By Rev. Stephen E. Burger, Executive Director, IUGM

Eleven million people, the vast majority of them single women and their children, must leave the welfare roles as "welfare reform" becomes a reality in the United States.

The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 requires recipients to find work within two years of filing for benefits and enacts a five-year lifetime limit on eligibility. State governments are now submitting their plans to meet these goals. The states must take over and re-tool programs formerly structured by the federal government.

Much will be said and written in the months ahead. Already predictions about homelessness and poverty, especially affecting children, are being made. As I talk with rescue mission leaders and other social service workers, there are no clear facts or knowledge of just what the impact will be, but everyone agrees there will be an impact.

For years, many of us in Christian ministry, and in the pew, have criticized welfare programs and welfare dependency. We have seen in our rescue missions the results of generations of welfare reliance -- the loss of initiative and dignity. We have worked to break that bondage, one individual at a time. We have seen Christian conversion, discipleship, and mentoring as the keys. But it doesn't happen easily or without commitment and sacrifice, both by the recipient and by those helping to break the pattern.

Now, after our criticism and our belief in a better system, we are being asked to provide that help and those answers. Our analysis has been heard by policy makers and the question now is, "How will the community and church leaders respond?"

Recently, I spoke at a three state conference of homeless shelter providers. Another speaker on the program gave his presentation the title "The Worst of Times, The Worst of Times", while I talked on "The Opportunity of Welfare Reform." My belief is that the church and the Christian community have an opportunity to make a difference in lives, an opportunity that may not be available again. We say we have the solutions to life's problems. Now we are being called upon to share those solutions at a critical time. We can make sure that the future does not become "The Worst of Times."

It is imperative that we think solution and not just charity. Teaching a man to fish, rather than giving him a fish, is the future. More food boxes or free clothes may be needed, but that must not be our solution. Expecting people to wait in line for another "handout" does nothing to promote responsibility or help them gain employment. The church needs to be a catalyst for change and use what it does well to help transform the community.

With the reforms passed by congress, thousands of mothers are going to have to go to work. Many will need a place for their seven to thirteen year old children, not normally involved in day care, to go before and after school. What an "opportunity" to offer a Christian activity (i.e. Scouts, athletic league, Bible club) every afternoon. If the church has a mid-week service, perhaps a meal could be offered for both church members and for those families with children in the Bible club, followed by services for all ages.

Recently, the International Union of Gospel Missions (IUGM) commissioned Roper-Starch Worldwide to do a survey of 305 employers, coast-to-coast. An amazing 93% of those responding were in favor of initiatives to force welfare and general assistance recipients to get jobs and become self-sufficient. However, only 21% said that they would make "a great deal more" effort, and an additional 45% "some more" effort, to hire recipients of welfare and general public assistance. When asked what qualities were most important for an entry level worker to possess, 8% said the right work skills, while 80% responded a right work attitude. Personal attributes most desired in an entry level employee included: dependability (rated as essential by 90%), honesty (89%), the ability to follow instructions (86%), good attendance and punctuality (86%), cooperativeness (80%), and respect for superiors (69%). These are all spiritual issues.

I am challenging the member missions of the IUGM to take their "life skill programs" developed for men and women in mission discipleship and rehabilitation programs and make them available to people who must soon leave the welfare roles.

 Many of the people affected by elimination of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the primary program cut by welfare reform, want to better their lives and are open for help. If a church or para-church group offered job readiness training, based on scriptural principles, I believe there would be many takers. The course could be offered in a location near a housing project or low income community. Many of these projects have community rooms that would be available. Fliers could be passed out around the neighborhood to publicize the course.

These are just a few examples of how the church can reach out. Others include: day care, literacy, computerized education courses and GED programs, work therapy, parenting courses, summer day camp and English as a second language. If we believe our faith works in changing lives, it's time that we took it out and applied it at the point of need. This is that opportunity. What do we have to lose?

In 1827, in the first annual report of the Glasgow (Scotland) City Mission, David Nasmith, founder of the city mission movement, stated:

Although this city is highly favored with religious privileges yet there are thousands who know as little of the Gospel as if it never had been preached in their land; ... they are living as careless as if they were never to be called to account. There are thousands of families where the name of God is never mentioned except when it is taken in vain ... a vast number of the poor have never been taught to read" Things haven't changed much, for that statement could be made of any city in America today. David Nasmith challenged the church to "go to the poor", using the Bible as its rule. The churches of Glasgow sat in the middle of some of the poorest neighborhoods, yet were having little impact.

The same is often true today. We now have the opportunity to make an impact, or as David Nasmith said, "Walk the talk."