In the community, there are a lot of groups that have an impact in the Aiken area. One that has made a significant difference is Stand at the Crossroad Ministries. Stand at the Crossroads Ministry is run by Deborah Lamb, who is willing to accept people from every walk of life despite their past. Through her background, sacrifice, and acts of services, Deborah Lamb has become an asset to the community. Stand at the Crossroads is a Christian based organization created to help, encourage and give support to women on the road to recovery. Those Deborah Lamb serve face challenges from uncertain futures to destructive live styles. Deborah Lamb can relate to the young women and the ladies that come into Stand at the Crossroads Ministry. Ms. Lamb said, “I have walked the same roads as many of the women, so I can be an encouragement to them. I can share with them, not only will one day be doing well on their own , they will be able to encouragement and help others”. Deborah Lamb said “I had a desire to help women because of the hard times I went through as a young woman raising four children on my own. If it were not for God and the people at my church, who come along side me to help, I don’t know where I would be today”. Ms. Lamb began ministering to women years ago by having bible studies in her home. Deborah shared, “In 2000, my father gave me a big old Victorian house and told me I could do whatever I wanted with it”. So Ms. Lamb decided to open a home for women in crisis situation who were in need of a place to live, or to work on their recovery from addictions. As with any ministry, it takes a person who to be selfless and willing to make the sacrifices that have to be made daily as Ms. Lamb does. For example, she quit a f... ... middle of paper ... ...amb to step out in faith and provide help for single women and mothers who are trying to get back on their feet. Deborah Lamb has made a difference within our community for fourteen years through Stand at the Crossroads Ministries. I have found out that Debora Lamb is very loving and helpfully toward any one that comes across her path in need of any type of help whether it is emotional or physical needs. Deborah Lamb said “In the course of fourteen years in the ministry I have seen successes and people who go back to their old life style”. She tries to be optimistic about the people who leave Stand at the Cross Roads ministry. Deborah is always there for them ever even if they are no longer living at the ministry. In meeting Ms Lamb I have had a wonderful opportunity to see someone reach out to people in need and show them there are kind people in this world.
The Ministry Staff Member by Douglas Fagerstrom, is an excellent book that is designed to help create a clear picture on the role and responsibilities of ministry leaders and volunteers (paid and not paid). The book is practical and relevant to every single person wanting to be involved in a church. I am currently a children’s pastor, and I found valuable information under every part and page of the book that I wish I had known about a year ago. Not only does this book contain content that is valuable and relevant, but it also highlights the importance of financial and personal integrity in ministry relationships.
In African American Pastoral Care: Revised Edition, Dr. Wimberly spoke about responding to God’s unfolding and continually changing times when dealing with healing and reconciliation. In this revision of his classic book, Dr. Wimberly updated his message by examining current issues in African American pastoral care, counseling, and outreach ministry in the community. Dr. Wimberly reminded us that we need to do more for our members and proposed new pastoral care approaches to the crisis of disconnection. Using his own narrative, he explained and described how pastors and church leaders can claim a new narrative method for reestablishing the African American village. His paradigm for African American pastoral theology is inspiring African Americans.
A well-known program in New Orleans is The Covenant House. It is a well establish program that offer assistance to thousands of youth. Each day, scores of kids walk into Covenant Houses across the Americas for the first time. They get what they need immediately: a shower, a meal, clothes, a warm bed, and medical care if they require it – more than a third do. Then, Covenant House has expectations of the kids. Once they’re safe, clot...
After seeing though the eyes of my pastor I’ve come to realize the importance of faith and committing to one’s beliefs. Returning to church after two massive losses has helped my mother in many ways and it has also taught me as a young man how small things that I could do would turn to have a big impact on someone’s life the same way my pastor impacted my life and the life of my siblings.
My ministry metaphor, Stepping Stone implicates being connected. Making the connections between one and the others needs not only for our personal life, but also for our spiritual life. As churches, we all need to try to connect one generation to others, one individual to faith communities, the marginalized to their neighbors and a sinner to God 's grace. In these connections, all healthy Christians can make this world a better place to live together. Thus, as a caregiver, I believe that it is important to build stepping stones or to repair broken stepping stones for many reasons and finally to create an environment for people to experience God. Also, as a caregiver, my work to do is crossing together next to those who are in need mentally, spiritually, physically, financially. While walking on stepping stones, each person comes to know where they were going and where they should go in God’s will. People sometimes may fall into the river or lose their balance on the stepping stones, struggling with loneliness, addictions, moral chaos, disabilities, false teaching, and identity disorder, and so on. However, God always holds them on their path of faith, I
Tucker, Ruth A. "Mother Teresa." Christian History 19.1 (2000): 20. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Corrie ten Boom has spoken these words more times then she can count on her fingers; they encouraged her through heartbreak and pain, World War II and the risk of hiding Jews, concentration camps, and even the death of her sister. Corrie was brave when others were weak; she fought when others hid. She always knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was supposed to help others when they could not help themselves. Through troubles and tribulations, foreign stranger lives saved and loved family lives lost, Corrie ten Boom stood strong and persevered to live a bold life, and have an outstanding ministry. Corrie experienced one of the darkest times in the history of the world, but she strove to be a light that shone through.
Lady Araina Mickens has dedicated her life to serving God and humanity. A high impact teacher, and motivational speaker, She has earned a distinguished reputation as a catalyst for change and voice of hope to her community.
If society rejects those who somehow try to build their lives again, it is the responsibility of the Church to lend a helping hand that can help them in their new challenges, and never forgetting what Pastor Ryan Rush said that: “all our homes are broken, so we need the grace of God.”
Today, women share the same equal rights and opportunities as men; nevertheless, that has not invariably been the case. Before the Jazz Age era, gender discrimination between men and women in society was considerably popular. Women were seen as inferior to men. Their jobs were to care for the home, children, and other domesticated duties while men were able to work, get an education, and become doctors or lawyers. Many women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells, Sojourner Truth, Zora Hurston, to mention a few, seen the unfairness in women's rights and fought for equal rights for women through different movements, efforts, protests, and even marches to abolish women’s rights. As a consequence, women now pursue not only higher education and higher paid jobs/ businesses, but their rights. One of the world’s most controversial issues among churches of today is the role of a woman. Many people are confused about the duty of a woman and how she is supposed to serve God because of history. History taught us to never deny someone of gender, race, or even diversity since he or she has human rights. However, this issue should not be viewed as men versus women because this is not a political issue; instead, it should be viewed as the structural of a church. Women should not be priests, pastors, or even rabbis for God condone women for being priests, pastors, and rabbis as well as proscribed.
Sara Jones, for example, mentioned that we as humans have been gifted in so many ways and are called to give abundantly. She said that for a Garrett student like her, she answers this calling by cooking meals at Hilda’s Place Transitional Center. Becca Cali mentioned that she feels convicted to be ever giving to those that are in need: for instance, spending time with those who are confined in their homes, which in her context was serving as an intern at the Presbyterian Homes. Focusing on her role in ministry, she said that she considers herself a story keeper, while the people that she serves are the story tellers. In her own words, she says: “I have a treasure box. I open the chest, display the stories to myself and then put them back. There are some stories that have to stay in there.” Furthermore, she called for followers of Christ to have an abundant spirit to serve people, for nothing is possible without God’s
“We’re not given a good life or a bad life we are given a life, it’s up to us to make it good or bad.” That is one of the signs that women first see when they walk into Jasmine Price’s office, who is an in-taker here at The Salvation Army. “I am there cheerleader, you could say! I am the first person they see, and I want them to feel positive coming to me!” The Salvation Army of Wilmington command, offers a women’s shelter for single women and women with children. The shelter holds 52 beds and tries to admit everyone that comes for help. The director, Ms. Taiwoo Sapara, who has spent 9 years at the The Salvation Army has an, “I don’t give up, I try as much as I can” passion. A passion like this is hard to find, but the shelter strives to have a passion for the services provided. Sapara’s passion clearly shows throughout the Housing Residence department. The employees in this department strive to help everyone that comes through their doors, whether it is
Sunday evening I attended my weekly Ecumenical Christians of Oberlin meeting. This is a group of generally open-minded individuals that get together on Sundays to have dinner and discuss topics related to Christianity. Topics range from "What is the Kingdom of God?" to "Pacifism: Turning the Other Cheek." Our topic this Sunday was "Women and the Bible."
Women in the biblical bible represent a transitioning and evolutionary turn for women in the future. Biblical women have open doors of opportunities that allow women to become more independent, confidents and sophisticated. History has shown how women first were seen as a typical care taker or protector compared to a “provider,” which was more associated with men. However, over the century, there has been a chain broken and opportunities released that allowed women to become more like men to a certain degree. There has been a change in status, roles, and education. Biblical women have allowed women in the twenty-first century the chance to obtain a higher status role such as, a provider for their family. Therefore, allowing women to stand up for their rights and what they believe in using sexual techniques. Such as, manipulating men, using their body as a weapon and the power of “sisterhood” to get what they want.
New insights gathered about Ellen White which enhanced my appreciation of her ministry would have to be her acknowledgement of her tribulations and the idiosyncrasies which she battled with for a considerable amount of time. Instead of portraying herself to be a person excluded from the message envisioned to her, Ellen White admits her short comings, as noted in a 1876 letter to her husband, and even takes pleasure in her tribulations as she only saw them as moments that drew her closer to Christ. Although her inclusion of her short comings and genuine philanthropy creates likability and compatibility for her audience, her focus on and adhering to the Word of God as the way she overcame makes her ministry compelling due to ability to substitute oneself into her position and then find the solution to your problem.