CHURCH ORDERED TO LIMIT ATTENDANCE & SHUT DOWN MEAL PROGRAM

The City of Portland, OR has ordered a 100-year-old United Methodist Church to limit attendance at its worship services and to shut down its meal program for the homeless and working poor that it has been operating for l6 years. The ruling came from Elizabeth Normand, Portland’s Land Use Officer, after a complaint was filed by the Sunnyside Community Association. The religious community of Portland has rallied in support of the church with 1200 attending a rally to protest the decision. Derek Davis, Baylor University Director of Church-State Studies, states that this is the first time in his knowledge that government officials have tried to restrict attendance at a church. "Having a civil official place restrictions on church attendance is highly suspect...I’m shocked and appalled," Davis said.

Rev. Timothy Lewis, co-pastor said he is hopeful that the Portland City Council will do away with the attendance cap as well as allow continuation of the meals program. He insists that those programs held on Wednesdays and Fridays are also worship services. They include singing, prayer, and Bible study, as well as dinner. "We’re afraid that the city will interpret religious freedom and expression as applying only to worship services," Lewis said.

John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, states that the city must show a compelling state interest to shut down the feeding program, and this sounds like another case of government overreach.

Man With A Mission: Mel Trotter and His Legacy for the Rescue Mission Movement (Hertel, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 2000) is now available from Barnes and Noble.com for $8.79, or through a Christian bookstore for $10.99. 2000 is the centennial of the founding of MEL TROTTER MINISTRIES, a Grand Rapids, MI milestone. Mel, saved at Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago, IL founded over 70 missions and traveled as an evangelist throughout the world.

Happenings at Our Missions

The PEORIA (IL) RESCUE MINISTRY has opened a new Women’s Pregnancy Center which offers a large waiting room, 3 client rooms, offices, clothing room, and storage area. The new facility is better located, more accessible, with easier parking, according to Myfanwy Saunders, WPC Director. An open house and tours of the facility were held at April 9th.

HUNTINGTON (WV) CITY MISSION officially opened their new Ministry Building, which houses the Women and Family Shelter and Administrative Offices. This building replaces the aging four story former hotel, which has been used by the mission for 68 years.

HUNTINGTON (WV) CITY MISSION received the 1999 award for Outstanding Collaboration from the West Virginia Welfare Reform Coalition. The award was for Project Hope their transitional living program designed to assist former homeless families in their effort to move from welfare to work

In Lincoln, NE there is a historic first. The Lincoln Independent Business Association has given their prestigious BUSINESS RESOURCE AWARD to a nonprofit, The PEOPLE’S CITY MISSION and its Executive Director Ron Buchinski. In giving the award, LIBA stated:

"The Mission encourages people to get back on their feet and to become taxpaying members of our society."

In recognizing Ron they acknowledged that "he is a very effective manager of the Mission, operating that organization with sound business principles."

CITY UNION MISSION, Kansas City, MO dedicated their New Life Program building on March 30th. This new facility will offer long term family housing, and support.

PHOENIX (AZ) RESCUE MISSION dedicated five new shelter homes, and their shelter home ministry on February 6. The newly rehabilitated homes will house a 13 month recovery program for woman and their children. They have three additional properties in escrow which will provide administrative space, a learning center, and a Christian Day Care center for both the residence and the community. $270,000 is needed to complete this project.