Assignment 5

Building Support Systems, Inner City Political Environment:

Assignment 5 Week 5

Reading:  Personal Research    

In dealing with the political arena involved with this type of outreach, you will need to realize that many Christian and non-Christian organizations are competing for the same type of resources that you will need.  An issue that has surfaced within this environment is that agencies should not try to duplicate their services.  This is almost virtually impossible when common man needs food, shelter, transportation, employment and utilities.  The goal is to develop a spirit of cooperation rather than one of competition to maintain integrity and favor within your community.  There are many grants and funds available to do benevolent work but decisions will need to be made if your organization is Christian as to whether the stipulations on receiving the funds is something that will hinder or help you in sharing the gospel with your clients.  Be aware that government regulations can hinder the work of Christ.  Will you be able to share Christ freely? Will you be able to pray with your clients?  If you are running a mission and feeding people, do you require your clients to hear the message in order to be fed?  These issues may be regulated by the government.  All clients may also be required to file extensive applications to be approved for help from your agency with regard to governmental regulations and some of these applications are actual invasions of privacy.  You may be required to inquire from your clients if they are drug users, if they have AIDS, if they are handicapped, their race, etc.  If your organization ministers the gospel, these questions can interfere with reaching the lost because this may be offensive to them.  Christ said, Freely you have received, freely give.  Our providing should be based on seeing a need and filling it.  Are you prepared to deal with those issues? 

Another issue is that the statistics that grant recipients must provide to the government.  Many organizations are regulated to distribute food to their clients only 1-2 times in a given time period.  If any of your clients or congregation hit hard times more than that per year, they are restricted from receiving help from your organization.  Can you justify denying them help because the government requires this?

Also in receiving grants you are accountable for every dime received and all funding must be utilized only from the exact allotment that it was requested and given.  For instance, if you requested $1,000 for toiletries, you can only use it for toiletries.  It can not be used for any operational expenses or emergency needs.  This can be a huge frustration when you have a sum of funds but can’t use it for the needs at hand.  However when you are funded by the community, cash donations, unless designated specifically, can go towards the day to day expenses of the operation.

In running your inner-city outreach you will need to pray and carefully consider the options set before you as to whether you receive grant funding or operate on donations only.   

1. Write a four page report on your own research into the grant writing process.  Examine the pros and cons and come to the conclusion whether or not you would pursue government funding or solely rely on community donations in your urban ministry project and why. 
2. How would you go about securing community funding without government grants?  What legal actions and credentials would you secure?  With what associations would you join your organization to that would promote community awareness?
3. Suppose a benevolent agency in town received a donation of quantities of an item that you knew they would never be able to contain or to distribute within an amount of time before these items would expire and that you could desperately use.  How would you go about communicating your need to this organization without being deceptive and convincing them that you are worthy of receiving this donation?
4. Suppose you are just beginning your ministry and a man who is a known ex-con who was convicted of murder makes it known that he wants to be a volunteer in your ministry.  Would you accept or reject his request and how would you communicate your decision to him?  Realize the long term effects of this decision within the poor community, the volunteer ranks and take into consideration how another organization might deal with this same issue.
5. Networking within the community promotes community awareness.  Becoming familiar with other benevolent organizations and their provider services helps you help your clients with their needs by referring them to other organizations for services you do not provide.  The point is to help the individual not treating your clients as numbers focusing on how many individuals have you helped.  What are some methods of networking within your community that will help your clients, help you learn about other organizations and help you promote your organization as well?