August 20, 2009

VALLEY FORGE, PA – National Ministries, The American Baptist Home Mission Societies, has awarded grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to 15 American Baptist congregations and organizations in support of their work with children in their communities. The grant program is part of the Children in Poverty initiative, which began in 2006.

Forty-four applications demonstrating commitment to children and creativity despite limited resources were reviewed. Each brought passion and hope to transforming the lives of children and youth. Among other factors, an important aspect of award recipients' programs was their focus on one of three targeted issues: education, health care or support of higher parent income. Grant recipients range from grassroots projects staffed by volunteers to more established, institutional projects complete with budgets and paid staff.

Grants were awarded to these projects, following a difficult and prayerful selection process:

• Bethel Neighborhood Center, Kansas City, KS; "Educational Support to Karen Refugees"

• Cameron Community Ministries, Rochester, NY; "Reading Partners at Cameron"

• Edna Martin Christian Center, Indianapolis, IN; "Leadership and Legacy Summer Ministry Program"

• Elliot Avenue Baptist Church, Springfield, IL; "Wednesday Evening Enrichment Program"

• Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, NY; "Computers for Kids 2009"

• First Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN; "Karen Kids Step Up"

• First Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, IL; "Brown Bag Friday"

• First Baptist Church, Oakland, CA; "Samaritan Neighborhood Center"

• First Baptist Church, Seattle, WA; "Back to School Program"

• First Baptist Church, Syracuse, NY; "SHARE (Summer Health Activities Reading Education)"

• Friendship House, Billings, MT; "Summer Enrichment Program"

• Monte Vista Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ; "Love Spoken Here"

• National Center for Children/Families (formerly Baptist Home for Children), Bethesda, MD; "Support to Homeless Children"

• Neighborhood Ministries, Campbell, OH; "Children Health and Screenings Follow-Up"

• West Virginia Baptist Convention, Sandyville, WV; "La Casa de la Amistad (Friendship House)"

• Among Africa's Masai tribe there is a common greeting, "Kasserian ingera," which means, "And how are the children?" The traditional and proper response is "All the children are well."

The meaning of the greeting is obvious, says Rev. Marilyn Turner, National Ministries' associate executive director for Program Ministries: "Only when the youngest and most vulnerable members of our communities are safe, loved and living in conditions of peace and sufficiency can our society be whole. National Ministries is proud to support and applaud these projects focused on assuring that all of our children will be well."

Visit http://www.nationalministries.org/, for information about resources and projects that promote care of those most vulnerable among us.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God's mission around the world.

American Baptist News Service