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Loan program helps struggling families

BALTIMORE - The Board of Child Care's Ways to Work office in Baltimore has been recognized as a "Most Outstanding New Program" among the 32 Ways to Work sites nationwide.

Ways to Work, Inc. is a Milwaukee-based social purpose lending organization which partners with nonprofit agencies to provide low-interest loans to working poor families. Clients use the loans to purchase reliable used cars to better manage work and family obligations.

Since the Baltimore office opened in 2008, 52 families have received loans.

One such family is Rogernette Green and her three children. Since buying her 1999 Toyota Avalon through the Ways to Work program, she and the children have moved out of a shelter and into an apartment in a safer neighborhood. The car has "helped me reach my goals - go to school, find a better job and do more with my children," Green said.

"The grant will help us continue to work to help more low-income families purchase cars so they can get to their jobs and keep moving their families up the economic ladder," said Thomas Curcio, president and CEO of the Board of Child Care.

God is experienced on campus

FROSTBURG - When one football player at Frostburg State requested a Bible study for his Christian teammates, he started something special, said the Rev. Cynthia Zirlott, the school's Protestant chaplain.

The request led her to start a Bible study with four football players. On the last night of the semester there were 27.

At one of the sessions, one student said he grew up in and out of homeless shelters from the age of 10 and had never been to church or heard of Jesus except as a curse word, Zirlott said.

Three more shared life stories of gang violence and the pull of selling drugs as a way out of their situation, but football scholarships gave them an alternative and then they were invited to this Bible study.

That evening, four young men, two of whom had never been to a church, made a commitment to accept Christ as Lord and Savior and become his disciple, Zirlott said. Two others renewed their relationship with Christ.

Everyone who made a commitment received a Bible and a devotional guide, which because of budget cuts Zirlott was unable to purchase.

But just the day before, a coach had given her nine devotional guides. And another pastor had donated a box of New Testaments. "What a blessing," Zirlott said.

Six churches join in mission

LUTHERVILLE - Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky, was the destination for 23 members from six area churches in October. They spent a week working at the United Methodist mission site. Pastor Jay Dement, who serves the St. John's-Idlewyld Cooperative Parish in Baltimore, led the mission.

"Those of us who were on our first VIM trip learned that there is no substitute for going and doing," said Carol Anders of St. John's UMC. "Previously most of us had just sent our money to help others perform these tasks."

Native American ministry honored

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) received a Certificate of Appreciation from American University at a luncheon meeting in November.

The recognition was for its "Special commitment to the Washington Semester American Indian Program and its Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS)."

CONAM provides emergency funds for students who face family crises and must return to their homes for a period of time, but often do not have the funds to return to their classes without taking on extra financial burdens and the attending worries.

Church blessed by his service

BORING - At Boring UMC's Charge Conference, the Rev. Rod Miller presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ivan Cole for 50 years of service as a local pastor. Cole served Boring UMC, his home church, and several churches throughout the conference. He has been a Sunday school teacher, Lay Leader until this year, and is currently a trustee.