News and Views

By Melissa Lauber

Visit Hearts for Public Service 

Amidst the sweep of ongoing and often devastating layoffs of federal workers, the congregation of Bethesda UMC is working to create a ministry that they hope others will join or use as a template to address what, at times, can seem like an avalanche of need.

Heart for Public Service is a website of resources and an office at the church set up for career counseling and pastoral care. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the congregation were or are federal government workers or are affected by the layoffs. “Anxiety is very high,” said the Rev. HiRho Park, the church’s pastor.

“In this time, under this new presidential administration, the church must show love in action. Love in a public place is justice. That’s what Jesus did and that’s the heart of this ministry. It’s what God calls us to do,” Park said.

While the ministry is being created to provide access to job fairs, resume writing training, and other skills, the Heart for Public Service ministry is focused on “creating a space where all who work in public service feel valued, appreciated, and connected. We recognize the unique challenges faced by those in public service and provide resources, encouragement, and a strong network of care.”

This means responding to needs as they arise and designing resources to help former and current federal workers make connections in times of uncertainty and stress. Park stressed that the key ingredient is “always hope.”

“I believe people right now need hope,” she continued. “They are seeking hope – transformative hope. Christian hope is not passive, but it is a call to trust in God’s promise of justice and renewal. Hope is when all seems lost, and God is working to bring about new life. We trust in that.”

Spearheading Hearts for Public Service is Dr. Harry Velasquez, who once worked with the US Department of Defense and is now sees himself as a health minister who has a heart for bringing hope to life.

“These are times of change,” Velasquez said. “We are called to lean into this space, to show up for each other, and to really be truly, mindfully present for each other. We are attempting to create an intentionally sacred space together. That’s where the Holy Spirit enters in. 

Velasquez said the country has much to learn from people who choose to work in public service – “for example, their courage, their faithfulness to high ideals, their integrity and, from many, their sacrifice.

“Sometimes, recently, I’ve felt like our civilized world is being torn apart daily. But the church has always been a first responder. We are amplifiers of God’s truth,” he said.

Velasquez and Park are excited about how Heart for Public Service's initial offerings are being received and about partnering with other churches as the ministry grows. “Think of all the possibilities that might emerge if Christians and others gather together. There is so much potential here. We just need to all connect.”

“We are watching over one another in love, to be ambassadors of hope,” Velasquez said. “And we’re just getting started.”