|
2-25-07 -- From Christian School to Art Studios
Change of Art
A popular song includes the lyric, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” When West Se-attle (Washington) Christian Church closed its elementary and middle school last year, it ended decades of providing quality education—and started a new beginning for artists and students throughout the community.
“The area changed demographically and couldn’t support the number of public and private schools already available,” says Dan Jacobs, family life minister. “We were already in the middle of one building campaign and couldn’t afford to renovate the school for ministry use. We wanted to find someone who could use the facility in its current condition.”
While pondering the problem in one of the vacant classrooms, Jacobs noticed the huge windows along one wall and the abundant natural light filling the space. “Art is a big part of West Seattle,” he says. “It suddenly seemed so obvious to use the building for art studios.”
Jacobs mentioned the idea to a few friends, listed the studios on Craigslist, and almost immediately filled every space. Although comparable studio rentals in the area average hundreds of dollars, WSCC offers the space without monthly fees. “We just ask each artist to donate utility and maintenance costs,” Jacobs says. “No artist pays more than $60 a month.” Eight people currently use the building, with dozens more on the waiting list.
In addition, the church donated one large room of the former school, and a computer lab full of equipment, to Unified Outreach, a local faith-based organization that provides art lessons to at-risk students. The monthly donations from the artists allow the nonprofit group to use the space free of charge, and each of the eight artists also volunteers with Outreach.
The church has also opened a writing studio and plans a community teaching center where local groups can meet and artists can display their work.
“We’re building amazing goodwill among religious, business, and artistic groups,” Jacobs says. “We just want to serve these communities.”
www.westseattlechristian.org
Aid for AIDS Victims
From Bono to Rick Warren, celebrities and evangelical leaders have recently devoted time and money to the AIDS crisis in Africa. But Dr. Stanley Mutunga, professor of intercultural studies at Hope International University, Fullerton, California, began his own ministry to Africa more than four years ago.
“Until that time, AIDS was an academic issue for me,” Mutunga says. “I knew that 700 people die of AIDS each day in Kenya. But when my brother became one of them, and left eight kids behind, it changed my perspective.”
Mutunga and his wife began financially supporting the children and became acquainted with other orphans and widows in need. “Before we knew it, we were helping 30 kids,” he says.
In 2002, Mutunga stepped down from his role as dean of HIU’s graduate school and began Tumaini International Ministries to provide foster care for AIDS orphans.
“Tumaini means hope, and today we provide hope to almost 500 children throughout Kenya,” Mutunga says. Individuals and churches sponsor the children for $30 each month; this amount provides not only basic necessities like food but also pays for education (even high schools charge tuition there).
These dollars also allow 95 percent of the orphans to remain with grandparents, older siblings, or other relatives. “In Kenya, a man financially supports not only his wife and children, but his aging parents as well,” Mutunga says. “If that man dies in the prime of his life, as so many African AIDS victims do, it leaves several generations in need of help. We make it possible for these families to stay together and for these children to stay in school.”
In addition to its foster care program, Tumaini coordinates “vision trips” for current sponsors; the waiting list already extends into 2008. The organization is also developing a longer-term internship program for college credit and recently acquired land in Kenya to build a community center.
To find out how you can sponsor a Kenyan orphan, visit www.tumainiinternational.org.
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
Surprising and Successful
‘Your Class Ring Could Save a Life’
Helping Victims of Abuse
A New Way to Raise Funds Via Golf
Teaming Up to Spotlight Homelessness
Helping Students Here and Abroad
Adding a Satellite Campus
‘Close Interaction that Doesn’t Fit a Formula’
‘The Best Link Between the Generations’
A Multicultural Model
Inspired by James 2
Putting Feet on Our Faith
Enriching the Neighborhood
Helping in Hard Times
Rooftop Exploit
A Network of Care
‘Training Rooted in Our Movement’
Accomplishing the Mission
Coming Together
Multiplying Blessings at Christmas
Training and Resources
Musical Partnerships
Online Services
More Than an Event
"An Explicitly Theological Agenda"
A Partnership with the Community
Hmong Worshipers Move into Own Place
Coffee with a Mission
Impacting the Community
Encouraging Entire Families to Attend
‘Festival Evangelism’ to Muslims
Growing Opportunities
Church Design Lauded
Prayers and Exercise
Fun Ways to Make Connections
Getting Away with God
A Model for Future Ministry
Florida Gator on the Go
It Never Hurts to Ask
"A Natural Connection"
Working Together in Kenya
New Ways to Serve
A Natural Connection
Following David’s Example
Doing Double Duty
Turning the Tables on the Teens
A Partnership of Churches
Introducing Couples to Christ
Illinois Hunters Feed the Hungry
Major Move Leads to Better Opportunities
11-18-07 -- Multiple Improvements Planned
11-4-07 -- Multiplying Missional Impact
10-21-07 -- The Church Van with ‘Free Stuff’
10-7-07 -- Emotional Times for Missionary Moms, Dads
9-9-07 -- A Place for Prayer, a Place for All
8-26-07 -- Cookouts, Bibles, and VBS
8-12-07 -- Changing Lives in a Day Or Less
7-29-07 -- Reaching Out to Arabs
7-15-07 -- A Second Site with Curb Appeal
7-1-07 -- Developing a Desire to Dig Deeper
6-17-07 -- Growing Leaders
6-3-07 -- Vacation Ministry School, Anyone?
5-20-07 -- Uniting to Serve
5-6-07 -- Real Struggles, Real Solutions
4-22-07 -- The Ministry of Giving Back
4-8-07 -- Cultivating an Interest in Missions
3-25-07 -- Morning Worship for Teens
3-11-07 -- From Preschoolers to Teens
2-11-07 -- A Ministry to Parents
1-28-07 -- Reversing the Sexual Trend for Teens
1-14-07 -- An Airline Industry Ministry
12-31-06 -- Partnership in Nebraska
12-17-06 -- Taking Jesus to the Community
12-3-06 -- Musical and Spiritual Training
11-19-06 -- Missions and Mentoring
11-5-06 -- Help for At-Risk Kids
10-22-06 -- Cardboard Catacomb
10-8-06 -- Community Building
9-24-06 -- 'Grace-Driven' Ministry
9-10-06 -- Introducing Skateboarders to Jesus
8-27-06 -- Reaching Families . . . With VBS!
8-13-06 -- Communicating Ideas About God
7-30-06 -- A Ministry of Clothing
7-16-06 -- Strengthening Marriages
7-2-06 -- Balloon Ministry Blesses Children
6-18-06 -- Church on the Move
6-4-06 -- Bold Moves Paying Off for Everyone
5-21-06 -- New Ministries for Hurting Families
5-7-06 -- Sharing Jesus' Love Through Daily Donations
4-30-06 -- Georgia on My Mind
4-9-06 -- Bringing the Old Testament to Life
3-26-06 -- Experiencing Exciting Adventures
3-12-06 -- Connecting God to a Wider Culture
2-26-06 -- Churches Using Dogs for Outreach
2-12-06 -- A Bike a Child Can Call His Own
1-29-06 -- Comforting Those Who Are Grieving
1-15-06 -- Preschool for Teens
1-1-06 -- Servant Evangelism for All Ages
12-18-05 -- How Will Your Church Celebrate Christmas This Year?
12-4-05 -- The Hot Place for Teens
11-20-05 -- Linking Adults with Young People
11-6-05 -- Stories of Successful Partnerships
10-23-05 -- Serving Specific Groups
10-9-05 -- An "At-Home" Mission Trip
9-25-05 -- At Work in New Orleans
9-11-05 -- An Evening to Remember
8-28-05 -- Up, Up, and Away
8-14-05 -- Growing Despite Limited Space
7-31-05 -- Christians Come Together Along Rio Grande
7-17-05 -- Reaching Into Downtown Savannah
7-3-05 -- Considering God's Call to Service
6-19-05 -- Community Involvement Being Noticed
6-6-05 -- Spring VBS Gets Great Response
5-22-05 -- 'We Call It Cyber-Evangelism'
5-8-05 -- Production Company Evangelizing Through Film
|
