. 90% of program participants are successful in finding alternative sources of either temporary or permanent housing and most have secured jobs. Primarily serving as an intermediary between the clients they serve and social service agencies in the community, the HELP Foundation is able to assist a large number of women on a relatively low budget. They accomplish their organizational goals by partnering with a number of organizations (within and outside of the faith community) in order to restore women to health.

Tip : The Violence Against Women online resource (VAWnet) has produced materials on domestic violence prevention for use in communities of faith. Their resources include informational articles, bulletin inserts, and sample campaign materials and have been developed for interfaith, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish houses of worship. Click here for details.

 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 

 

Read more

Muskogee Ministerial Alliance

EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE

Muskogee Ministerial Alliance (Muskogee, OK)

Who They Serve: Hurricane Katrina evacuees housed at Camp Gruber, a National Guard Training Base outside of Muskogee, OK

What They Do: Emergency assistance, transportation, temporary shelter, family reunification, food/meals, job assistance, matching refugees with a host church, referrals to social service agencies, clothing

Brief Description:

The Muskogee Ministerial Alliance served over 700 Hurricane Katrina evacuees housed at Camp Gruber.  Evacuees were provided with immediate aid, and those interested in relocating to Oklahoma were matched with a sponsor church that assisted with finding and furnishing permanent housing, employment and job training, and social integration into the community.   In addition to working with local churches, The Muskogee Ministerial Alliance Disaster Relief Team collaborated with the Red Cross, OK Emergency Management, HUD and USDA. 


 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 
Read more

Healthcare: Good Samaritan Health Services Mobile Health Clinic

HEALTHCARE

Good Samaritan Health Services Mobile Health Clinic (Tulsa, OK)

 

Who They Serve:  Uninsured and working poor of Tulsa County, OK

 

What They Do:  Health Care, Health Education and Prevention, Social, Psychological and Spiritual Care, Financial Assistance, Community Development, Youth Mentoring, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

 

 

Brief Description: The Mobile Health Clinic is a 35-food mobile medical van that is fully equipped with exam and treatment rooms, a small pharmacy, and medical equipment.  The clinic travels to ten different locations, partnering with churches in each location.  The church facility is used for medical triage, check-in, prayer and counseling.  Through these partnerships, Good Samaritan hopes to provide people not only with the medical care they need but also with more ongoing care as they connect with the churches.  The clients can therefore receive health education, spiritual care and comfort, mentoring, financial counseling, after school programs and tutoring, and assistance with job and transportation issues. 

 

Medical services provided include acute primary care, blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, breathing treatments, preventative healthcare, physical examinations, pregnancy tests, lab work, childhood immunizations, eye exams, health education and counseling.  They provide continuing care for conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and arthritis.  Good Samaritan does not charge for services but asks for donations. 

 

Tip:  Check out their website at www.goodsamaritanhealth.org. 


 
About FASTEN
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Sign-Up
Privacy Policy/Disclaimer

 
 
Read more