The Good News Newsletter A Publication of Neighborhood Ministries Summer, 2014 Take the New Life Challenge We are looking for individuals willing to step out in faith and, as the Lord provides, pledge $10 or more each month to Neighborhood Ministries. As we continue to help low income children and families, we are relying on donations from individuals and churches to keep our ministry doors open. If you are already a financial supporter, would you consider an additional $10 a month gift? $10 a month can provide 12 families with food for a week, 20 children with Bibles, 5 children with ready-for-school health screenings, and so much more. To set up a recurring donation, please visit us at ohionm.org or give us a call at (330) 755-8696 Our Mission Neighborhood Ministries, sharing Christ s love, partners with others to build relationships that create safe, supportive, and empowered communities one person at a time. We re Depending On You This summer has been a very busy one for us. I can tell you lots of stories about lives changed at summer camp, experiencing new ideas on field trips, providing meals to children that would otherwise go hungry, equipping teens with the knowledge they need to find and maintain gainful employment, promoting community by sponsoring family events and a lot more. Hundreds of children participate in our programs every week and families depend on us to provide a safe, loving atmosphere where their children can learn and grow. And just as our families depend on us, we depend on you to provide support for programs and services that address individual, family and community needs. And we really need your help right now. We are looking seriously at closing one of our community centers because our income is not enough to cover our current obligations. Closing any of our centers would mean a loss of jobs and the loss of opportunities for staff and volunteers to share the gospel with those that desperately need to know the Lord. To completely address our obligations and be in solid financial shape for next year we need to raise $130,000 by the end of the year. It is a lofty goal but not impossible. Neighborhood Ministries board is comprised of a dedicated group of Christian men and women who are praying hard for the funds to not only keep all of our centers open, but to grow. And your help now will be an answer to prayer. We have already reduced our expenses and are seeking additional funds from businesses and foundations. But there are several ways you can help us grow. One way is to take the New Life Challenge, highlighted on the left. If each of our readers took the Challenge we would meet our goal in less than 5 months, without any additional support! Another way is to have your church or group do a fundraiser to benefit Neighborhood Ministries. Some churches have already started doing spaghetti dinners, breakfasts, special offerings. We can provide speakers, pictures, brochures and videos to help share the vision and the mission. More ideas are available on our website at www.ohionm.org. Neighborhood Ministries is a ministry extension of so many churches. Together we can address this need!
Teens Have A Ball At NAP Youth Conference Recently, teens from Neighborhood Ministries joined teens from other Neighborhood Action Program Centers of American Baptist Churches for five days of leadership training at Franklin College in Indiana. The theme of the conference was It s Not About Me, focusing on the teen s relationship with God and with those around them. Each day was packed with Bible studies, inspirational speakers, group activities, making new friends and being equipped to be leaders at home. The conference was supported by American Baptist Home Mission Society, the National Association of Community Action Ministries, and Youngstown CIRV (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence). Rev. Guy Burney from CIRV did a great job of not just faciitating discussion but of creating friendships and building community among the teens. The conference is the fulfillment of a vision of Gerald Hamilton, our Campbell City Program Director. He attended a church teen conference years ago and wanted the teens from low income families to experience the same thing, especially unchurched teens. In addition to the leadership training the teens were also encouraged to consider attending college and were given the opportunity to experience college life.
A Rare Night Out... It was an interesting night to say the least. I am certain these boys never dined like they did on the evening of April 22 nd. It started with a night out at a Passion Play, on April 11th. The boys were well behaved and they impressed Brian Palumbo, who played Jesus in the play. You may wonder where the connection with Neighborhood Ministries is. Well, Brian worked for Neighborhood Ministries back in the 1990 s when I was attending programs as a boy. He was so impressed with our boys that he wanted to do something special for them. He had heard from other people at the play that night that our boys were well behaved and respectful. 2 By Keith Langford, Kirwan Program Staff As a reward Brian invited the boys to his restaurant, in Struthers, Ohio. We started out with drinks. The boys had about 7 or 8 cups of Pepsi or Sierra Mists each. We graduated to appetizers of shrimp and crab cakes and smoked salmon. Finally, the entrees came. Three boys ordered steak and three more had a chicken entrée. We capped off the evening with a delicious and succulent dessert of chocolate mousse made personally by Palumbo. The hit of the night were the rolls and the smooth as silk butter. All six boys combined probably ate and took home 75 rolls easily! I would like to personally thank Mr. Brian Palumbo for treating our boys to a well cooked and excellent meal at his restaurant. The boys will never forget their experience and I will not forget your hospitality! Can you help with the following needs? Baby Items Campbell Soup Labels Children s clothing (new and gently used) Computer paper Computers (usable) Food (nonperishable) Health and Beauty items (unused) Paper Products (plates, cups and napkins) School Supplies Sleeping Bags Stamps Toothbrushes and toothpaste Toys and Games (For prizes and also for gifts) Van (12 passenger) Walmart gift cards
This summer the 3rd and 4th graders from our Rockford Village summer program learned a Christian rap, thanks to Michaela Samuel, the daughter of director Mark Samuel. Michaela has been working with the children on by Kierra, telling the story of how God worked in the songwriter s life. The children will be performing as part of our Communty Days in mid-august. Do you have a passion or an interest you would like to share with our children? We would love to have you involved. Feel free to give us a call at 330-755-8696 for mor information Reminiscing in an email: We had a hard life when we were young, but you guys were the best. I loved going to the boys club and you were always nice to everyone. You helped a lot of kids forget about their problems at home. In mid-may the Youngstown Vindicator ran a story about our West Side Girls of Joy and their Friday Night Fish Fry. After that article was published we received a wonderful little note and a business card from Vicky Boyd. She makes jewelry, bracelets and rings and offered to come to the center to give the girls a free class in jewelry making. We excitedly said yes! The next week she taught the senior high how to make their own bracelet and ring. It was a wonderful afternoon. She learned all about the West Side Community and Neighborhood Ministries and she was kind and very loving to all the girls. She returned on June 16 th and gave a lesson to all the children from different age groups. She will be returning for the final week of summer programming to do another class with the children. This all took place because she viewed the Youngstown Vindicator, saw our story about the and acted on her heart s desire to get involved. The children were truly blessed by her generosity. Arby's Foundation Hungry For Happiness mobile tour recently made a stop at Neighborhood Ministries delivering happiness, raising awareness and helping end childhood hunger in America. Their time with us included games, prizes and, of course, a healthy meal. Their stop was made because of our mutual desire to end childhood hunger. Neighborhood Ministries will provide over 40,000 meals this summer to children from low income families, helping to ease hunger for children that qualify for free and reduced lunches in school. Our summer food program also includes weekend meals. By the end of the summer we will have distributed thousands of weekend meals, providing each child with six nutritious meals, enough to get them through the weekend when we do not have programming. 3
It s Not Too Late To Send A Child To Camp! Each summer we send about 40 children to Koinonia Camp and Conference Center in Geneva, Ohio for a week long camp experience. It is a life changing experience for many of our children. We recently asked our children to tell us about their camp experience. Here are a few responses: The last time I went to camp I learned how to be a better person and to be a leader and child of God. Camp means a place that I feel like I have another family beside my own I learned that to turn a cucumber into a pickle you have to add ingredients and be patient. And we re like the cucumber. My favorite experience at camp was when I got baptized. Camp brings love, joy and faith. It also means helping people. It means a lot of things to me. Camp means bringing people together and creating a family to learn about God and His glory and showing me that there are people who care. Our children love camp and you can help get them there. This year they have taken the initiative to raise their own canteen and food money through rummage sales, bake sales and car washes. They did a great job and were excited about investing in the fundraising process. We provide sleeping bags and suitcases for those that need them, but we need help with the camp fees and transportation costs, which run about $300 per camper. Please consider sponsoring a child this summer. A partial sponsorship is also appreciated and will be combined with other partial sponsorships. An envelope has been provided for this purpose or you can make your donation online at ohionm.org The Good News Newsletter is a bi-monthly publication of Neighborhood Ministries. To contact us for tours, speaking engagements or other special needs, please write or call the following: Neighborhood Ministries PO Box 640 Campbell, OH 44405 330-755-8696 Fax 330-755-8699 mark_samuel@ohionm.org 4
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO PERMIT NO. 29 P.O Box 640, Campbell OH 44405 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support! Affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, the American Baptist Churches of Ohio, The Mahoning Valley Baptist Association and the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way.