PENIEL
MISSIONS NOW CITYTEAM
CityTeam Ministries, San Jose, CA, has assumed the work of
the Penial Missions in Seattle, Portland, Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Penial,
which was operated by WGM (formerly World Gospel Missions), Marion, IN, has been in
operation for over 100 years. CityTeam President Pat Robertson shares that "the
Peniel Missions have a rich heritage of compassionately caring for some of society's
neediest citizens," and "it is indeed a great privilege to continue the good
work they have so faithfully accomplished over the years." CityTeam started 41 years
ago in San Jose, CA, and continues to minister to that community, but also has ministries
in Chester, PA, and Jonesboro, AR.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
The following letter appeared in the September 12 edition
of World Magazine, written by Barbara Deatherage of the MODESTO (CA) UNION GOSPEL MISSION.
I don't think I have ever seen our work any better summarized than it was by Barbara. It
is also a challenge to all of us to "get out there" and share what we believe
and what we do. Let's get writing Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor relating to issues that
we believe in that relate to RESCUE. If you need help, give Phil Rydman a call at
1-800-624-5156.
"Better cooperation with faith-based
organizations" was part of the welfare reform rhetoric two years ago. But as I
testified before California Assemblyman Tom Bordonaro's committee, "I'll believe it
when I see it." And I was right. Once able to purchase surplus USDA food commodities,
we are now able to receive the same commodities for free, if we cease to be who we are--a
"Gospel Mission." As the only emergency homeless shelter in Stanislaus County,
our statistics are proof positive that what the government has efficiently done is to
redirect the poor to private agencies. Thankful, we chose to be dependent wholly on God
and the prayers and voluntary contributions of his people. He shall supply our needs, and
the needs of the poor, "according to his riches in glory," long after secular
funds have dried up. We believe that feeding people without giving them the gospel is just
another failed social program that perpetuates homelessness. Who better to give them the
true "bread of life" than a Gospel Mission? It's what we do. It's who we are.
--Barbara G. Deatherage, Modesto Union Gospel Mission
The following letter to the editor appeared in the NonProfit
Times, September 1998. It is an outstanding response and "Gets the Light Out From
Under the Bushel." Let's keep sharing our views in newspapers and magazines
throughout the country.
I was excited to see the article "Faith Based
Organizations" by Jon Van Til in your August, 1998 issue. Those of us who work in
such organizations have always known what the government and the rest of the nonprofit
secotr seems to just now be discovering; religious organizations are doing significant
work in addressing social issues, such as poverty.
However, I was greatly disappointed with the author's
cynical treatment of religion, and thus of faith-based organizations. Not only does he
imply that any religion-led social movement has a dark side, but he asserts that these
organizations will most certainly violate the religious liberty of program beneficiaries.
In the past five years, I have had the privilege to work
closely with the International Union of Gospel Missions, an association of 250 faith-based
ministries working to serve homeless and other disadvantaged people in our inner cities.
Neither at my mission nor at any of the many missions and other faith-based organizations
that I have visited could one construe that our clients' religious liberties are being
violated. While we believe that faith is a vital part of our "solution," we do
not coerce people into accepting that faith.
Faith-based organizaitons are gaining more attention from
the government and the nonprofit sector because they are successful--often in
significantly higher numbers than their secular counterparts. In my experience, it is the
government that is seeking us out, rather than religious organizations vigorously
soliciting goverment funding. They (the government) want to fund what works.
I hope that Mr. Van Til will take another look at
faith-based organizations. Perhaps he'd find a brighter hope than he expected, instead of
the dark side that he fears.
Linda Spuck
Director of Development
Water Street Rescue Mission
Lancaster, PA
THE FIRST FIVE HUNDRED ARE GONE .
. .
That is how fast the "Songs of Rescue" video
disappeared. We are now ordering 500 more. Just sold 50 to Ken Fox from OPEN DOOR MISSION,
Rochester, NY. Ken shared how he played the video for men in his Discipleship Program. He
said they all began to sing along. Later in the day, they were playing it again. This a
great tool for those kinds of programs, as well as for gifts to staff, board and donors.
Those that see it marvel at the stories of hymns that they have heard for years that they
didn't realize had RESCUE connections. I can visualize Ma Taylor sharing with Mac McDonald
the fact that "Calvary covers it all." As Jack Martin, a convert of Pacific
Garden Mission, shared the story of that great hymn, I don't believe there was a dry eye
in the place. What a wonderful message of God's great mercy, love and redemption. That's
just one of many stories of songs related to RESCUE. Now is the time to think Christmas
orders. If you order 50 video's, they are $10.00 per video; 25-49, $12.50; and 1-25,
$15.00. Audio tapes are $3.00 if your order 50 or more; $4.00 25-49; and $5.00, 1-24.
"Songs of Rescue" was a "labor of
love" with many people working to make it happen. Steve and Delores Burger did the
research, Frank Jacobs lined up all the musicians and produced it, Philip Tisdale
organized and managed the video and audio. A number of IUGMer's shared the stories of the
songs and sang the songs. Production staff were:
| Frank Jacobs,
Producer (See Happenings Salutes on page ) Michael
Liimatta, Floor Director
Philip Tisdale, Associate Producer
Matt Mills, Technical Director |
Dean Claiborne,
Sound Les Bartell, Video Engineer Gary Meek, Ed
Terdal, Kent Turansky, Camera
John Niemela, Power Point Projection
Sam Ramos, Director |
Intaglio Productions produced the video.
Special appreciation goes to the Russ Reid Company for a production grant. This enabled us
to produce the video and keep the cost of it down ($15). Thanks to everyone involved.
PARADE ARTICLE FEATURES MISSION
PROGRAM
"A Birthday Party for Every Child"
was the title of a story in PARADE magazine, September 5th, 1998. It was part of a group
of stories under the heading, "They Help Kids." It was about Connie FitzGerald
and her birthday parties for the children taking part in the CITY UNION MISSION's (Kansas
City, MO) youth center. She puts on a party for all 70 boys and girls taking part in the
activities on their birthday and arranges for gifts for each child. she has help from
colleagues and friends. She never attends the parties. She signs a card to each child from
'Your Birthday Friend." The kids are told "someone that doesn't know you cares
about you. Now it is your responsibility to give something back to someone else."
Steve Burger
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Coming soon, complete and submit your mission’s form
for the Annual IUGM Snapshot Survey of the Homeless from the web
site
Other information at the IUGM web site that is
especially helpful to members:
From the October 1998 edition of HAPPENINGS, monthly
newsletter of the International Union of Gospel Missions
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