Lesson 12: Making a Difference Throughout Boston



Making a Difference Throughout Boston (Dr Hammond) (4/14/14)



Notes by Lana






Bethel’s Mission:


· Youth Development Services


· Local Partnerships


· International Programs / Partners








The Fatherhood Program:


· Piloted by Bethel in 2000, this program has been replicated successfully around the state


· A model training course offered in partnership with local courts to 300 fathers & their families






Generation Excel:


· Year-brown mentoring, academic support, mental health services, arts, sports & leadership development for 500-600 high-risk youth


· “Do The Write Thing”, a creative writing & performing arts, & therapeutic program for at-risk & high-risk girls


· 90% of our girls graduate from high-school in 4 years, versus 67% for other Boston Public School females graduating





Bright Horizons:


· A youth development program for Juvenile male offenders






Local Partnerships:


· Boston 10 point Coalition


· Black Ministerial Alliance ~ 20 year leader


· Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO)


· Nursing Home Partners


· Educational Partners – MATCH School, Parkside






From Boston to Sudan


· Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) – I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of 2 things I had a right to, liberty or death if I could not have one, I would have the other


· Slavery: not long ago – Estimated # of slaves in the world today = 10-30 million


· Modern day slavery: 600K – 800K (>70% females, >50% children)


· International crime industries: $32 billion generated annually


· Life is cheap – average price of a slave in 2009 = $90


· Sudan: generations of conflicts


· The work of the Kingdom is not pretty, & not easy


· Sudan was predominantly a Muslim country, but South Sudan is now a Christian country & the churches get to stay (7thday Aventist, Catholic churches)






Sister’s Keeper


· Who will be my sister’s keeper? My sister’s keeper envisions a world where all women across the globe can imagine, create & sustain vibrant & joyous communities


· Hebrews 10:35


· Partners with resourceful & resilient Sudanese women & girls living in Sudan & throughout the Diaspora community










United Nations: Millennium Development Goals


· Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education preferably by 2005, & at all levels by 2015


· Girls wanted to become doctors, teachers, pilots & business women


· In 2007 – Women’s Peace School was started – Next steps is to do teacher training & development


· Be faithful to what God has called you to, even right now






Questions for Reflection:


1. Where is your Sudan?


· Push against your back against the wall, & coming to realize that Jesus is all you need, & Jesus is all you have!


· It is not going to be an easy place, & maybe it will be a lonely place- but it is the place that you will really grow in Christ






2. Who will be your sister’s keeper?


· If it is not you, then who?


· If it is not now, then when?