May 6, 2005

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – The Christian centers related to National Ministries' Neighborhood Action Program (NAP) and to the American Baptist regions where they are located continue to bring transformation and hope to low-income families and children, even though the centers are dealing with reduced funding.

"National Ministries is proud to be in continued partnership with the Christian Centers," said Dr. Cheryl Dudley, National Ministries' associate executive director for Church in Community Transformation. "The ministries they provide to and with persons of special need become particularly challenging during this time of government cutbacks and a faltering economy."

"In the midst of these challenging times, American Baptist Christian center leaders serve as Micah 6:8 people ‘doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with their God,'" Dudley said.

The NAP centers have joined in forming the National Association of Community Ministries to strengthen their collective and individual ministries and Christian witness in the highly competitive environment of human service organizations.

Programs and ministries at each Christian center are developed to meet the needs of their neighborhoods and include job skill training, day care, Bible study, ESL classes, after-school programs, summer day camps, youth enrichment programs, parenting classes and much more.

New executive directors have been appointed at the following NAP Centers:

Curtis Park Community Center, Denver, Colo.: In January, James Willis retired after 25 years of leadership and service as executive director. Virginia Butler has been appointed interim executive director.

Valley Christian Centers, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.: The Revs. Douglas and Ina Copeland began serving Jan. 3 as co-executive directors. They succeeded the Rev. MarQuerita Story, who resigned to serve in a local church setting.

Corporación Milagros del Amor, Caguas, Puerto Rico: The Rev. Yamina Apolinaris became executive director March 1. Laura Ayala, who had served in that position since 1997, resigned to coordinate a coalition of community social service organizations that she founded.

Bethel Neighborhood Center, Kansas City, Kans.: The Rev. Lisa Harris took the reins as executive director March 7, following Dr. Gary Rhodes, who was serving as interim director.

Friendship House, Hamtramck, Mich.: The Rev. DeAmo Murphy began as interim executive director April 6. The Rev. Sharon Buttry, who served as executive director since June 1996, resigned to serve with a church planting and community transformation ministry in Hamtramck.

The Place, Norwich, N.Y.: David Sheldon has been appointed executive director to begin July 1, following interim director Judie Wright.

American Baptists support Neighborhood Action Christian centers through United Mission and America for Christ gifts and through planned giving. For individual and group volunteer opportunities contact National Ministries Volunteers In Mission at 800-ABC-3USA/x2449, or http://www.nationalministries.org/mission/vim/. For more information, including a complete list of NAP Christian centers, visit http://www.nationalministries.org/mission/cbm/index.cfm.

American Baptist News Service