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An in-depth look at the state of race relations in America NonProfitOrg. USPostage PAID CPCMail AssociationofGospelRescueMissions7222CommerceCenterDriveSuite120ColoradoSpringsCO80919 RACE AND REALITY MayJune 2016 Volume 30 Number 3 MIGHTY LEADERS HELPING HOMELESS FAMILIES COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS COVER FOCUS Racial Reconciliation Race Relations by the Numbers 6 Nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights Act are race relations better or worse by Jim Watkins Who Is Coming to Our House Blurring the Lines A More Diverse Nation A Peek at Canadas Numbers Reconciliation Road Map 18 While justice is possible without a spiritual dimension true reconciliation is not by Brenda Salter-McNeil A Biblical Approach 22 AGRMs minister-at-large says being reconciled with Christ must precede racial reconciliation by Robert Loggins The 10 Beatitudes of Walking in Love LEADERSHIP Mighty Leaders 28 Practice these 12 principles to become a faithful and empowered leader by Deanna Doss Shrodes A Look at Leadership Health FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS New Faces of Poverty 34 Understanding the real needs of poor families and how best to meet those needs by Martha Cox Moving Families from Poverty to Self-Sufficiency Povertys Impact on the Family LOCAL OUTREACH Community Connections 42 Effective ways to work with local government and community leaders by Sue Rosenfeld Service Project Springboard 3 MayJune 2016 Volume 30 Number 3 Association of Gospel Rescue Missions CONTENTS Contents continued on page 5 5 DAY-TO-DAY Practical help with the operations and ministry of your mission FINDING FUNDS The Big Ask 48 Relationship is key when asking big donors for big-time support by Barry Durman LEADERSHIP LAB Framing the Context 50 Knowing the data and telling the story by Mike Johnson A FULL PLATE All About Eggs 53 This food staple is all its cracked up to be by Brian M. Romano Basic Egg Strata INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Earthquake Coverage 54 Typical property insurance policies dont cover this major disaster by Brian H. Merriam ACROSS THE STREET Color Outside the Lines 58 The incredible value of thinking outside the box by Michelle Porter PR TOOLKIT Keep Your Website Current 61 The essentials for keeping your online content fresh by Steve Wamberg AGRM 62 Association News and Events RESCUE President John Ashmen Editor Brad Lewis Managing Editor Kristi Rector Advertising Sales Beth Hall Designer Mike Hames Photos iStock unless noted Printed in the USA MayJune 2016 Volume 30 Number 3 Association of Gospel Rescue Missions Rescue ISSN 1049-586X is a bimonthly publication of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions AGRM. Published as a service to members of the association it seeks to provide current useful information about issues and subjects pertinent to the ministry of rescue. AGRM exists to proclaim the passion of Jesus toward hungry homeless abused and addicted people and to accelerate quality and effectiveness in member missions. Rescue magazine welcomes contributions and comments. Please send photographs queries and ideas for articles feedback and address changes to Brad Lewis at editoragrm.org or to Rescues editorial advertising and circulation offices at AGRM 7222 Commerce Center Drive Suite 120 Colorado Springs CO 80919. All Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION unless otherwise noted. Copyright 1973 1978 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Copyright 2016 by the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions RE CONTENTSContinued Phone 719 266-8300 Fax 719 266-8600 Email agrmagrm.org Web www.agrm.org M y memory from riding to Florida in the back of my grandfathers Buick was the shock of seeing unpainted houses overflowing with poorly-dressed children their bare feet painted red with Georgia clay. Growing up white in a white neighborhood and church I stared at the foreign landscape and people outside the car window that seemed more National Geographic than LIFE Magazine. Black men women and children picked cotton under the unforgiving sun while white men sat in the shade of their pickup trucks. COVER FOCUS Racial Reconciliation 6 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 by Jim Watkins RACE RELATIONS BY THE NUMBERS WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 7 Nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights Act are race relations better or worse But most troubling were the signs. When we stopped at one of the many Stuckeys gas stations and souvenir shops I was shocked by the whites only drinking fountains. Around back was a rusty spigot labeled colored only next to restrooms labeled whites only and colored only. Even as a second-grader something deep inside me wretched at the idea of us and them. Me with my Keds sneakers heading to a Florida beach them barefoot slaving in a cotton field. Me drink- ing from a sparkling fountain them their mouths under a dirty faucet. I feared what lurked behind the colored only restroom sign. During my childhood blacks began to organize and protest the separate but equal doctrine that had bred segregation in schools businesses and society in general. In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that state laws establishing separate black and white schools were unconstitutional. During my grade school civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks and others used non-violent protests to awaken America to the plight of blacks. Fifty years since my eye-opening trip to another world seismic changes have rocked the landscape. More and more people of color have appeared in films and television. They have taken up roles in education medicine and government. And the colored only signs are gone. The first black secretaries of state were appointed by George W. Bush Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Previously Powell was a four-star general serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff while Rice served as special assistant to President George H.W. Bush and then national security advisor under George W. Bush. We now have a bi-racial president his father born in Kenya is black his mother born in Kansas is white.. In the Obama administration two black attorneys general have served as well as the Environmental Protection Agency adminis- trator trade representative and United Nations ambassador. In January 2009 Obamas inaugura- tion promised the fulfillment of Americas hope for racial equality. But in the past seven years America has added Ferguson white privilege and Black Lives Matter to our cultural dictionary. While the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 have changed the legal status of people of color their social status has not fared as well. RACIAL RELATIONS BY THE NUMBERS R ecent polls suggest differing views from the backseats of Americas Buicks. In August 2014 The Washington Post polled a random national sample of 1010 adults which included a proportional number of 639 whites and 124 blacks. It found 60 percent saying the nation needs to continue making changes to give blacks and whites equal rights while 37 percent say those changes have already been made. Eighty percent of blacks described discrimina- tion as very serious while only 28 percent of 8 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Eighty percent of blacks described discrimination as very serious while only 28 percent of whites thought it so. whites thought it so. The Post quoted a Gallup poll that showed the percentage of blacks feeling satisfied with the way they are treated dropped from 62 percent in 2013 to 49 percent in 2016. A CNN poll of 1017 adults noted a similar rise of discrimination as very serious from 16 percent in 2010 to 37 percent in 2015. RACIAL RELATIONS IN GENERAL A CBS NewsNew York Times poll released in July 2015 surveyed 1205 adults by phone as well as 312 blacks and 751 whites by written survey. In it 37 percent of all Americans described race relations as generally good. The Washington Post found fewer than 40 percent believed race relations are good. Mean- while a Rasmussen Reports survey of 1000 Amer- ican adults in January 2016 found only 18 percent considered race relations to be good or excellent. The Rasmussen poll reveals 33 percent now consider race relations poor up from 15 percent in 2011. The CBSNYT poll reveals both blacks and whites view race relations negatively although more blacks 68 percent than whites 56 percent say they are bad. The Washington Post poll found 50 percent felt racism is a big problem in U.S. society up from 33 percent in 2010. Just 21 percent in the CBSNYT poll believe race relations are getting better which is statisti- cally the same as Rasmussens 20 percenta new low compared to 38 percent five years ago. And 26 percent say race relations are staying about the same. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 9 While 38 percent in the CBSNYT poll think race relations are getting worse Rasmussen found higher percentages. Half 50 percent of American adults now think race relations in this country are getting worse up from 44 percent a year ago and up 30 percent as recently as January 2014. CBSNYT reports both blacks and whites view race relations negativelyalthough more blacks than whites say they are bad. The Washington Post poll found 59 percent believing more changes are needed to give blacks and whites equal rights. Race age and political party play a part in the worsening view. Rasmussen notes that those under 40 are less likely than people who are older to think relations are getting worse but they arent overly optimistic. Two-thirds 66 percent of Republicans and 50 percent of voters not affiliated with either major party believe race relations are getting worse. Among Democrats just 37 percent agree while 25 percent say they are getting better. But blacks are much more likely than whites and other minorities to believe the United States is headed in the right direction. Even defining what constitutes discrimination doesnt bring consensus. Rasmussen reports that 81 percent of all Americans believe the term dis- crimination refers to any discrimination of people of one race against another. Just 13 percent think it only refers to discrimination by white people against minorities. This is unchanged from 2013 when Rasmussen first asked this question. How- ever 23 percent think discrimination refers only to discrimination by white people against minorities a view shared by just 11 percent of both whites and other minority adults. RACIAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS T he CBSNYT poll explored issues at the ballot box. One half 50 percent of black Americans believe they are more likely than whites to encounter problems when voting. 10 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Rasmussen reports that 81 percent of all Americans believe the term discrimination refers to any discrimination of people of one race against another. Just 13 percent think it only refers to discrimination by white people against minorities. Continued on page 14 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 11 A More Diverse Nation The United States is becoming increasingly diverse when it comes to race The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the U.S. population will be more racially and ethnically diverse by 2060. The nation is projected to become a majority-minority nation for the first time in 2043. This means that while the non-Hispanic white population will remain the largest single group no group will make up more than 50 percent of the population. Minorities all but the single-race non-Hispanic white popula- tion are now 37 percent of the U.S. population and are projected to make up 57 percent of the population in 2060. The non-Hispanic white population is projected to peak in 2024 at 199.6 million. Unlike other race or ethnic groups however its population is projected to slowly decrease falling by nearly 20.6 million from 2024 to 2060. The Hispanic population will more than double to 128.8 million in 2060. That means that by 2060 almost one in three U.S. residents would be Hispanic up from about one in six today. The black population is expected to increase from 41.2 mil- lion to 61.8 million over the same period. Its portion of the total population should rise slightly to 14.7 percent in 2060. The Asian population is projected to more than double with its share of the nations total population climbing to 8.2 percent. Among the remaining race groups American Indians and Alaska Natives would increase by more than half between now and 2060 with their share of the total population edging up from 1.2 percent to 1.5 percent. The Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander population is expected to nearly double from 706000 to 1.4 million. The number of people who identify themselves as being of two or more races is projected to more than triple from 7.5 million to 26.7 million over the same period. 12 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Less than 50 years ago the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws prohibiting mixed-race marriages. And only 15 years ago the U.S. Census Bureau first allowed Americans to choose more than one race when filling out their census forms. The multiracial population has grown significantly in recent years. The Pew Research Center has decided to use a different method than the Census Bureau for determining racial background. In addition to self- reported race Pew took into account the racial back- grounds of parents and grandparents. With that ap- proach they estimate that multiracial adults make up 6.9 percent of the American adult population and its growing three times as fast as the population as a whole. Using this definition the Pew Research survey found that biracial adults with a white and American Indian background make up half of the countrys multiracial populationby far the largest multiracial group but also the one least likely to consider themselves multiracial despite their mixed-race background. However not all adults with a mixed racial background consider themselves to be multiracial. In fact 61 percent do not. One reason for the complexity of racial identity is that it can be fluid and change over time even from one situation to another. About three in 10 adults with a multiracial background say that they have changed the way they describe their race over the yearswith some saying they once thought of themselves as only one race and now think of themselves as more than one race and others saying just the opposite. Demographically multiracial Americans are significantly younger than the country as a whole. According to Pew Research Center analysis of the 2013 American Community Survey the median age of all multiracial Americans is 19 compared with 38 for single-race Americans. Other findings A majority of multiracial adults are proud of their mixed-race background 60 percent. About the same number 59 percent feel their racial heritage has made them more open to other cultures. 55 percent say they have been subjected to racial slurs or jokes. One in four 24 percent have felt annoyed because people have made assumptions about their racial background. Only 4 percent say having a mixed racial background has been a disadvantage in their life. About one in five 19 percent say it has been an advantage and 76 percent say it has made no difference. Blurring the Lines Race is not just a black and white issue WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 13 A Peek at Canadas Numbers The Great White North becomes less and less white Canada is home to 6.26 million visible minorities or 19.1 percent of the population according to 2011 data the most recent available. A large portion of this group is South Asian Chinese or black. Of these visible minorities 30.9 percent were born in Canada and 65.1 percent were born outside the country and came to live in Canada as immigrants. By 2031 the population of visible minorities is expected to grow to 30.6 percent with South Asian and Chinese immigrants driving much that growth. The cities of Vancouver and Toronto are expected to become majority-minority cities with three out of five people 60 percent belonging to a visible minority group by then. This is a huge shift for the country as just 50 years ago the visible minority population was only 2 percent and the majority of immigrants were from Europe. Sources Canada.com Statscan The Globe and Mail Who Is Coming to Our House A look at the racial makeup of the people rescue missions serve The racial breakdown of guests and residents at your mission will obviously depend on your location. But association-wide over the last five years the percentages of various racesethnic groups have stayed very much the same according to AGRMs annual Snapshot Survey. RaceEthnic Groups 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 of total mission population WhiteCaucasian 50 49 49 50 50 Black or African-American 33 34 32 34 34 Hispanic Latin or Spanish 9 9 11 10 9 Asian 1 1 1 1 1 American IndianAlaska Native 3 3 3 2 2 Native HawaiianPacific Islander 0 1 0 0 0 Other or 2 races 3 2 4 3 3 However 70 percent of white Americans think blacks and whites are treated the same. Even after seven years of having the first person of color as president Americans are more doubt- ful than ever that Martin Luther King Jr.s dream of equal opportunity has been achieved according to Rasmussen. Blacks are the most skeptical. It would seem that a president who is half black and half white would bring the two sides together. However the CBSNYT poll suggests Obamas presidency has not united whites and blacks. Just 15 percent of Americans say his presidency has brought these groups closer together. Nearly half 47 percent Rasmussen reports think his presidency has made no differ- ence while 34 percent think it has pushed whites and blacks farther apart. CBSNYTs poll did report a 16 percent increase in positive opinions shortly after Presi- dent Obama took officefrom 50 percent in 2000 to 66 percent in April 2009. But by mid 2014 those positive gains had been lost in light of reported conflicts between white police officers and black subjects. At the end of 2014 only 8 percent of voters believed race relations had gotten better under Obama according to Rasmussen. Positive opinions of the presidents effectiveness in bringing races together breaks down along racial lines according to CBSNYT One-third 30 percent of blacks and 11 percent of whites believe the president has had a positive effect on race relations. RACIAL RELATIONS AND JUSTICE C BSNYTs study reveals half of Ameri- cans believe the criminal justice system in the U.S. is biased against blacks up from 35 percent two years ago. This is the highest that figure has been since the question was first asked in 1994. Again this breaks down along racial lines with 77 percent of blacks saying American justice is biased against them. Only 6 percent of whites believe they face bias when it comes to justice. And 44 percent of all those surveyed believe police are more likely to use lethal force against blacks. That percentage increases dramatically though to 79 percent when looking only at responses from people who are black. While 58 percent of blacks noted that the police make them feel safe 37 percent said law enforcement officers make them nervous. Six in 10 60 percent of black males believe they have been stopped by police simply because they are black. The Rasmussen survey reveals similar 14 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 The Rasmussen survey reveals similar numbers with 82 percent of black voters thinking blacks receive unfair treatment by police. However the poll found that 70 percent of all voters believe the level of crime in low-income inner-city communities is a bigger problem in America today than police discrimination against minorities. numbers with 82 percent of black voters think- ing blacks receive unfair treatment by police. However the poll found that 70 percent of all voters believe the level of crime in low-income inner-city communities is a bigger problem in America today than police discrimination against minorities. For instance The Washington Post reported that in 2015 986 people were killed by police. Of that number the vast majority were armed and half of them were white. According to FBI data 4906 black people murdered other blacks in 2010 and 2011. The Department of Justice reports that between 1980 and 2008 black people committed 52 percent of homicides although they make up just 12 percent of the general population. University of Toledo criminologist Richard R. Johnson crunched the numbers and discov- ered that For every black mancriminal or innocentkilled by a cop 40 black men were murdered by other black men. The biggest problem black men face is that their black lives dont matter to other black men. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 15 RACIAL RELATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE T he PBS NewsHour and Marist College poll asked about employment opportuni- ties. Over three-fourths 76 percent of blacks believe they do not have the same opportunities. However 52 percent of whites believe all races have the same job opportunities. The CBSNYTs poll showed 60 percent of blacks believe whites have a better chance to get ahead up from 46 percent one year earlier. RACIAL RELATIONS ONE ON ONE T he CBSNYT poll showed that 71 percent of blacks and 60 percent of whites are uncomfortable with discussing racial issues with another race. However when asked if they had personally felt discriminated against 31 percent of whites and 72 percent of blacks said yes. While 71 percent of Americans say there has been real progress getting rid of racial discrimination since the 1960s that is the lowest number since 2000. RACE RELATIONS AND THE CHURCH M artin Luther King Jr. lamented that 11 oclock Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. Unfortunately data shows that some of the least diverse groups today are churches. The 2014 Religious Landscape Study looked at 29 Protestant Catholic and other faith groups. It noted as a baseline that the United States popu- lation is 66 percent white 15 percent Latino 12 percent black and 4 percent Asian. The Seventh-Day Adventist churches are the most diverse with 37 percent white 32 percent black 15 percent Latino and 8 percent Asian. 16 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 17 Jim is an author and speaker who feels privi- leged to have been able to minister to the multi- colored body of Christ in Africa Asia Australia Europe and North America. Contact him at jimjameswatkins.com. The least diverse is the National Baptist Convention which is 99 percent black. Martin Luther King Jr. broke away from the convention which had an official policy of noninvolvement with the Civil Rights movement. The second- least diverse is Evangelical Lutheran Church of America with 96 percent white and 2 percent black members. Bobby E. Mills a college professor and public sector administrator explains the Churchs segre- gation is the result of different worship styles based on distinctive cultural traditions. Experi- ential lifestyles and family differences cause the content of sermons and delivery styles in black and white churches to be vastly different. These facts also account for different motives for worship and church attendance. However parachurch groups tend to be much more diverse. They focus on service rescue missions overseas development and evangelism social services justice advocacy and so on rather than worship. One thing is clear Polls document the fact that blacks and whites differ on the state of racial relations. When asked if racial discrimination is very serious 80 percent of blacks answered yes but only 28 percent of whites did so. Blacks and whites are closer in their views that racial relations are indeed bad 68 percent of blacks and 56 percent of whites. Change has been slow but there has been change. On my latest trip to Florida to speak at a conference I chose a plane over a Buick. The woman at the check-in counter was black as was one of the security agents. One baggage handler was Hispanic. The flight attendant was a black woman with a witty sense of humor who playfully bantered with racially diverse passengers all har- moniously wedged into the tiny commuter plane. Once I arrived in Atlanta it looked like the United Nations was in town as seemingly all races and nationalities mingled in the airports wide concourses. Jewish yarmulkes and Islamic hijabs were sprinkled through the crowds while the gate announcements had a distinctive Indian accent. There were no signs segregating coloreds and whites. The drinking fountains were available for all with even lower fountains for those in wheelchairs. The restaurants and shops welcomed all races. And on the overhead TVs a story about black presidential candidate and former head of neurology Ben Carson told by a Hispanic reporter. Great progress has been made in racial relations but its clear there is still much work to do to fulfill Dr. Kings dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. And will be treated equally. Experiential lifestyles and family differences cause the content of sermons and delivery styles in black and white churches to be vastly different. These facts also account for different motives for worship and church attendance. COVER FOCUS 18 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 19 W hat exactly is racial reconciliation If you asked 10 different people youd get 10 different answers At a gathering I attended of national multiethnic leaders pastors professors diversity practitioners and leaders of multicultural ministries and denominations the answer to this question proved to be quite confusing. RECONCILIATION ROAD MAP While forgiveness and justice are possible without a spiritual dimension true reconciliation is not. by Brenda Salter-McNeil For some reconciliation meant bringing together a multiethnic group of people who are from similar socioeconomic and educational back- grounds. For others it meant the pursuit of racial and ethnic diversity. For still others reconciliation meant that Christians are called to address the discrimination and racism faced by black and Hispanic people in our society. What was interesting to me was the lack of agreement among the leadersthere was no single definition or understanding of what reconciliation actually entails. Do you see the problem While many of us care about reconciliation and feel called to pur- sue it as part of our discipleship there is no clear understanding of what it means to do so Even among the leading diversity voices of the day there are vastly different beliefs about what it means to pursue reconciliation. Sure most of us believe that reconciliation means the ending of hostility in order to bring people together but we still differ sometimes wildly in how we believe God calls us to address and engage it. DEFINING THE TERM F or a while l wondered if we should come up with a new term altogether. I felt that reconciliation had perhaps been overused and too often misunderstood. Reconciliation is about how to relate even after forgiveness and justice have occurred. Its about how to delve even deeper into relationship with one another. An absence of hostility is possible without a spiritual dimension but reconciliation is not. Reconciliation is possible only if we approach it primarily as a spiritual process that requires a posture of hope in the reconciling work of Christ and a commitment from the church to both be and proclaim this type of reconciled community. Since reconciliation is a biblical concept that is rooted in and modeled by the reconciling work of Jesus I have chosen to reclaim the term instead of replacing it. I want to redeem it and recover its holistic mysterious and profoundly biblical mean- ing. It invites us into the bigger story of Gods redemptive work in the world. I therefore offer this new definition of the term reconciliation Reconciliation is an on-going spiritual process involving forgiveness repentance and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect Gods original intention for all creation to flourish. This definition acknowledges the historical wounds that must be healed and transcends an individualistic view to include the need for sys- temic injustice to be addressed as well. However it is also rooted in a biblical understanding of God which is why we must take a close look at the theological principle that undergirds it. THEOLOGY MATTERS I t starts in Genesis 128 with the command to fill the earth. The Creation account reveals Gods desire for the earth to be filled with a great diversity of races and peoples. The first human beings were directed to fill the earth and bring it under the reign of God. 20 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 What was interesting to me was the lack of agreement among the leadersthere was no single definition or understanding of what reconciliation actually entails. To achieve this people would need to procreate and multiply in number and this would make it necessary for them to move out and migrate throughout the earth. As this migration took place these nomads would encounter different environmental conditions and as they adapted to their surroundings different cultural lifestyles would start to emerge. So the result of Gods command to fill the earth would be difference. Different stories. Different words. Different myths songs styles of communication food clothing. The develop- ment of different cultures didnt take God by surprise This is what God intended from the beginning because no one culture people or lan- guage can adequately reflect the splendor of God. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost signaled the dramatic entry of a new age in human history. Although not the fullness of the Kingdom it was a sign of the Kingdom and it was the empowering of humanity to sur- render to the design of God. It was the reception of the Holy Spirit that first offered the church hope of a social and spiritual community com- posed of people from every tribe and nation and unified by the centrality of Christ. BREAKING GROUND I began analyzing and explaining the reconcilia- tion process when I was a doctoral student. My goal was to develop a viable model based on my years of experience with racial and gender reconciliation as a consultant to churches. It was crucial to develop a process that was rooted in solid principles of individual and systemic change. In the midst of my studies I came across a theoretical framework known as Contact Theory which suggests that relationships between conflicting groups will improve if they have meaningful contact with one another over an extended period of time. Contact Theory proposes that if diverse groups spend extended time together their intergroup conflict and the negative effects of racism and ethnocentrism will gradually decrease and possibly even disappear altogether. Early on this model was conceptually grounded in social psychology and educational theory and focused on individual learning rather than group or organizational change. But not all people have the same social skills and motivation to cross vast racial and ethnic barriers. I want to teach people how to be reconcilers yes. But I also want to train them to build communities of reconciliation. Our racial and ethnic identity is important to God. Without our cultural and ethnic backgrounds we have a limited and incomplete perspective of who God is. We are each a piece of a complex and difficult puzzle. Were all interconnected and need each other to complete the work God has called us to do. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 21 Reconciliation is an on-going spiritual process involving forgiveness repentance and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect Gods original intention for all creation to flourish. Brenda will be a keynote speaker at AGRMs 2016 Annual Convention June 710 in Jacksonville Florida. She is a dynamic author and trailblazer with more than 25 years of experience in the ministry of reconciliation. She is the author of the recently released book Roadmap to Reconciliation from which this article is adapted. Contact Brenda at mcneilbspu.edu. 22 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 COVER FOCUS A BIBLICAL APPROACH T he cities of Ferguson Missouri and Charleston South Carolina are under spiritual attack. The city of Baltimore as well as the city of New York and all the cities throughout our nation and around the world are under spiritual attack. For many years we as a nation have struggled with racial reconciliation. Unfortunately even today in 2016 it appears that we just cant get out of the turbulent waters of the 1800s and early- to mid-1900s. AGRMs minister-at-large says being reconciled with Christ must precede racial reconciliation by Robert Loggins WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 23 Those were the toxic and tumultuous days of racial segregation and Jim Crow Laws. It was a time in our great nation when a black man could not be where I am today. I stand in one of the most strategic and sacred places not only in history but also in the history and life of AGRM as the first African-American to serve a network of 300 rescue missions as minister-at-large. AGRM is passionate about demonstrating the power of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have witnessed the heart of AGRM and believe it is a place of biblical reconciliation. I am not saying that AGRM is perfect but it is a legitimate place of seeking to be what God has called all Christian ministries to be in this day. It has been said that we need more black lead- ersthats the solution. It has been said that we need more blacks in Congressthats the solution. It has been said that we need more black business- men and womenthats the solution. I am grieved to say that these solutions are no solutions at all. The answer is not racial reconcilia- tion but Christo-centric reconciliation. The time has come for us as a Christian nation of God- fearing Christ-followers to be reconciled first with Christ. Then we will be able to see racial reconciliation and walk in the love of Jesus. CHRIST TRUMPS COLOR J esus says For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was a stranger and you invited me in I needed clothes and you clothed me I was sick and you looked after me I was in prison and you came to visit me Matthew 253536. These words of Jesus are taken to heart each and every day in missions that belong to AGRM. There is growing biblical racial diversity in our member missions. Such diversity is impossible 24 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 without being reconciled with Christ. Herein lies the root of the problem and why our culture doesnt have racial reconciliation some of us have not been truly reconciled with the Lord Jesus Christ. The root always produces the fruit. In the fruit are the seeds that produce a per- petual harvest of racial problems. These problems birth more problems until we decide to deal with the root in order to change the fruit. The seeds of racial reconciliation produce a harvest of love. As we walk in love as AGRM members we are literally touching the lives of those who are hungry homeless abused and addicted. People who need the love of Jesus Christ. It is my joy to see lives that are filled with profound joy. I saw this during my first few weeks serving as minister-at-large when I traveled to Denver with AGRMs president John Ashmen. John introduced me to a young woman who had been promoted to house mother. This lovely young African-American mother had won the battle with her addictions. You would have never known that she had battled additions. She informed us that she was graduating from her WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 25 Herein lies the root of the problem and why we dont have racial reconciliationsome of us have not been truly reconciled with the Lord Jesus Christ. The 10 Beatitudes of Walking in Love What does walking in love look like We need to practice the 10 beatitudes of effectively walking in the love of Christ that brings about genuine racial reconciliation overcoming the stubborn sinful problem of racial division. 1. Be involved by becoming a committee of one. 2. Be sure your motives are right. 3. Be still and know that God is always at work. 4. Be persistentdont start something that you dont finish. 5. Be raw realdont be a hypocrite or a religious Pharisee. 6. Be relational and not simply informational. 7. Be quietand let your life actions speak for you. 8. Be creativethere is always another way. 9. Be a reconcilerbe a gap sister or a gap brother for the Lordstand in the gap 10. Be reconciled with Christ. position as house mother to actually owning her own place. Not only did she and her family have their own place to live but Denver Rescue Mission provided her with a car. I dont believe leaders at Denver Rescue Mission were concerned about her color. They focused more on Christ than on color. Christ always trumps color creed race ethnicity and more. Christ is our ultimate reconciler. He is more concerned about people than He is with pride. The love of pride divides. The love of people unifies. It is my prayer that if we want to see true racial reconciliation at its best then those of us at AGRM will continue to lock arms and widen our spheres of influence as a gospel-sensitive ministry. I pray that you will embrace what God has taught me as I have been so blessed to serve God and our mission leaders staff and guests. I pray that you will seek to possess the 10 beatitudes of effectively walking in the love of Christ that brings about genuine racial reconciliation. See sidebar on page 25. I saw the ministry of reconciliation at work in Charleston South Carolina. AGRM sent me to Charleston following the shooting of the Emmanuel Nine. The ministry of reconciliation was evident as nine precious saints had their lives taken away from them yet no racial reper- cussion emerged. Total peace flooded the city of Charleston South Carolina. It took nine lives to birth this profound peace. BE RECONCILED THE AGRM FAMILY I have said on numerous occasions that our gospel rescue missions in the AGRM family engage in racial reconciliation without know- ing it. We just do what is natural. No one is forced to do it it just happens. Human laws do not create a climate of being reconciled. It takes Christthe eternal racial reconciler. Do you want God to use you to be a reconciler Do you want to see God transform our nation to be One nation under God indivisible with lib- erty and justice for all If so its time for a change. Be reconciled with Christ and then you will be able to walk in love as you engage in biblical racial reconciliation. This is Gods way to address the stubborn problem of racism. 26 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Christ always trumps color creed race ethnicity and more. Christ is our ultimate reconciler. He is more concerned about people than He is with pride. Robert is presidentCEO of RF Loggins Ministries and AGRMs minister-at- large. He can be reached at rlogginsagrm.org. LEADERSHIP 28 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 29 MIGHTY LEADERS C harisma might get you to a leadership position but only character will keep you there. People who hold leadership positions surround us but they arent necessarily integral or strong. Frankly some are a mess behind the scenes and show no signs of getting help. Others leave a trail of more pain than progress in the places where they lead. God has ordained leaders to do much more than just occupy a position. Beyond a role leadership is a call to fulfill. He designed us to be stronger so we can enjoy a lifetime of faithful empowered and legacy-leaving leadership. To help us be that kind of leader here are 12 principles of powerful leadership. Practice these 12 principles to become a faithful and empowered leader by Deanna Doss Shrodes 1. THE POWER OF INTROSPECTION Healthy leaders make regular and realis- tic evaluations of their overall health. A realistic evaluation doesnt include your best friend or your strongest supporters telling you how awesome you are. Real growth requires taking an honest look inside. Significant moves forward entail hearing the hard things. Ministry is such that if you are doing it right you get hurt. We try to shield ourselves from pain but in doing this we also cut ourselves off from construc- tive feedback. Genuine introspection constructive feedback and action move us forward keeping us strong for maxi- mum impact. 2. THE POWER OF RESPONSIBILITY Theres a crisis of leadership today in which people want to blame complain and pass the buck but few want to do the hard things. Several times I have come into a new leadership role facing the ramifications of bad decisions made by my predecessors. Ive learned some- thing about cleaning up messes left by other people You can blame or make progress but you cant do both at the same time. If youre going to gain ground in a difficult situation you have to stay focused. Its tempting to get angry and rant about how hard it is to clean up the mess you have inherited. But it takes a tremendous amount of energy to blame and stay angry. And it takes all the strength you have to come up with solutions and implement them. Leaders and organizations move forward as they own the problem and take responsibility to solve it. 3. THE POWER OF SEEING CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES When I was invited to serve as director of a womens ministry the department was almost 75000 in debt. The teams morale was low and we desperately needed to unify. A three-year plan to eradicate the debt was suggested but that plan was never needed because in seven months our team was stronger than ever the debt was fully paid and we were in the black for the current year In hindsight we see that the debt was the perfect setup for an incredible victory. There were many components that went into slaying that debt but one thing is certainit was a team effort. What challenge do you have that you are not seeing in the right light 4. THE POWER OF REPLENISHMENT Some leaders love to talk about how overwhelmed they are and how they cant recall the last time they took a break. Healthy leaders dont wear a lack of rest as a badge of honor. Needing replenishment is not a blessing or something to brag about. Gods Word commands us to rest. A leader who refuses to take a break is doing so from a broken place likely rooted in an unhealthy desire for affirmation. Others view exhausting themselves as some sort of spiritual achievement. We arent supposed to lead alone or to the point of utter exhaustion real leadership is about teamwork. Replenishment refocuses usbody soul and spirit. If you feel like youre losing your leadership edge maybe the answer isnt to work harder or go to a conference. Perhaps God is calling you to take a nap. 5. THE POWER OF ELEVATING OTHERS Elevating others to reach their full potential is what leadership is about. Ephesians 411 says that we are to equip people to do works of service for the building of the Kingdom of God. Healthy leadership raises others up with a desire for the one being led to not only succeed but exceed. A strong leader amplifies the voices of as many people as possible encourag- ing them to share with others what God has done in their lives. Many leaders will look for opportunities to be used in setting up tables serving food cleaning up or distributing materials. But how many leaders do the work of developing people in sharing their story with others As we tell what God has done for us people experience life change through Christ. 6. THE POWER OF LISTENING Listening to people talk about themselves is one of the greatest ways to make a connection. Ernest Hemingway 30 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 once said When people talk listen completely. Most people never listen. When I first meet people whether it be in a business meeting or over lunch or coffee I try to keep the conversation off of myself and the work I do. Its not that I dont have wonderful things to share but its simply not the way to a persons heart. People want to feel heard. Listen- ing makes a huge impact. Try itgive the gift of presence. 7. THE POWER OF SACRIFICE Real leaders dont run away from sacri- fice they run toward it. When I began leading our womens ministry I knew we would need to take some radical steps to get on course. One of those steps was doing a Couch Tour around the state to share vision and mission stir up a revival spirit among the women of our district and raise funds. Most of the people thought we referred to the tour as a Couch Tour because I shared vision from the stage sitting on a couch. But our team knew the deeper meaning. Because we were working to get the department out of debt I told the team we were going to do a tour with no money. When going somewhere farther than two hours from home I would call a friend in the area to ask Can I sleep on your couch That tour was a catalyst to turn our department around. It was wildly successful and were actually still doing a yearly tour. We make progress and gain influence through sacrifice. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 31 A Look at Leadership Health Are you a healthy or unhealthy leader Unhealthy leaders try to suppress people. Unhealthy leaders are guided by emotional knee-jerk reactions to happenings around them. Unhealthy leaders have people who follow out of fear guilt and manipulation. Unhealthy leaders are suspicious and hold others at arms length. Unhealthy leaders are jealous when others are blessed. Unhealthy leaders only get transparent when theres no risk. Healthy leaders equip and release people. Healthy leaders are guided by values and principles. Healthy leaders have people who follow out of love respect and admiration. Healthy leaders delegate empower and embrace people. Healthy leaders are the first to bless someone or to celebrate anothers blessing. Healthy leaders arent afraid to say Im not doing okay today. Will you pray for me 8. THE POWER OF TRANSPARENCY In Old Testament times people would carry weights with them for business dealings. If someone wanted to buy something they would measure it against the weight of the stone. However dishonest traders would carry rocks that were labeled incorrectly. Leaders often fall into the trap of using dishonest scales with what they say. A few years ago a pastor called me to ask my thoughts on a subject. It wasnt an issue of right and wrong but I knew we would disagree on something he felt very strongly about. I have preached in this pastors church numerous times. I realized if I was honest he may never invite me to his church again and furthermore he may tell other leaders about our differing views. I took a deep breath and was transparent anyway. We agreed to disagree are still good friends and I have been invited back to teach several times since. What will you do when tempted to use dishonest scales 9. THE POWER OF CREDIT Leadership is about stewardship. Usually people refer to tithing or administration in this regard but what about the proper stewardship of our team members gifts and ideas Our team members and their contributions are a sacred trust. What happens when we refuse to give credit or attribute the credit to the wrong person Team members stop contributing ideas at the table. Team members become afraid to share their ideas when they are not properly stew- arded. After watching the same scenario repeat itself they usually resign. For far too long we in the body of Christ have taught that truly godly peo- ple are disinterested in receiving credit and that all glory should be attributed to God. While we do need to give God the glory it is not a license to devalue or abuse our team members. Fully appreci- ating the gifts of those we are given the privilege of leading is a win for all. 10. THE POWER OF KINDNESS Its been said its nice to be important but its more important to be nice. In the first team meeting I led I said one of my top priorities would be to estab- lish a culture of kindness. This included our internal behavior as a team as well as our external dealings with those we serve. I relentlessly inspected the atmosphere for kindness. This extended to everything from how we spoke to each other in meet- ings to how we received an offering. The culture of kindness we established has helped us to reach record-breaking goals and dreams. Anything we accom- plish can be done with kindness. If it cant maybe we need to ask ourselves if we should be doing it the first place. 11. THE POWER OF PROPER MOTIVATION Why we do what we do is critical in lead- ership. I believe there is only one reason we are given a role in leadership and that is to help people. Why you lead will ultimately determine how well you lead. We live in a selfie generation where the biggest concern of many people is how they look. Selfless legacy-leaving leaders arent so concerned about how they look. They throw themselves into the fray get- ting not only their hands dirty but their whole selves to get the job done. Proper motivation for leadership is selfless serv- ice for the good of others. This type of leadership leaves behind a legacy that people will speak of for years to come. 12. THE POWER OF STAMINA There arent any hard and fast ways to successonly hard ones. Being a leader who leaves a legacy requires staying power. When faced with obstacles I often remind myself that its hard to beat a person who absolutely refuses to quit. As leaders we move in the mundane and the miraculous. God is in both. Many people believe that those who accomplish great things do so overnight but its usually the opposite. Often we stop just short of our breakthrough. So much of being a strong leader is pressing through when everything in you wants to quit. Your feelings will tell you over and over to quit but remem- ber feelings are terrible leaders 32 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Deanna is the womens ministries director for the Pen-Florida District of the Assemblies of God and the author of Stronger 30 Powerful Principles for Leaders from which this article is adapted. She can be reached at womenpenflorida.com. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 34 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 35 NEW FACES OF POVERTYUnderstanding the real needs of poor familiesand how best to meet those needs by Martha Cox K atrina got married after graduating from high school she and her ex-husband have three children. They divorced when he became addicted to drugs and she ended up with custody of the children. She gets child support some of the time. She lives in sub-standard housing but its a place she can afford. She works hard as a Certified Nursing Assistant at a senior center taking on as many hours as theyll give her even nights and weekends. Shes extremely grateful that her children are enrolled in a child care center that offers 24-hour care. But if one of her children gets sick shes in a bind. And her income doesnt cover anything unexpected even with the most careful budget management. Katrinas struggle is typical of thousands of working families in our community who are work- ing hard trying their best and still not able to make ends meet. They have an education and arent part of the drop-out statistics. After high school they furthered their education for a better job but went to a for-profit college and racked up thousands of dollars in student loan debt only to obtain a certification that got them a job that doesnt pay enough to support them. The issue of poverty and the working poor was highlighted in the HBO award-winning documen- tary Paycheck to Paycheck The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert. Produced by Maria Shriver this documentary followed Katrinas life for a year showing the struggle of trying to get by while rais- ing a family and working hard at a low-wage job. WHAT POVERTY DOES TO FAMILIES T he face of poverty has changed dramati- cally since the War on Poverty began more than 40 years ago most notably concerning children. The rate of child poverty has more than doubled since then growing from less than 10 percent of children in poverty to todays rate of 22 percent. Work among those who are homeless was previously focused on the chroni- cally unemployed disabled and mentally ill but now encompasses the working poor. The face of poverty today is a single mom with two kids who is working multiple jobs but still doesnt earn enough money to keep a stable roof over their heads. And for this family poverty is expensive disruptive time-consuming and traumatic. How does this affect the family Poverty is expensive. Many families living in poverty subsist in food deserts where access to healthy and nutritious food is simply not available. Not only are fresh fruits and vegetables not even offered but the price of food is exorbitant as people are buying groceries from the corner convenience store. When a family has had their utilities shut off they must pay fees to get them turned on again. When a family has been evicted from their home future landlords wont rent to them without huge deposits. Poverty is disruptive. When people dont have stable housing their entire lives are unsta- ble. School mobility ratesthe measure of how many students are new to the school during the yearare sky-high in impoverished neighbor- hoods. When children have to change schools their world changes new teachers new class- mates and new routines. Poverty is time-consuming. Getting help with basic services takes a lot of time. Every agency has different guidelines different hours and are usually in different places. Poor people often dont have reliable transportation making these tasks even more difficult. Poverty is traumatic. When we think about trauma images of war or violent assault gener- ally come to mind. But living in povertywith the constant stress of providing for basic family needs anxiety created from working multiple jobs fear of not being able to support your children and social isolationresults in the same unresolved issues that arise from post- traumatic stress disorder. REAL NEEDS OF POOR FAMILIES I work for Family Foundations as the Chief Strategy and Development Officer. Family Foundations is a nonprofit in Jacksonville Florida with a mission of growing strong money-wise families. Family Foundations was chosen to organize the efforts but the work is done through a coalition of 20 nonprofit private 36 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Getting help with basic services takes a lot of time. Every agency has different guidelines different hours and are usually in different places. philanthropic and government partners. Our journey began in 2007 when a national foundation brought together teams of leaders from five communities to learn about how best to increase the financial assets of financially vulnerable populations in those communities. We realized we had a rare opportunity in the nonprofit world so we needed to plan and research before launching an initiative. We also had a bold donor who would only fund our work if we spent the first year planning and learning. So we started with research and something that is common in the for-profit world but not in the nonprofit worldwe conducted market research with focus groups of people in poverty to find out what they needed. The first thing we learned was that people cared passionately and fiercely about their children. Every single person said they were willing to do whatever was necessary for their children to have a better life. What also emerged was how difficult it is to live in poverty. When people think about assets they immediately think about money. But assets are more than financial in nature. We organized our thinking about assets into Social Human and Financial Assets Social Assets Assets required for taking care of children and building productive relationships with others. Human Assets Assets to attain knowledge skills and abilities to earn adequate income. Financial Assets Assets to effectively manage money and build wealth. We then conducted a pilot program with 100 families to determine what assets were most important and how they could be built. We found nine pivotal assets that were critical. When families obtained at least seven of these assets they more than doubled the probability that they would successfully move out of poverty. See sidebar on page 38. We are highly frustrated with a world where so many children live in poverty and Jacksonville is committed to a different outcome we desire an outcome where families can enroll in a program with evidence-based practices backed by solid research. This led to development of our 1000 in 1000 programmoving a thousand people out of poverty in a thousand days. This is not a handout program. Families must work for and earn their way out of poverty. They must systematically build the Pivotal Assets that are needed for a life of self-sufficiency. We want to change the system so that people who are willing to work hard have the opportunity to get ahead. HOW YOU CAN HELP FAMILIES IN POVERTY I n order to engage in long-term planning families have to be at a place of basic stabil- ity. When people are in crisis they have no capacity to plan for the future. So first families need stability when they are in crisis. Acknowledge that access to quality food is an issue particularly at the end of the month when WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 37 Povertys Impact on the Family Despite the recent increase in family homelessness little is known about the impact of homelessness on family relationships Elizabeth Lindseys article The Impact of Homelessness and Shelter Life on Family Relationships explains the findings of a study that explored mothers perceptions of how homelessness and shelter life affect relationships in mother-headed families. The moms reported increased closeness and better quality and quantity interaction with their children but felt that their roles as disciplinarians and providers or caretak- ers was disrupted. The things that mothers felt were factors affecting relationships were shelter conditions such as rules and interactions with staff and residents the mothers emotional state and the childs emotional state temperament and behavior. This is not a handout program. Families must work for and earn their way out of poverty. Continued on page 40 38 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Affordable Housing Quality Child Care Transportation Resolution of Criminal Background Accountability Job Training Monthly Budget Management Earned Income Tax Credit SOCIAL ASSETS Assets required for taking care of children and having relationships with others HUMAN ASSETS Assets to attain knowledge skills and abilities to earn adequate income FINANCIAL ASSETS Assets to effectively manage money and build wealth Parent University Moving Families from Poverty to Self-Sufficiency Identifying nine pivotal assets that are key to moving out of poverty Families that obtain at least seven of these nine assets more than double the probability that they can successfully move out of poverty. Quality Child Care High-quality child care where children can learn while parents work. Affordable Housing Safe quality housing that consumes 30 percent or less of the family budget. Transportation Reliable transportation for getting to work and caring for their families. Parenting and Financial Literacy Skills Positive parenting skills to increase parent-child bonds and childrens mental health and effective budget debt and credit management to build wealth. Resolution of Criminal Background Issues The get tough on crime approach has resulted in offenses moving from civil offenses to criminal offenses. For example writing a bad check for over 150 means you are a convicted felon in Florida. Records are either expunged or a barrier-free career path is identified. Job Training Access to job training that leads to self-sufficient income and future growth. Accountability Family accountability to the personal work plan. Earned Income Tax Credit Attainment of the Earned Income Tax Credit benefit and application of the benefit to advance a personal work plan. Monthly Budget Management Maintenance of a monthly budget with a focus on reducing debt and improving credit scores so families can build wealth. To learn more about these key assets consider attending the Culture Changer Seminar Helping Clients Remove Barriers on Tuesday June 7 at AGRMs 2016 Annual Convention in Jacksonville Florida. Dawn Lockhart president and CEO of Family Foundations will discuss the screening tools her organization uses to help families climb out of poverty in the greater Jacksonville area. Visit www.agrm.orgconvention and select the Schedule link for more details. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 39 food stamps run out so look at options to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for families. Clearly these products are more expensive which is why families who are struggling dont purchase them. Consider how to keep the children in their same school while the family is finding stable housing. This is a difficult task to manage but critical to the children. Bring multiple service providers into your program arenas. The nonprofit world tends to operate in silos which makes life even more difficult for people in poverty particularly working families. Make sure mental health services are available for children and families. When we see a person on the street who is suffering from schizophre- nia the mental health issue is fairly obvious. More subtle is the cumulative small traumas that happen as a result of living in poverty so counselors who are trained to support families are critical. Once families are in a place of basic stability they can work on longer-term solutions. This can only be accomplished in partnership with others. Here are our groups commitments to keep our coalition together 1. Poverty is everyones problem so this work must involve a large group of leaders from multiple sectors in our community. 2. We must use existing resources in our com- munity so each member agreed to use their agencys resources to support the effort. 3. Focus on the vision not on the impact of an individual organization. Egos could not be involved so each member vowed to check their guns at the door. 4. We must learn what has worked elsewhere but customize locally. 5. Value local experts to define best practices to maximize the collective wisdom and expertise of the group members. For exam- ple the Early Learning Coalition would define quality child care. Conswala Nelson is a single mother of two. When she joined the 1000 in 1000 program she was earning only 10000 per year and liv- ing in public housing. Her high debt and low credit score added to her burdens but she was determined to build a better life for her family. She landed a great job with GMAC and within 18 months had increased her annual income to 38500. She diligently paid down her debt and settled accounts that had gone into collections. She worked with her financial counselor to dispute incorrect items on her credit report. Through hard work and perseverance she improved her credit score by almost 200 points She continued to save after graduating from the program and bought her first home last year. Stories like these keep us all going when times get hard. We want every family in Jack- sonville to have the same success as Conswala. 40 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Martha is chief strategy and development officer for Family Foundations a nonprofit in Jacksonville Florida that grows strong money-wise families. She can be reached at marthacfamilyfoundations.org. Consider how to keep the children in their same school while the family is finding stable housing. LOCAL OUTREACH 42 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 COMMUNITY H ow can missions connect with local government community leaders and other community groups When mission leaders were asked this question the answers reverberated with themes of accessibility relationships and investment. The answers to this question spoke of time well spent strategic partnerships and staff focuses. Threads of engagement in community roles over meals and with groups wove a tapestry of relationship-building efforts. Heres a look at some ways you can engage with local leaders. Effective ways to work with local government and community leaders by Sue Rosenfeld WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 43 CONNECTIONS ACCESSIBILITY W hen it comes to accessibility mis- sion organizations and staff are intentional about inviting commu- nity members onto the mission campus as well as going off campus themselves. They get behind microphones give others the stage and embrace being gracious hosts. In the midst of everyday logistics showing hos- pitality and being a gracious host is a multifaceted priority in facilitating community connections through accessibility. Tours open houses and special events routinely fill a missions hospitality bucket. If the event includes a drawing Executive Director Cherise Merrick at Bread of Life Mission in Holbrook Arizona often asks a community leader in attendance to pull the ticket. Invitations go out for volunteer experiences and shared meals at mission facilities. Our newly elected mayor and his family came and served our Thanksgiving meal says Penny Kievet executive director of City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville Florida. At Dallas LIFE Homeless Shelter in Texas staff members invite the neighborhood associations leadership team to have lunch with them at the shelter. This has resulted in them asking our opinion on things affecting our neighborhood and asking us to speak at their meetings says Executive Director Bob Sweeney. And missions also let other organizations use building space. We actively participate in numerous community groups and are a key site for hosting many of their meetings says Jay Cory presidentCEO of Phoenix Rescue Mission. Law enforcement departments regularly hold meetings on City Rescue Missions main campus in Jacksonville and Penny says her mission has opened its doors to specific community projects. City Rescue Mission also provided the building space for a city-run day center three-year project she adds. Whether its for the benefit of one or more for leaders or laymen or for serving or learning gracious hosting creates intentional accessibility to the community through which friendships are forged and connections are made. Asking community leaders to be guest speakers at mission events gives people in the community a chance to see those at the mission in a different light. These leaders will gain new perspectives and perceptions about the mission its work and the people who come there. The most powerful thing we have done to help us build bridges to the government community leaders and other agencies is to actively recruit them as public speakers at events that bring them into intimate contact with line staff and program clients says Chad Audi president of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. When they deliver words of encouragement wisdom and exhorta- tion to our various program graduates and see the responsiveness of their listeners it has made these leaders even more passionate and focused on retaining our clients faces in the forefront of their minds when they work to support services and solutions that will help the clients. Just as community leaders come on-site mis- sion leaders go off-site to speak. I visit each evangelical church every year prior to the areas biggest fundraiser making sure all of them know what the Good Samaritan Mission is doing says Executive Director Chuck Fidroeff of the Wyoming mission. Ken Carroll executive directorCEO at Modesto Gospel Mission in California says We participate with city council by bringing the invocation on occasion. Microphones also carry the testimony of Gods work in the lives of students guests and clients across the airwaves in meetings and on stage. Students at Faith City Mission in Texas share 44 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Asking community leaders to be guest speakers at mission events gives people in the community a chance to see those at the mission in a different light. their testimonies at area schools and on the radio as well as at meetings for the Rotary Club and Lions Club of Amarillo according to Execu- tive Director Jena Taylor. Faith City Mission has also led church services in the community. We have gone to churches and led their entire serv- icefrom worship to the sermon and ending with prayer where we have even seen many miraculous healings says Jena. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS W hile individual tapestry threads are unique to each mission there are some common dye lots community roles meals and groups. Its important to be intentional while you are not wanting anything specifically so that you know the best way to approach them when you need to and also so that you can better understand the community says Rich Schaus executive director of Gospel Rescue Mission in Muskogee Oklahoma. Belonging to and participating in community organizations is a natural venue for many in build- ing relationships and mission organizations are no exception. Community open meetings action groups coalitions networking organizations and service clubs are types of group settings mission leaders mentioned. On a more informal note attending and mingling at community-wide events whether in an official function or not gives mission staff a chance to engage with people across the community a chance to live life together and be part of the mission neighborhood. In addition to participating in groups organized by others missions put together groups for a variety of purposes. Tacoma Rescue Mission in Washing- ton utilizes events to engage specific community leaders including having small group gatherings to facilitate conversations around particular topics. Even as group gatherings disperse conversation continues in one-on-one meetings and at meal tables. At times conversation might center around just getting to know one another. We invite them to serve with us and come experience what we do says Rachelle Starr founder and executive director of Scarlet Hope in Kentucky. We tell stories about our ministry. At Faith City Mission in Texas regu- lar outreach and shared meals with local officials are an important part of ongoing relationship- building efforts. Other times conversation may be about joint venture possibilities. At Dallas LIFE we take our city council representatives out to lunch to discuss ways in which we want to work together to enrich our district notes Bob. Relationship-building also happens through active participation in community roles. Serving as a board member being a committee member and spearheading volunteer projects are specific roles WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 45 Relationship- building also happens through active participation in community roles. Service Project Springboard Here are a handful of ideas to get you started Leading a city cleanup day. Participating in Adopt A Highway programs. Painting a local football stadium. Manicuring a county-owned cemetery. Stuffing bags for Snack Pak 4 Kids. Volunteering at city events. Volunteering at other nonprofits. Providing oil changes for single parents. Operating a bike repair clinic. Providing free window washing for local businesses. Mowing lawns and shoveling snow in business districts. that fill niches and needs particular to that missions community. Good Samaritan Mission works with the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies to provide weekly food bags to children through their Totes of Hope Program as well as with school philanthropic clubs on various projects. Sometimes filling a community niche is simply being available as needed to answer questions or give help. We have relationships with our Area Neighborhood Commissioners ANC District Council members equivalent of city and state elected officials our mayor and our congresswoman says David Treadwell executive director of Central Union Mission in Washington D.C. The ANC calls us with any questions regard- ing activities the other officials allow us to visit as needed. We have testified before the District Council but are not active advocates. INVESTMENTS V olunteering time in community service projects is time well spent for these mission organizations and staff. At the Foundry we connect with local government and community leaders by finding ways to serve them says Micah Andrews CEO of The Foundry Ministries in Bessemer Alabama. And while blessing and benefit is often reaped from those volunteering hours participating in community service projects is also more than that its about doing good and lending a hand simply because it is your missions community. Check out the sidebar on page 45 for some specific ideas. The job descriptions of staff members might be specific about providing oversight or doing liaison work in a particular area focused on connecting with the community. In Detroit we employ key staff members to help us broaden our presence in our community such as in the area of government corporate and foundation relations staff volunteer services and communications with the media says Chad. Or staff members might have commu- nity projects and initiatives as part of their overall job responsibilities. In Phoenix we have appropri- ate staff assigned to participate in various community initiatives and purposely build positive relationships with our elected officials says Jay. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries has engaged with key community groups for years in the areas of substance abuse treatment prisoner reentry homelessness and community leadership. As they continue to do that they have also added another focus. We have worked in recent years to particu- larly focus on identifying and coming alongside the many faith-based nonprofits in our commu- nity Chad says. And they make letting the community know about good work others are doing and exploring possibilities of joint efforts a part of what they do. We do this by recommend- ing them for funding to area philanthropists developing comprehensive interagency agreements with them and promoting them to whatever media is available to us. Other times partnerships arise relative to specific mission programs and services. In Jack- sonville we engage in three strategic partnerships with local colleges that support our medical and dental clinics and our learning center says Penny. Housing is an area for the mission that has also birthed a strategic partnership recently. As we purchase more houses that will be transformed into acceptable homes for our graduates we have partnered with local officials to create a North Riverside Neighborhood Council. Being accessible building relationships and making investments. These are the stories of AGRM missions regularly and intentionally engaging with a cross-section of community members leaders officials and groups. For many it is a face-to-face priority. 46 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Sue has been a freelance writer for more than 10 years penning pieces for publications corporations and nonprofit organizations. She lives in suburban Chicago Illinois and enjoys singing reading speaking and traveling. You can email her at rosenfeldsueaol.com. Job descriptions might be specific about providing oversight or doing liaison work in a particular area focused on connecting with the community. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 47 T he other day I had the opportunity to make an ask of a donor with whom I have a warm and trusted relationship. This donor has supported unusual projects before so I know her interest in giving to hard to fund proj- ects. I also know that she wants the need to be strategic. What I had to ask for was both. I had asked to meet because I wanted to propose the gift to her but she didnt know this. Only use this approach with a highly trusted relationship oth- erwise always alert the donor that you would like to present a giving opportunity at an upcoming appointment. You could say I think I have a proj- ect that you would like to support. May I bring you the details next time we meet If you receive a positive response then the door is open wide. Be sure to have a project in mind for two reasons. First the donor might want you to describe it right there and then. Second the next time you get together you will need to make a good presentation. The details should be out- lined in a one-page proposal. Include at least one photo show- ing the reason for the need. Also describe the project and how it will impact lives. Tell a short story of a changed life and then summarize the cost of the proj- ect with funds on hand and the total needed. This shows the donor what is still needed. At SIM we always present the need on the platform of Please prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you give. You might feel more comfortable with a straight-out ask Does this project interest you How much of the need can you support My particular ask was for facility improvements on our home office grounds and build- ings. Its not a very attractive need but it was the kind of project this donor enjoyed sup- porting. Her previous gifts were in the 40k to 50k range. The need for this project was 150k to fund the first year of a three- year upgrade to our 30-year-old facility. She understood the need because she had visited the office. I asked her to pray about it and two days later she told me to expect a check. She also gave all of the glory to God for what He has done to enable her to make the gift. Be sure to know your donor and build trust before asking for a major gift so you dont offend anyone by making the wrong ask for the wrong amount at the wrong time. 48 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 DAY-TO-DAY Practical help with the operations and ministry of your mission FINDING FUNDS Barry Durman The Big Ask Relationship is key when asking big donors for big-time support Barry is vice president of stew- ardship at SIM in Charlotte North Carolina. He has more than 30 years of development experience and served the Atlantic City Rescue Mission for 13 years including 10 years as president. Email him at barry.durmansim.org. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 49 BE MONEYWISE In Streetsmart Financial Basics for Nonprofit Managers Wiley Thomas McLaughlin explains in plain English how to use financial information to effectively run nonprof- its. He concentrates on how to read interpret and use financial data from bookkeepers and accountants to make management decisions that ensure the ongoing finan- cial future of your organiza- tion. The book is organized into four distinct parts analysis accounting operations and control and features more than 50 easy-to-read charts tables checklists and instructive side- bars. It includes a disc with handy finan- cial templates to copy modify and use. CHARITIES IN CANADA How do Canadas nonprofits stack up Canadas charitable and nonprofit sector is the second largest in the world the Netherlands is the largest the U.S. is fifth. Canada has an estimated 170000 nonprofits and charities half of these 54 are run entirely by volunteers. 2 million people are employed by these organizations representing 11.1 of the economically active population. Smaller provinces have a higher number of organizations relative to their populations. Source Imagine Canada N ot long ago I was in our capitol sitting with a state senator as he listened to a county employee explain how wonderful and successful this thing called Housing First is. The speaker asserted that the fundamental issue in homelessness is a lack of housing. When it was my turn I explained that we believe the fundamental issue is the collective causes for a lack of housingand that data from the CDC NIMH and other sources proves it. This was a debate of context really. Is housing the correct context for understanding this issueor childhood maltreatment Or something else What lens makes sense of the problem and organizes solutions that produce results The longer I serve as the leader of a mission the more convinced I become that context is a big part of my job. For example my job is not merely to make sure our mens shelter runs well. I also need to make sure everyone knows what that meansour clients our staff our supporters our politicians. Im a crafter of context and purveyor of meaning. I carry the narrative and that means more than telling the story of individuals we have helped. It also means explaining the bigger picture. Our clients need to hear the bigger picture too. Like many in the broader community they can hold the deep belief that they are the loser- bums of society. And while policy and personal choices matter deeply they are still only the visible part of the iceberg. Sadly 92 percent of our recovery residents report high to severe levels of childhood abuse trauma and neglect. And childhood maltreatment is the variable most predictive of adult homelessness. According to multiple respected studies what happened to these friends of mine when they were kids predicts that they are 1030 times more likely to become homeless as an adult. That means housing isnt the issue. It means our shelter isnt merely a compassion ministry or a route to rehousing. Its a chance to love people who have known harmpeople who will only be healed by love because they hate themselves distrust you and have been in survival mode since childhood. We have to know this data we must be able to tell this story. More and more Im seeing my job as helping to explain this to everyone associated with home- lessness and our mission. It changes how our clients see themselves how we enact our work what we measure for success and what good policy should look like. Among other things leaders are context-crafters. And it might be among the most important things we do. 50 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 DAY-TO-DAY LEADERSHIP LAB Mike Johnson Framing the Context Knowing the data and telling the story Mike is executive director of The Rescue Mission in Tacoma Washington. He is a graduate of Pepperdine University a former Army Ranger an ordained minister and father of six childrenall adopted. You can email Mike at mike. johnsonrescue-mission.org. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 51 HANG ON TO THEM Why do people want to stay with an organization This important question is addressed in Employee Job Embeddedness Tate Publishing by Paulette Holmes. Emerging leaders will need to know how to retain quality employees. Ideas discussed in this book include human relations recruitment retention and generational differences and leadership and leadership styles that focus on humanistic needs. This holistic approach to retaining the best and the brightest people is critical to the success of any organization. This book will guide you through what youll need to be a savvy predictor of employee job embedded- nesswhy people stay. 52 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 53 Y ou might be surprised to discover that eggs are a hot topic right nowthey made the top 25 Whats Hot in 2016 list compiled by the National Restaurant Association and Ameri- can Culinary Federation. Its easy to see why Eggs are one of the most utilized and common ingredients in any kitchen because theyre inexpensive and nutritious. But dont limit eggs to breakfast they can be used for any meal and are the backbone of many of your favorite recipes. Lets take a closer look at the underappreciated egg. NutritionEggs are incredibly nutritious. Each egg is 70 calories and has 6 grams of protein and 13 essential vitamins and minerals. And although the egg got a bad rap in the past for its so-called high cholesterol its now known that this type of cholesterol is good for the body and can actually lower the risk of heart disease. Cost effectivenessSwitching to eggs as a main staple can create big savings for a mission. On average one egg costs 25 cents. That means a typical serving of three eggs will cost only 75 cents. In terms of cost a serving of eggs is a huge savings compared to a 3- to 5-ounce serving of ground beef chicken or pork. Beyond the scrambleAlthough eggs are commonly thought of as the quintessential breakfast item thousands of recipes use eggs for lunch or dinner. One of my favorite egg dishes to make is a hearty baked dish known as egg strata. Its much like a quiche or frittata as an unlimited amount of ingredients can be used in it to utilize leftover meats and produce. Other dishes where eggs can be used are Chinese stir fries lasagna moussaka soups pizza and flatbreads with veggies. Eggs also pair well with polenta sweet or regular potatoes any kind of rice or pasta and veggies like Brussels sprouts cabbage spinach and asparagus. For more egg recipe ideas go to aeb.org. As you include eggs in the daily menu they will add nutritional value save big and make for happy customers. The egg is truly all it is cracked up to be so get crackin FULL PLATE Brian Romano All About Eggs This food staple is all its cracked up to be Basic Egg Strata Yield 12 servings 6 eggs 1 cups milk cup heavy cream 6 cups cubed bread 1 tsp. salt Savory ingredients cup protein ham bacon chicken etc. cup shredded cheese cup vegetables Sweet variation cup dried fruit 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice cup sugar Instructions In a mixing bowl whisk eggs milk heavy cream and salt until well incorporated. Cut bread into bite-sized cubes. In a small bowl mix bread and all other dry ingredients. Place into a round deep-sided baking dish. Pour egg mixture slowly over top of bread. Cover with plastic wrap and press down lightly to help bread absorb the liquid. Rewrap baking dish and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350F. Remove plastic wrap from baking dish. Place in oven and bake 2025 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow strata to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Brian is a certified executive chef who holds degrees in culinary arts and restaurant and hospitality management. He serves as culinary instructor for Flint Hill Technical College in Emporia Kansas. You can contact him at chefromano13gmail.com. DAY-TO-DAY 54 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 DAY-TO-DAY INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Brian H. Merriam Earthquake Coverage Typical property insurance policies dont cover this major disaster I recently returned from Haiti where I regularly travel to do mission work. As you may recall this poor nation 90 minutes south of Miami suffered an earthquake on January 12 2010 that killed a quarter million people According to the U.S. Geo- logical Survey between 14000 and 32000 earthquakes have occurred each year worldwide over the last 12 years Of these 15 were a magnitude of 8.0 or greater. The devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti was a 7.0. The number of deaths from earthquakes ranged from 231 in 2000 to 320120 in 2010. Of all the natural disasters that occur the shaking of the earths tectonic plates has the potential for the greatest amount of damage. I point this out because I believe that too many property owners do not give considera- tion to the potential of major damage affecting their build- ings and the contents within them. If there is a consistent omission of coverage from the typical insurance policy it is for this. In fact I am unaware of any insurance policy that automatically provides earth- quake coverageit must be requested. Unlike the perils of fire windstorm and smoke earth- quake coverage is purchased separately and can be for an amount that is not reflective of the entire building and its con- tents. In other words you may have full replacement coverage for your building and contents for fire but only purchase a definitive amount of coverage for an earthquake. Because of this it is recommended that you purchase coverage that reflects the probability of dam- age to your building such as faade damage that would allow you to make the substan- tial repairs that an earthquake can cause. Typically newer well-made buildings can with- stand a minor earthquake especially wood frame build- ings but a masonry building with brick veneer may see the face of the building fall away when the earth shakes. To gauge how much cover- age to obtain start by speaking with a qualified contractor and ask his opinion on the resiliency of your building to withstand a tremor. Then obtain at least a modicum of coverage that would allow you to make repairs to alleviate the burden of paying for damage out-of-pocket. If your building is near a fault line consider the potential of replacing the entire structure and purchase insur- ance accordingly. Bear in mind that earthquake deductibles are usually substantially higher than those for other perils. Brian is the official insurance consultant for AGRM. The Merriam Agency offers property casualty auto directors and officers and workers compensation coverages tailored to the needs of AGRM members. You can email Brian at brianmerriaminsurance.com. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 55 GET IT DONE Mission-driven leaders are often required to multitask its part of the job. With an emphasis on time management The Together Leader Get Organized for Your Successand Sanity Jossey-Bass pro- vides tools templates and checklists necessary for leaders to stay organized and keep on top of their responsibili- ties. By learning how to plan for the pre- dictable leaders can face the unexpected head-on going off-plan while keeping their eye on the objective. In this practi- cal handbook Maia Heyck-Merlin gives leaders the tools and information they need to streamline their workflow and take the day one task at a time without sacrificing productivity. Learn more by logging in at www.agrm.org and clicking the Certification tab. CHALLENGING TIMES CEOs reveal the biggest challenges leaders face today 50 Attracting and retaining skilled employees 20 Staying focused 18 Creating a culture of innovation 7 Remaining competitive 5 Dealing with rapid technological change Source Inc. 500 WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 57 DAY-TO-DAY HOW TO CAPTURE ATTENTION Great communication is vital and we live in an age where communication has been transformed in mind-spinning ways. At the same time the fundamentals of effective and successful communication remain the same. Whether were email- ing texting posting or blogging if we dont have credibility if we generate inappropriate emotions and if our logic is flawed no one will pay attention to us. Exceptionally Human Successful Communica- tion in a Distracted World Shapiro Communica- tions by Brian Shapiro offers practi- cal skills and tips for any- one who wants to be paid attention to particularly in a world where attention spans are in short supply. IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL No one said pursuing justice would be easy. The road can be so challenging and the destination so distant that you may be discour- aged by a lack of progress compassion or commit- ment in your quest for justice. How do you stay committed to the journey when Gods Kingdom can seem so slow in com- ing Kent Annan understands this struggle of working for justice over the long haul. In Slow Kingdom Com- ing Practices for Doing Justice Loving Mercy and Walking Humbly in the World IVP Books he shares practices that will encourage and help you to keep making a difference in the face of the worlds challenging issues. THE POWER OF PRAYING TOGETHER Nearly all Christians would affirm the centrality of prayer for a healthy Christian life. And yet for many prayer is often a challenge requiring intense personal commitment and self-discipline. However as Megan Hill points out in Praying Together The Priority and Privilege of Prayer Crossway our normal approach to prayer leaves out a crucial component other people. While per- sonal prayer is important God designed the church to be a community of believers that regularly prays together. Exploring the Bibles rich teaching on what it means to gather at Gods throne with one voice Hill lays a foundation for corporate prayer and offers practical guidance for making it a reality. PROFILE OF A THRIFT SHOPPER Thrift stores are more popular than ever. Here are the types of customers driving that trend The average thrift shopper is a lower- to middle-income woman between the ages of 35 and 55. She is primarily seeking clothing for herself and her family as well as household and decorative goods. The recent recession brought many new consumers to secondhand stores. Job losses and wage cuts brought middle-class families to thrift stores instead of big-box locations to look for items they needed. The DIY movement has people flocking to thrift stores in search of clothing to upcycle or turn into costumes craft goods for home projects and furniture they can refinish. The popularity of the industrial and vintage looks in home dcor and the steampunk or retro looks for clothing is also driving demand for items available in resale shops. Source The Cascade Alliance A TERRIBLE TREND Since 20072008 a year that marked the beginning of a housing and job market crash from which the U.S. continues to recover student homeless numbers doubled nationwide to reach 1.4 million in 2014 an all-time high. Source Atlanta Daily World W e teach our kids to color inside the lines. But what about the coloring book of life Are we so rule-bound that we cant think outside of our immediate community The lines we stay inside might be our mission our family our church and maybe what we see on TV. So we talk about Donald Trump a loteven here in Canada. But my eyes were opened to another world recently at the annual Associa- tion of Fundraising Professionals Conference. This is a huge conference with up to 4000 attendees most of whom are not representing faith-based charities. Featured keynote speakers were Kofi Annan from Ghana former secretary general of the United Nations. If the world was one country he might be our president. Next up was Kumi Naidoo from South Africa former international executive director of the environmentalist group Greenpeace. Talk about thinking outside of the lines And I dont mean chaining yourself to a tree. I mean exposing yourself to people who are outside of your paradigm. Yes you will experience a shift. Your attitude will shift. Youll become less insular and more tolerant. Tolerance doesnt mean sacri- ficing your values it means loving people more. If you want the best example around take Jesus. He hung around with tax collectors and prostitutes. Thats like the mob and sex workers in our world. Let that sink in for a minute. We work with people who are poor and homeless so were used to thinking about Jesus as our highest example of that. But when you think outside the rescue mission box its not just about serving those who are poor. Its about embracing them loving them serving alongside them and letting them minister in their own way. For our mission that means having interns and starting a fully functional street-level church. But for me personally when I begin to think outside the box my world opens up. It turns out the box is full of crayon colors that would put Crayola to shame And that is the attraction of inserting myself into new situations. I become stronger in my weak areas. I begin to think more creatively. My tolerance is based on love instead of grit. I see the world with holistic glasses and realize I am not at the center of it. And I never will be. And I become okay with that. In the end my faith is strengthened. Because as I shrink the hope and light of Christ increases. 58 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 DAY-TO-DAY ACROSS THE STREET Michelle Porter Color Outside the Lines The incredible value of thinking outside the box Michelle is the founder of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Halifax Nova Scotia where she currently resides. The missions motto Always go the extra mile is based on Matthew 541. Contact Michelle at mporter.rescuegmail.com. WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 59 WERE NUMBER ONE Top city for Boomer volunteering Charlotte North Carolina Top city for teen volunteering Kansas City Missouri Top city for veteran volunteering Washington D.C. Top city for Millennial volunteering Portland Oregon Top city for college student volunteering Seattle Washington Source volunteeringinamerica.gov REGISTER NOW Visit www.agrm.org2016convention OPPOSITES ARE ESSENTIAL Two common temptations lure us away from abundant liv- ingwithdrawing into safety or grasping for power. True flourishing says Andy Crouch comes from both strength and weakness. Strong and Weak Embracing a Life of Love Risk and True Flourishing IVP Books explains how we see this unlikely mix- ture in the best lead- erspeople who use their author- ity for the benefit of others while also showing extraordinary willingness to face and embrace suffering. If you want to become the kind of person whose influence leads to healthy communities someone with the strength to be com- passionate and generous this is the book for you. 60 WWW.AGRM.ORG MAYJUNE 2016 Checking and updating weekly is not too much. 4Links to social media. Very few things are as frustrating to a website visitor as a dead link. But those dead links are especially painful when they should have connected someone to your social media. 5Press releases. Much like online newsletters the more current online press releases are the better for your organizations credibility. Create an online archive for press releases older than one year. And if all you have are press releases older than one year consider whether they need to be posted online at all. A simple website with current information is far better than a complex industry award-winning site design with last years news. And if you lack budget for a staff member to manage it web updating can be a perfect activity for a trusted volunteer. Make the most of the vital information you need to share onlinekeep it current WWW.AGRM.ORGMAYJUNE 2016 61 I f youre part of a larger rescue mission youre probably blessed with plenty of people to help you keep your missions website current and captivating. But what about the rest of us The bad news first Websites with outdated information lose more visitors than websites that are under-designed. The good news You dont have to spend a lot of time or money to continu- ally reinvent your site content if you can keep these five items current. 1The events calendar. It is absolutely essential to place on-going and special events on your website. Whether you use a calendar layout or not a website that only features past events may cause the casual browser to believe that your mission is floundering or no longer in operation. If you update nothing else on the site update this to include events 60 to 90 days in the future. 2The online newsletter. Many missions offer an online version of the newsletter they print. As long as the newsletter is freshsay in the current quarterthats great. But if you havent updated the newsletter in six months or more it might be time to create a simple online newsletter that doesnt have to wait for a print version. 3Employment opportunities. This item is sometimes overlooked by those of us who control information on the web. Dont beat yourself up if you dont pull an online job description on the same day someone is hired but stay in touch with your HR office to keep your online list of job opportunities current. PR TOOLKIT Steve Wamberg Keep Your Website Current The essentials for keeping your online content fresh Steve helps missions and other nonprofits more effectively communicate with the public. He can be reached at steve wambergyahoo.com. DAY-TO-DAY Save the Dates for AGRMs CEO Summit AGRMs annual CEO Summit is headed home to the asso- ciations mother ship. Well close anyway. The event will be held in Colorado Springs August 2325 at Glen Eyrie the spectacular conference center owned and operated by The Navigators. DC Forum Produces Significant Outcomes AGRMs annual opportunity to interact with legislators and government agencies the DC Forum saw a large group of rescue mission leaders descend on Capitol Hill March 1416 and make inroads within the halls of U.S. government. More than 70 meetings were held with U.S Senators and members of Congress. Additionally the entire AGRM delegation had a noteworthy one-hour meeting with senior officials at the Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD. Is Your Mission Certified As of April 50 missions within AGRM were certified with sev- eral other missions working to gain certification. Certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence thats noticed by donors and others. The certification process also mitigates exposure to potential legal and liability problems which can earn the ministry significant discounts on insurance premiums particularly when the mission is part of AGRMs rescue mission insurance program. Shall We Gather at the River AGRMs 2016 Annual Convention in Jack- sonville is just around the bend June 710 What can you expect to experience at this years event Here are a few highlights An exceptional stay at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel. Dozens of track seminars covering 12 areas of rescue mission ministry and operations. Three power-packed Culture Changer Seminars which include lunch at Jacksonvilles innovative Nonprofit Center. Excellent general sessions that will stir your heart includ- ing the opening session in the historic Florida Theatre which features special guests Tracy Lawrence Mark Lowry Charlotte Ritchie and Greg Sykes. Godly counsel with confidants whove been where you are. A daily devotional to get each day started right. A chance to strengthen your organization with an array of products and services on display in our Expo Areas. A Women-in-Leadership Breakfast. A Networking Lunch arranged by role so you can make connections with people who do what you do. An evening outing in Jacksonville complete with an outdoor concert by the river. Watch Street Smart and AGRMs Events Calendar for additional details. CEOs in the meantime set aside those dates plus travel days to make sure you can attend to network with your peers. This event should be a staple on the calendars of rescue mission leaders every year. To learn more about this program visit www.agrm.org gettingstarted. We hope to see you in Jacksonville Go to www.agrm.orgconvention for all the latest details. RE AGRMMayJune 2016 62