Lesson 12: Making a Difference Throughout Boston

Making a Difference Throughout Boston (Dr Hammond) (4/14/14)

Notes by Lana

Bethel’s Mission:

·     Youth Development Services

·     Local Partnerships

·     International Programs / Partners

The Fatherhood Program:

·     Piloted by Bethel in 2000, this program has been replicated successfully around the state

·     A model training course offered in partnership with local courts to 300 fathers & their families

Generation Excel:

·       Year-brown mentoring, academic support, mental health services, arts, sports & leadership development for 500-600 high-risk youth

·       “Do The Write Thing”, a creative writing & performing arts, & therapeutic program for at-risk & high-risk girls

·       90% of our girls graduate from high-school in 4 years, versus 67% for other Boston Public School females graduating

Bright Horizons:

·       A youth development program for Juvenile male offenders

Local Partnerships:

·       Boston 10 point Coalition

·       Black Ministerial Alliance ~ 20 year leader

·       Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO)

·       Nursing Home Partners

·       Educational Partners – MATCH School, Parkside

From Boston to Sudan

·       Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) – I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of 2 things I had a right to, liberty or death if I could not have one, I would have the other

·       Slavery: not long ago – Estimated # of slaves in the world today = 10-30 million

·       Modern day slavery: 600K – 800K (>70% females, >50% children)

·       International crime industries: $32 billion generated annually

·       Life is cheap – average price of a slave in 2009 = $90

·       Sudan: generations of conflicts

·       The work of the Kingdom is not pretty, & not easy

·       Sudan was predominantly a Muslim country, but South Sudan is now a Christian country & the churches get to stay (7^th day Aventist, Catholic churches)

Sister’s Keeper

·       Who will be my sister’s keeper? My sister’s keeper envisions a world where all women across the globe can imagine, create & sustain vibrant & joyous communities

·       Hebrews 10:35

·       Partners with resourceful & resilient Sudanese women & girls living in Sudan & throughout the Diaspora community

United Nations: Millennium Development Goals

·       Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education preferably by 2005, & at all levels by 2015

·       Girls wanted to become doctors, teachers, pilots & business women

·       In 2007 – Women’s Peace School was started – Next steps is to do teacher training & development

·       Be faithful to what God has called you to, even right now

Questions for Reflection:

1.     Where is your Sudan?

·       Push against your back against the wall, & coming to realize that Jesus is all you need, & Jesus is all you have!

·       It is not going to be an easy place, & maybe it will be a lonely place- but it is the place that you will really grow in Christ

2.     Who will be your sister’s keeper?

·       If it is not you, then who?

·       If it is not now, then when?