"Churches respond to poor economy"

  News section of Cardinal and Cream

April 16, 2009 issue, p. 1

  House foreclosures. Mass layoffs. Bad loans. Unemployed households. These words have become familiar to U.S. citizens as the country faces economic crisis. 

  What used to sound like a distant problem only affecting Wall Street is spreading to the suburbs. The unemployment rate in the state of Tennessee alone has risen from 7.6 percent to 9.1 percent since December. 

  Times like these have caused some local churches to take action in serving their members and the communities in which they are located. 

  Dr. Greg Thornbury, dean of the School of Christian Studies at Union University, says the Bible is quite clear about how the church should respond in these types of situations. 

  “The book of Acts very clearly shows that in financially difficult times, the early Christians shared their resources with one another,” Thornbury said. “No one was in need.

  “We need to go back to that spirit of a practical theology of helping. This model (of the early church) is a testimony to the truth of the gospel and concrete reality that the followers of Jesus really do love one another.”

  Two churches in west Tennessee are doing their part to make this idea a reality. 

  Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis and Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson are doing their best to minister to people within their communities as well as within their own church bodies.  

  Though the needs for help have increased in recent months, Steve Marcum, minister of missions at Bellevue, said the church was already doing outreach to the community and handling benevolence needs weekly. 

  “We minister to the poor and needy anyway,” Marcum said. “But, during an economic crisis, the needs multiply.”

  Bellevue’s first priority when meeting a person or family in a difficult situation is to make sure basic needs are met, such as food, clothing and shelter. 

  “The larger number of people seeking help has caused us to be more creative and to stretch our resources,” Marcum said, adding, “it has also caused us to network with other agencies and churches in order to be more effective.”

  Marcum says Bellevue is currently seeing more of its own members with difficult financial situations, such as unemployment. 

  “We are offering job training classes on Fridays that help with resume writing and making contacts for jobs,” Marcum said. “We want to help our family. It is a better time now than ever to do ministry, and it has caused us to refocus and continue to provide for people both physically and spiritually.”

  Englewood is also seeing more members facing financial trouble. Paul Priddy, church executive, said the southeastern part of the country did not feel the immediate effects of the recession but is now seeing more and more job loss. 

  As a banker for 25 years before joining the staff at Englewood, Priddy has found himself meeting with families weekly to help them sort out their financial problems.

  “I am currently working with about a dozen families on issues ranging from job loss to preparation for the economy getting worse,” Priddy said of his role during this time at Englewood. 

  The church provided an e-mail address for members to send financial questions for Priddy to look over and help them on a more personal level. 

  “As needs arise in our congregation, we look to see how we can assist (the family), whether it is through helping them sell a car they can no longer afford or helping with mortgage payments,” Priddy said.

  Englewood also offers Wednesday night classes teaching “Financial Peace” by Dave Ramsey, a popular Christian financial guru. The class series is offered twice a year and is always full.

  The churches are not only involved in helping with financial advice and provisions for members, but they are also reaching out to their communities.

  Dr. Steve Gaines, pastor at Bellevue, recently received the "Open Door" award, on behalf of the church, from the April 4th Foundation in Memphis.  The foundation, which hosts a dinner and awards ceremony each year in honor of Martin Luther King and his vision for unity and peace, thanked Gaines and the church for their outstanding community service and investment in the city of Memphis.  

  On acceptance of the award, Gaines acknowledged Bellevue's passion to see God move in the city and said he believes greater things are yet to come for Memphis.  One initiative recognized at the ceremony is the "Bellevue Loves Memphis" campaign.

  Four times a year, large groups from the church spread throughout the city to help with projects including landscaping, home repair, cleaning and restoring schools and churches, ministry to widows and other various projects.  

  A recent development through the ministry to Memphis is the Mobile Dental Clinic, which offers free dentistry to people who cannot afford it.  The clinic travels to depressed parts of Memphis and meets the physical needs of many people in the city while simultaneously being used as a tool to share the gospel.

  Bellevue has also partnered with a Hispanic church, as well as an African American church, in offering several free classes in areas such as English as a second language, computer training, GED completion and job skills. Church members volunteer weekly to distribute food and help run a thrift store associated with Impact Ministries, an extension of the second of these two churches, in order to support those in need. 

  Englewood is also actively involved with ministry to the community.  The church partners with local agencies including the Regional Inter-Faith Association and Area Relief Ministries, both of which help meet practical needs of community members. Through RIFA, for example, people can gain access to job training as well as possible job opportunities. 

  Another ministry the church helps with is called “Room in the Inn” and hosts homeless men every Tuesday night from November to March.  Priddy said this provides an opportunity to meet the most basic needs of the men, as well as the chance to share about Jesus. 

  Priddy said it is the church’s responsibility during times like this to be available to talk, comfort and provide community.

  “Our mission at Englewood is to love God, love people and serve the world,” Priddy said. “People are looking for something that is solid.”