Site
Contents
 |
Imagine Indiana Transition Team Information
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Area United Methodist
Foundation
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
November 2001 |
Barnes UMC: Watching, as well as praying
By Ethel McCane
Hoosier UM News Correspondent
They make a complete circle around the outside of their church -- hands clasped, praying for each other, the church family, the community, the nation and the world. The familiar sound of sirens is heard in the distance. Even before the Sept. 11 tragedy, the community right within reach -- right outside the doors of Barnes UMC -- was wracked with pain.
The church, which sits on Indianapolis' westside, has embarked on a mission to reach out and snatch up a hurting community before it drowns in drugs, violence and depravation. Pastor Charles R. Harrison, who's been at Barnes six years, has a vision. "The church can't do God's work just sitting on these pews on Sunday mornings," said Harrison. "We've got to get out there where the real mission is -- beyond these four walls."
Getting out "beyond the four walls" means working ministries as tutoring, martial arts classes, drug and counseling programs (Overcomer's Outreach) and the Ten Point Coalition. Ten Point is a nationally renowned program established some years ago by the Rev. Eugene Rivers of Boston. Through faith-based programs and services, the primary mission of Ten Point is to save high-risk youth and young adults ages 16-29 from gang violence, drugs, teen pregnancy and chronic unemployment. Some of the ten points include:
- Establishment of "Adopt-a-gang" that encourages churches to serve as drop-in centers for troubled youth.
- Commissioning of missionaries to serve as advocates and ombudsmen for black and Latino juveniles in the courts.
- Establishment of relationships between local churches and community-based health centers, to provide pastoral counseling for families during crisis.
- Establishment of rape and battered women services.
Other basic components of Ten Point, include: an employment training program which focuses on training youth and young adults to complete job applications, write resumes and basically obtain and retain employment; a court advocacy program which serves juveniles in the court system; computer training/GED programs which cover basic computer skills to get a better understanding of computers and which assist young people in getting their GEDs; mentoring for juveniles and ex-offenders and a street outreach program that includes Friday night street patrols.
According to Pheadra Harrison, (no relation to Pastor Charles Harrison) a member of Barnes and Ten Point's employment program director, job skills training can be a doorway to a better quality of life for many participants. "This type of training allows participants to raise their skill levels and to also take a real close look at who they are and what their purpose in life is," said Harrison.
Other outreach ministries being performed by the mid-sized church with a mega-sized vision include an HIV/Aids awareness program, a jail and prison ministry, Plans are in the wings to add a feed-the-hungry program in January.
Yes . there is hurt and pain on the streets and in the homes and in the schools of Indianapolis. And while Barnes members pray for healing, they know they must work and "watch, as well as pray."
Last updated on 01/14/2004