LCCM has seen a spike in the need for emergency food services during the COVID-19 crisis.
Please take a minute to listen to Bryan's message. We thank you for your continued support during this difficult time. Related
We need a metric by which to measure the success of things, including our love for Jesus. How do we measure the depth and sincerity of our love for the Savior? Three ways. We love him only as much as we love the least, the last and the lost. Read Pastor Steve Sabol's message.
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Watch: How a trip to Lebanon County Christian Ministries changed the course of one woman's life3/27/2020
Twenty years ago, Wenda opened up her cupboards and they were bare. A trip to Lebanon County Christian Ministries not only provided her and her family emergency food, but it started a ripple effect in Wenda's family and even the Lebanon County community.
Related We need a metric by which to measure the success of things, including our love for Jesus. How do we measure the depth and sincerity of our love for the Savior? Three ways. We love him only as much as we love the least, the last and the lost. Read Pastor Steve Sabol's Lenten Breakfast message. Watch: LCCM's executive director provides update on COVID-19's effect on LCCM's operations. Message by Pastor Steve Sabol, Lifeway Church Editor's note: Even though the Lenten Breakfast is canceled for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, we still wanted to share Steve Sabol's incredibly important message with you during this season of Lent. We thank Pastor Sabol for his timely message and we thank you for your continued support. Please stay tuned next week on LCCM.us, our Facebook page and our newsletter as LCCM sits down and talks with Steve Sabol on video about his message,and faith in a time of global crisis.
We need metrics to measure things. On your Fit Bit, you may have a goal of getting in 15,000 steps a day. In sports, the team with the most points when time expires wins! Before I get into talking more about metrics, I want to share Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) with you: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. The point is, we need a metric by which to measure the success of things, including our love for Jesus. How do we measure the depth and sincerity of our love for the Savior? Three ways. We love him only as much as we love the least, the last and the lost.
Miriam Webster Dictionary defines "Least" this way – adjective, “Lowest in importance or position; smallest in size or degree.” Jesus taught us about the importance of what we do for “the least of these” in Matthew 25:31-46: When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. he will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, '"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Then He will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?' He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. According to this passage, the basis for our reward rests on the acts of kindness each of us did for others, for in so doing, we did those things for the King himself. We can logically conclude that Jesus himself is present in even the most humble, lowly, or “insignificant” person. In the words of George MacDonald, "The love of our neighbor is the only door out of the dungeon of self." How we treat lowly and needy people determines how truly we love Jesus. When Christ-followers who have resources help the needy, the unconnected would be totally convinced of the validity of Christian love. 2. The Last. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines Last this way: adjective, “Following all the rest; being the only remaining; lowest in rank or standing.” Matthew 20:16, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” This mysterious reversal points out the differences between this life and life in the kingdom. Many people we don’t expect to see in the kingdom will be there. God offers his kingdom to all kinds of people everywhere. God’s grace accepts the world’s outcasts. No one has a claim to God’s generosity; it is by his grace alone. No one has a claim to position in the kingdom; God will make the appointments—the last and first cannot be earned, bought, or bargained for. Those who are invisible, who don’t even move the needle of the importance meter even a little. Jesus said the first will be last and the last shall be first. 3. The Lost. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines Lost this way: – adjective, “Not made use of, won, or claimed.” What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? You can get to heaven with an empty stomach (thousands do every day). But you can’t get to heaven with an empty soul! Lost can mean many things. Lost opportunities. Lost purpose. Lost hope. And of course, spiritually lost. Jesus proclaimed that he came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He reminded us of the value of the lost in his trilogy of parables found in Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Luke 15:7 (TPT), Jesus continued, “In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.” How do I love thee, Jesus? As much as I love the least, the last and the lost. Lebanon County households financially affected by COVID-19 seeking food assistance at LCCM3/27/2020 When "Jessica" had to take some time off from work recently, she relied on Lebanon County Christian Ministries for emergency food assistance. She was experiencing symptoms of asthma but had to use Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) time as a precautionary measure at a time when COVID-19 cases are growing in the Lebanon County region. “Not having my paycheck right away and waiting for FMLA put me in a bad spot,” she said. “LCCM helped me so much with food and I came over and got clothes. LCCM is a place you can go when you need someone to help.” The assistance LCCM provided helped “Jessica” and her family with an emergency two-week supply of food. You can help people like "Jessica" during this COVID-19 crisis by making a monetary contribution to Lebanon County Christian Ministries. A $100 donation will help LCCM provide a 2-week supply of food to a family of four. Can you help us today? Though she’s hit a rough patch, she will be returning to work soon and is grateful to LCCM supporters for helping her during an unexpected leave.
“Even though things are tough, I’m not feeling it as much, thanks to the help with food you’ve given me,” she said. “Jessica” is not the only person who needs emergency food assistance due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 virus. As of Thursday, LCCM received phone calls from 19 other households that needed help. For others who may be going through a difficult situation right now, she has some advice: “Don’t be afraid to reach out,” she said. “Reach out to places that might be able to help you. And pray. God answers our prayers.” Bryan D. Smith just exited his role as the executive director of First Aid and Safety Patrol, an ambulance service in Lebanon County. Six months into his new role as the executive director of Lebanon County Christian Ministries, he's leading the charge as LCCM braces for the potential economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. You can help us. Bryan D. Smith was about to enter his office at Lebanon County Christian Ministries Wednesday morning but stopped short and laughed when he saw a big, colorful poster board with the words “Happy Birthday, Bryan!” hanging on the door. As he opened the door, he carefully stepped over 43 balloons – a covert operation executed by a few sneaky staff members the night before – to make way to his desk where a six-pack of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes were waiting for him. It was a light moment during the first week of the COVID-19 pandemic that has essentially caused Lebanon County and the rest of the country to come to a standstill. Smith just smiled and shook his head as he prepped for the 9 a.m. standup meeting with staff implemented this week to assess each day’s needs throughout the many departments at Lebanon County Christian Ministries (LCCM). It’s a bit ironic that he spent his 43rd birthday planning and implementing an emergency response to a pandemic just six months after leaving a long career in the emergency medical services field. Did you know? Last year, LCCM distributed over 400,000 pounds of food, provided 20,000 clothing items to 862 families, served 47,000 noon meals and discharged 130 people to housing from FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center. Your donations are critical. Please consider supporting us today. “I certainly didn’t think I’d be doing emergency planning again, certainly not to this capacity,” said Smith, the former executive director of First Aid and Safety Patrol, an ambulance service in Lebanon County. In just a matter of days, LCCM’s regular routine has been upended by the threat of the coronavirus. That’s a serious issue for a nonprofit that provides emergency social services to thousands of people each year. LCCM’s new leader is being tested on multiple fronts in what could become LCCM’s most troubling time as it braces for the potential economic fallout of a pandemic. Smith is now leading the charge in a different kind of emergency field. The nature of it may not be medical emergencies that emerge during a pandemic, but instead, it could be a personal and economic one. LCCM serves as the food and clothing bank of Lebanon County and operates the only family-based shelter in the county. The nonprofit provides households with up to 2 weeks’ worth of food supplies, clothing, energy assistance, and serves a daily free noon meal on site or at a partnering church or organization. LCCM also serves as the distribution site for the federal Emergency Food Assistance program and serves the community’s seniors through the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program. At the end of the school year, it also operates the Summer Food Program for students. With a staff of nine and more than 400 local volunteers, the logistics of coordination under normal conditions is a considerable undertaking to meet the needs of those facing insecurity and homelessness in Lebanon County. A United Way report's data show 37 percent of people in Lebanon County can’t cover the costs of basic necessities such as housing, child care, transportation and food – in Lebanon city, that number rises to a whopping 60 percent. And that’s under normal circumstances. As of Thursday, the Pennsylvania State Department of Health has reported one case of COVID-19 in Lebanon County. In the last two days, as the spread of COVID-19 prompted Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to order a statewide shutdown, Spotlight Pa reported that state officials received 120,000 claims for unemployment benefits – more than half of what the state reported for the entire first quarter of 2019, according to state and federal data. Smith has displayed grace under pressure in his short time here, a skill that undoubtedly became second nature through his previous life as a paramedic for 24 years. “He’s a blessing, especially right now,” said Bill Bishop, an LCCM board member who volunteers weekly. “His leadership style was one thing we really liked about him. That is one reason we hired him. Now it’s just on full display during this emergency. His skills are paying off in spades now.’ Part of his previous job was serving on regional task force initiatives and develop emergency response plans for other pandemics in the past such as Ebola and H1N1. Last week, he put those skills to use in developing a multi-level emergency response plan for LCCM. Experience in preparing and implementing emergency response plans is a convenient, albeit, unexpected, skill in his new role, but the pandemic isn’t the only time his background as a paramedic has come into play at LCCM – four other medical emergencies occurred at LCCM in his short time here. But the last few days have been a shock to the system as Smith must now orchestrate not only the urgent response in the short term during a state of flux, but must also focus on the long-game strategy for LCCM to remain viable into the future. This not only encompasses serving emergency needs, but implementing programs that also encourages personal sustainability in the long term. As he drove to Hebron Catering and Events Wednesday to pick up meals donated to LCCM’s noon meal, he said he has no doubt that LCCM and the Lebanon community is in unchartered territory, but says Lebanon County has always been a particularly giving community. And that’s not just anecdotal. Philanthropy.com ranked Lebanon as the second-most giving city Pennsylvania in 2015, a status given due to it donating 3.45 percent of its total adjusted gross income. “I don’t know that we’ve ever seen anything like this,” Smith said of the pandemic. “I will say that Lebanon is an incredible community, a giving community, a resource rich community, so I feel like if there is a community I would want to be in, it’s Lebanon.” Written by Andrea Gillhoolley, director of development and marketing, Lebanon County Christian Ministries. Contact her at [email protected]
By Bryan D. Smith, Executive Director, Lebanon County Christian Ministries Our current operations is a Level 1 – only change is enhanced cleaning of high/frequent touch points. As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and be in the news, we are confident it is not a matter of if the virus will end up in our community, but when it will end up in our community. So, what is it that we can do as a ministry to continue to provide our much-needed services, but stay healthy and safe? We have a few best practices we are going to ask our staff and volunteers to follow. If you take these steps, you will help keep yourself safe and help slow the spread of the virus. It is important to remember that these steps are basic practices we should follow every day. Some reminders (from the CDC): 1. Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. 2. Some people are at increased risk of getting COVID-19. Specifically, elderly and immune compromised. 3. Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people. 4. You can help stop or slow down the spread of COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms: a. Fever b. Cough c. Shortness of breath 5. There are simple things you can do the help yourself and others health. a. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food). b. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. c. Stay home when you are sick. d. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. What is LCCM doing? LCCM is currently establishing a plan, which will reference levels of operations. Each increase in number will result in additional controls being put into place at LCCM. While these have not been finalized, we will absolutely communicate our status via our Facebook, website, and physical postings on our building. These increased safety measures may include, but not be limited to; eliminating face-to-face interviews for services and use phone interviews; slow down or pause some services; transition noon meal from on site to take out; pause or modify TEFAP distribution; restrict access to the building and/or pause using the lobby as a “hang out” location by our guests. Our priorities through this challenging time are to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community in regard to food insecurity, social capital, emergency housing, and a social resources hub. We also will be committed to the safety of our team, guests, and volunteers. Our current operations is a Level 1 – only change is enhanced cleaning of high/frequent touch points. We have also been in communication with the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services and will continue to do so. They have launched a website for county updates. If you are a volunteer or lead a group of volunteers and have a concern, please reach out to Bryan Smith directly at 717-272-4400 x 210 or by email at [email protected]. Learn more about the CoronavirusMobile Kitchen launching at FRESH Start to teach guests cooking skills, healthy eating habits3/6/2020 A new program aimed at teaching individuals and families how to eat healthier foods is launching soon at Lebanon County Christian Ministries’ FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center. LCCM is partnering with Better Together Lebanon County and the American Heart Association (AHA) to bring AHA’s Mobile Kitchen directly to FRESH Start guests. Better Together’s Healthy Food Access committee began providing the AHA’s Mobile Kitchen healthy cooking demonstrations at community events earlier this year to teach people how to eat healthier and prepare food more effectively. The goal is to enhance cooking skills, provide basic food knowledge, reading and implementing a recipe and providing a resource for healthy and cost-effective meals to families. The launch of the Mobile Kitchen at FRESH Start, which has an average of 15 guests a day, is the latest program that supports the overall goal of helping guests work toward personal sustainability. “We have a short window of time with our guests,” said Bryan D. Smith, LCCM’s executive director. “If we’re not focusing on any type of personal sustainability with our guests, the big question would be – what are we doing?” Did you know FRESH Start discharged 130 guests last year? Did you know half of all guests are children? Your donations are vital to fund this important work in Lebanon County. By becoming a monthly donor, you will provide sustainable funding that will provide temporary assistance to families and individuals in Lebanon County and empower them to work toward personal sustainability. FRESH Start aims to help guests leave the shelter within 30 days, though some individuals and families receive extensions depending on their circumstances. Client support specialists walk along side of guests as they develop and obtain goals such as employment, housing, child care and transportation during their stay at FRESH Start. In the meantime, FRESH Start provides other programming to support and encourage guests to work toward personal sustainability. “Programmatic wise, we want to look at the social network, we want to look at skill set – I think that’s where the Mobile Kitchen comes in,” Smith said. The goal is to help establish a knowledge base and skill set to provide tools for guests that will increase their sense of value and save them money. In addition to the Mobile Kitchen, other programs at FRESH Start include Parent Cafes, offered by Community Action Partnership and Book Buddies, offered by students from Lebanon Valley College. The Parent Café provides structured discussions where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges of raising a family. These cafes help participants build protective factors within families, learn coping tools for stress, learn about local resources and tools, positive parenting practices, and a stronger parent/child bond. Book Buddies is an educational opportunity for preschool and elementary students experiencing homelessness. Children in FRESH Start participate in story time and a guided follow up activity. A financial empowerment program provided by local financial institutions is a future possibility that would provide guests one-on-one counseling to evaluate their specific financial needs, address existing bank liability issues and help them set up a checking account with that financial institution. “The financial component is really getting to the core of what challenges our guests are facing,” Smith said. “We really need to focus on our programs going beyond their time here so there’s somebody who can walk along side of them once they leave us to help reduce the folks who end up back into our shelter or other shelters.” Written by Andrea Gillhoolley, development manager, Lebanon County Christian Ministries. Contact her at [email protected] or call (717) 272 4400 ext. 211 to find out how you can become a supporter of LCCM to help change lives in Lebanon County. 'I’ve walked in their shoes': Meet Amanda, a FRESH Start staffer who helps guests reach stability3/6/2020 Amanda has been working at FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center for three years but volunteered for a year prior to accepting a job offer. She is a supportive services coordinator, a job which entails walking alongside of guests as they work to achieve their goals. Amanda works with clients one-on-one as they set their own personal goals and work on life skills such as cooking and budgeting. Her job is to build them back up and get them on their feet again so they are ready for the world. FRESH Start discharged 130 people into housing last year. Your donations are critical to families and individuals in Lebanon County who are facing homelessness. Click the button to find out ways you can give today.When it comes to why she volunteers and works for LCCM, Amanda’s reasoning is nothing short of selfless. “I do this to make an impact on someone’s life and to know someone might not be eating today and this might be their only meal,” she said. “I do the paid position because this was my own call to help others.” FRESH Start a safe haven for mom, 3 kids How 60 days at FRESH Start helped one man secure money, a full-time job The reasoning being why she chose LCCM in the first place is because she has walked in the same shoes as the ones she’s helping now. She had just given birth to her youngest daughter and was without a job. Interviews were falling through, so she started volunteering for noon meals and eventually, Wenda, a case supervisor, pulled Amanda’s resume out of a case file and offered her a job. One of her favorite parts of her job is seeing familiar faces in the lobby and ask her for help. “I’m the support system for them, whether they’re here or not," she said. "Every client, I’ve walked in their shoes, been homeless and hungry. The Lord has found a way for me to stay out of that predicament.” Written by Lauren Schrott
Lebanon County Christian Ministries is working in conjunction with Lebanon Valley College students to tell the story of LCCM through the lens of its volunteers, guests, staff and board throughout the season of Lent. Lesvi found support at Lebanon County Christian Ministries after falling on hard times following the premature birth of her son. She began her career in 2014 after three years of volunteering with LCCM by serving noon lunches with children from a local youth advocate program and her own stepchildren. She was approached by the director who saw her there so often he offered her a permanent position. Today, Lesvi is a support services coordinator at LCCM’s FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center. This role entails coordinating meals and overnight stays at churches that provide shelter for guests. Two and a half years ago, Lesvi gave birth to her son at only 23 weeks. She spent four months in the NICU and was out of work for a total of five months. Her coworkers at LCCM helped her through one of the most difficult times of her life. Related LCCM board members are raising money to support FRESH Start throughout the season of Lent. Here's how to help. “My coworkers at LCCM treated me like family,” she said. “They helped to make sure my kids got fed, they made meals and they donated money to help keep me afloat. Everyday I’m blessed that they are always in my life.” Lesvi is known as “mommy” to FRESH Start guests because of the focus she places on the children who come into the shelter. She takes the time to do crafts with the kids, but also engages parents by coordinating car seat training classes and budgeting classes. Lesvi’s role also involves coordinating meals and overnight stays at churches for shelter guests. Since the birth of her son, Lesvi has been working part-time with LCCM, but she hopes to return to full-time in the future. Written by Megan Finlan, Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon County Christian Ministries is working in conjunction with Lebanon Valley College students to tell the story of LCCM through the lens of its volunteers, guests, staff and board throughout the season of Lent. |
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