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he Long Island Refugees in Boston worsens.Seeking Volunteers and Contributions for Boston Warm Day Shelter
This week’s post promotes a tangible opportunity for the Christian community to serve the least of these. We strongly encourage the UniteBoston community to participate through prayer and action!
Dear Friends,
On October 8, 2014, the bridge connecting Long Island to the mainland of Boston was closed due to safety concerns, shutting down the Long Island shelter and displacing over 700 homeless individuals who called Long Island their home.
Although the city has provided temporary beds, shelters have continued to be over capacity, resulting in unsanitary conditions. As temperatures fall, the crisis has become urgent. Dozens of faith leaders have come together knowing that action is necessary to ensure safety for our friends on the street.
The mission of the Religious Leaders for Long Island Refugees is to advocate for an adequate stable, and dignified response for the displaced refugees. We also seek to educate and inform the communities we represent about our deep concerns for the homeless citizens of Boston.
One of the most critical unmet short-term needs that has been identified is for a day shelter. The Day Center will provide a warm and comfortable space for people to gather as an alternative to the streets. The first day center will be at Old South Church, located in Copley Square, Boston. It will be open for guests Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm from January 19th to March 31st.
We are trying to change this narrative through prayer, faith, and action. Please join us in this most important effort in the following ways:
VOLUNTEER – The biggest need right now is building a consistent & trained volunteer team. We are seeking caring individuals to volunteer so that the shelter can open. There are two shifts each day: 8:30am to 12:30pm and 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Volunteers will be required to attend a 3-hour training led by Starlight Ministries and submit background checks. We hope volunteers can commit to at least two shifts during the time frame that the temporary shelter is in operation. To sign up to volunteer, enter the following web address (URL) on your computer: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F094BACAA29A0F58-boston The tool will guide you to choose date/s and times that are convenient for you.
GIVE – The cost for adequate staffing and supplies for the day shelter is $37,800, so financial resources are most critical at this point. Checks should be addressed to the City Mission Society of Boston, 14 Beacon Street #203 Boston MA 02108 with Boston Warm in the memo line.
PRAY – Please keep those affected by the shelter closure in your prayers.
SPREAD THE WORD – We appreciate your help in spreading the word of this important situation to people of faith in congregations throughout the city.
Thank you for choosing to make a difference in the lives of people who are truly the less of these.
Sincerely,
Boston Religious Leaders for Long Island
http://bostonwarm.weebly.com
Hope for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
This week’s article is by Kelly Steinhaus, UniteBoston’s Team Leader. Read below to hear the hope for the Commonwealth that was inspired by the prayer service for Governor-Elect Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Karyn Polito last Wednesday.
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If you know much about what I do in the city, you’ll know that I attend a lot of prayer gatherings. But I have to tell you that the gathering that I went to last Wednesday night was one of the most unique, inspiring prayer gatherings that I’ve attended in a long time. I came away filled with faith and hope for the upcoming leadership of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Here’s why:
1. It was a remarkable demonstration of the gifts and talents present within communities of faith in our city
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
I find it significant that Massachusetts is a Commonwealth, which is a word meaning “political community founded for the common good.” At this gathering, various communities of faith all shared their gifts and talents, as a sign of offering and blessing for the upcoming term of the Governor-Elect Baker and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Polito. Each of the twelve leaders shared a reading that was meaningful to them, and then presented Mr. Baker and Mrs. Polito with a symbolic gift. The service also had musical selections from various churches ringing out with the passion and glory of God – each giving what they had to offer to bless the common good.
2. It symbolized the importance of prayer
One vision continues to resonate in my heart and mind, the image of various religious leaders coming together to pray for God’s anointing on Governor-Elect Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Karyn Polito:
Photo credit: Jessica Rinaldi, Boston Globe
I was astounded to see the diversity of the religious leaders that were present, including Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston, Metropolitan Methodios, Imam Suhaib Webb of the Islamic Society of Boston, Reverent Matthew Thompson of Jubillee Christian Church, Rabbi Ronnie Friedman of Temple Israel, and Reverend Laura Everett of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
We might not all be able to agree on doctrine, but we can agree that Baker and Lieutenant Governor-elect Karyn Polito need the blessing of God to lead effectively. Coming together in prayer is a sign and a symbol of our hopes and dreams together for the commonwealth!
3. It indicated a narrowing of the gap between the church and the city
It would be easy for Governor-Elect and Lieutenant Governor-Elect to begin their term of office without joining in this prayer service. However, their presence indicates that faith is a priority for them; that the church and religious communities are a meaningful part of how they view the city and commonwealth.
Lisa Wangsness of the Boston Globe wrote “The eagerness of politicians in this largely liberal, secular state to form alliances with clergy such as Miranda underscores the continued importance of the institutional church in the city’s communities of color, and in the life of the city.” This gives me hope for the city and the church working together in future endeavors.
3. It showed a desire for this term of office to be characterized by humility and servanthood
What blew me away most from this evening was the scripture passage that Governor-elect Baker chose to characterize his term of office: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5). Baker shared that it is his desire for each person in his administration to live by this notion.
I was so encouraged by this because I have felt that what God wants most for us as His people in Boston is humility. I had the sense that God was really going to honor this time that we took to come together and pray a blessing on their upcoming term. May we as a commonwealth be known by our willingness to humble ourselves and lift others up!
To learn more, check out the Boston Globe article here:
Praise Report: UniteBoston is Changing LIves in Boston!
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Just One Gift: A Challenge to the Christian Community
Christa Lee Chuvala, co-executive director of the Boston Faith and Justice Network, challenges the Christian community on American consumerism and our holiday spending. As Christmas approaches, keeping in mind the needs of people all around the world is definitely something we need to take to heart!
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In 2013, U.S. consumers spent about $730 on average during the holiday season, totaling about $602 billion after the holidays were over. To put that number in perspective, the annual GDP of the country of Colombia in 2013 was $602 billion, according to the IMF. The annual GDP of Tanzania, a country with a population comparable to that of Colombia (about 50 million) was about $85 billion.
For another level of perspective, in 2012 the World Health Organization estimated that it would take about $535 billion to provide access to clean water and adequate sanitation across the globe. Just one year of our holiday spending would cover this cost.
So we spend a lot on Christmas. I’m part of this. I love giving gifts, eating fun holiday food, decorating my house, traveling to see friends and family. And some of these traditions build memories and nurture relationships. It’s not easy to find a balance between enjoyment and expectations, and the world’s great need.
But what if people bought fewer gifts? Or, more precisely, one less gift? If I, for example, decided this year not to purchase one $25 Lego set for my niece – what is the potential of my $25 gift? Or, for that matter, ten or a hundred or a thousand foregone gifts of $25?
As a point of entry, let’s start with five anti-poverty interventions in developing countries that Bruce Wydick deemed most effective after talking to 16 development economists from across the country (To be clear, I don’t necessarily think these causes are the best or only places to give money, and I’m aware of the controversies associated with some of them – I use them for illustrative purposes only).
Clean water in rural villages: The Water Project has estimated that $23 is enough to give one person access to clean and safe water – the cost of one Lego set. Per person charges are tricky in terms of accuracy because of the variations in the costs of building wells in different places, so let’s look at the cost per well instead. The same organization suggests that the average well-construction project in Africa ranges from $12,000 to $15,000. 500 or 600 people donating the money from one Christmas gift could pay for a well that might serve several hundred or more villagers.
De-worming treatments for children: Regular deworming treatments can improve nutrition, educational outcomes, and quality of life. The “Deworm the World” Initiative estimates that the costs of offering deworming treatments to children is about 50 cents per child. 50 children dewormed for a year, for the price of one gift.
Mosquito Nets: Malaria is a one of the top most deadly diseases in the developing world – and mosquito nets are one effective tool in disease prevention. The UN Foundation’s Nothing but Nets initiative suggests that $10 pays for a mosquito net and related education to use the nets effectively. Malaria No More’s Power of One campaign promises that $1 will provide a malaria test and treatment for one person in Zambia.
Sponsoring Children: Child sponsorship has changed over the years, expanding from assisting single families helping whole communities. Sponsorships with Children International are $28 per month, while those with World Vision run to $35.
Efficient wood-burning stoves: Wood-stove cooking and heating is central to the lives of 3 billion people, but the time needed to gather wood and the toxic effects of indoor air pollution are costly effects. Cleaner, more efficient stoves ranging in cost from $15 to $150 are available – the cost of one or a few Christmas gifts.
There are so many places to give. These possibilities are just examples. What could we do together?
One more thought experiment. 77% of the U.S. adult population identifies as Christian. Approximately three-quarters of the 300 million people in the U.S. are over 18 – 225,000,000 people. 77% of that number is 173,250,000. If all of the Christians in the U.S. decided to reduce their gift purchases by one, and instead donated that $25, we could give more than $4.3 billion just this Christmas to alleviating poverty around the world.
That’s power in numbers.
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