Churches unite on Good Friday for Walk with the Cross

Posted on April 17, 2015 by crystalogormanwrites

Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly

Posted by on April 17, 2015 in Faith, News

MINT HILL – Six area churches – Mint Hill Baptist, Wilson Grove Baptist, Philadelphia Presbyterian, Trinity Fellowship, Mint Hill Community Church and Blair Road United Methodist – came together on Good Friday, April 3, for the annual Walk with the Cross event.
Mint Hill Baptist Pastor Lee Proctor, former Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Pastor Chuck Williamson and former Blair Road United Methodist Church Pastor Ted Troutman started the tradition 11 years ago.
Proctor said the event has a personal and communal meaning.
“For me, it’s remembering that Jesus carried the cross for me,” he said. “… It also follows the Bible’s message how one day every tribe, tongue and nation, a spectrum of skin colors and languages will come together.”

Six area churches came together for “Walk with the Cross” on Good Friday. Photo courtesy of Neecie Herndon

One hundred-fifty people and three churches were involved in the first event, and six churches and 450 people participated in this year’s Walk with the Cross.
Each church took turns leading the group with Bible verses from Stations of the Cross and carrying the full-sized wooden cross. The ceremony began at Mint Hill Baptist Church and ended at the intersection of Lawyers Road and N.C. 51.
Rob Mariucci, pastor of Wilson Grove Baptist Church, said his church has been involved with Walk with the Cross for two years, but this was his first year participating.
“We come together, united as one faith, and pray for the Mint Hill community and let them know we are here, we believe in God and God is alive,” Mariucci said.

Posted in Achievements and Awards, Events and Galas, Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, Newspaper, Spirituality and Religion, Traditional Journalism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Earth Day event returning to Matthews this weekend

Posted on April 17, 2015 by crystalogormanwrites

Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly

Posted by on April 17, 2015 in News

MATTHEWS – HAWK Habitat and Wildlife Keepers will partner with Matthews this weekend to bring environmentally-friendly and educational activities to town through the ninth annual Earth Day Celebration.
The event will take place Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stumptown Park, located at 120 S. Trade St.
HAWK is a Matthews-based chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. HAWK Leadership team member and Earth Day event coordinator Debbie Foster said the purpose of the event is to educate the public about sustainable living, as well as provide resources and vendors that will present tools and hands-on strategies for leading a more earth-friendly lifestyle.
“We want to educate people and make it easier for them to do the right thing,” Foster said.

The town of Matthews and HAWK Habitat and Wildlife Keepers will host Matthews’ ninth annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stumptown Park. Photo courtesy of Matthews Earth Day

This year’s event will include more than 60 exhibits. There will be some regulars, including a live animal exhibit from Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and HAWK’s recycling booth, HAWKcycle, an initiative that sends products to organizations that can reuse and repurpose the items. Products include egg cartons, which can be used by local farmers at the Matthews Farmers Market, and eyeglasses for the local Lions club’s glasses drive.
HAWKcycling will collect the following items: compact fluorescent lightbulbs, aluminum pull tabs, corks, egg cartons, printer cartridges, cellphones, tablets and eyeglasses.
There also will be free document shredding from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an all-medicine drop-off facilitated by the Matthews Police Department. Goodwill will collect clothing, furniture and electronics.
New exhibits will include Bain Elementary School’s Terracycle recycling project and Matthews Bee City USA. Girl Scout Brownie Troop 317 will build and sell brown-headed nuthatch boxes, and Sunny Day Windows will display and sell up-cycled art.
Matthews resident Martha Krauss will represent Matthews Bee City USA at the event. Matthews became designated as a certified Bee City through Bee City USA in December last year, Krauss said. Bee City USA is a nationwide grassroots effort that certifies cities as productive pollinators in hopes of establishing and maintaining bee populations.
Krauss orchestrated the efforts to certify Matthews with the support of the town. She said Matthews Commissioner John Higdon and town manager Hazen Blodgett are both beekeepers and supported the initiative.
Krauss said her booth will display an observational hive and beekeeping equipment, as well was provide informative brochures, activities for children and field questions from the public on beekeeping.
“(The Earth Day Celebration) gives us an opportunity to tell the importance of pollinators,” Krauss said.
Shirley Bryant, a Matthews resident and creator of Sunny Day Windows, has created “green” art for three years using antique window sashes, picture frames and glass from bottles, vases and stained-glass scraps. Bryant said her art concept is “shining heaven’s light into brokenness.”

Bryant said this glass picture, “Springtime in Hope Valley,” was inspired by a small town in Rhode Island. Photo courtesy of Sunny Day Windows

Bryant said she looks forward to having a booth at the Earth Day Celebration and hopes to spread the message of ways to repurpose products through her craft.
“My art is a practical demonstration of one of the goals of Earth Day and saving our planet by finding ways to use things that would end up in our landfills,” Bryant said.
Folger Subaru is sponsoring the event and will display cars in the parking lot. Hungry Howie’s and potentially an ice cream truck also will be on site. Musical entertainment will be provided by local country/bluegrass band GB and ME.
The event will feature a variety of vendors selling earth-friendly products, such as honey from Dancing Bees Farm, Pink Daisy soaps and lotions and worms for composting.
Giveaways will include young trees provided by HAWK, such as dogwoods and white oak; native pollinator plants provided by Bee City USA, such as phlox, coreopisos and aster; and free Harris Teeter reusable shopping bags. Free trees and plants will available while supplies last.
Kids can participate in activities and crafts, as well as peruse children’s books about the earth at an exhibit by Matthews Library.
Foster said there also will be several door prizes including an old-fashioned push lawn mower, gardening books donated by The Charlotte Observer and a rain barrel provided by North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation.
“Our goal is to make it as much fun as we can, too,” she said.
Find more information at www.face book.com/events/1527397030881534.

Posted in Events and Galas, Family and Parenting, Health and Wellness, Home and Garden, Human Interest, Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, Newspaper, Traditional Journalism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sharon United Methodist to host baby shower for survivors of human trafficking

Posted on April 11, 2015 by crystalogormanwrites

South Charlotte Weekly

Posted by on April 10, 2015 in News

From left, Debra Engelhardt-Nash, Justice Ministries Founder Mark Blackwell and Anne McKelvey stand in the green space outside of Sharon United Methodist Church. Crystal O’Gorman/SCW photo

Sharon United Methodist Church will host a drop-in baby shower for Justice Ministries, a nonprofit committed to combating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, on April 18, a Saturday, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the church lobby. Sharon UMC is located at 4411 Sharon Road in south Charlotte.

The shower will support four pregnant survivors of human trafficking and their unborn babies.

Anne McKelvey, a missions team leader at Sharon UMC and south Charlotte resident, said she first became interested in helping the cause in 2012, after reading a story on former human trafficking victim Jillian Mourning’s advocacy nonprofit All We Want is Love.

McKelvey was moved by Mourning’s efforts and worked to bring educational opportunities to the church, so the public could learn more about human trafficking. Mourning and Mark Blackwell, founder of Justice Ministries, spoke at the church that same year.

The church has since donated more than $25,000 to Justice Ministries as part of last year’s Christmas offering, as well as continuing to support its awareness campaign and providing office and meeting space for the organization.

One church member, who remained anonymous, volunteers for the nonprofit’s strip club outreach program, Rise Up, where volunteers visit Charlotte strip clubs, build relationships with strippers, help them with financial and emotional burdens, and spread the word about human trafficking and Justice Ministries rescue and recovery efforts.

“Spending time with the ladies makes me realize that we are all walking on the same path and we all fall short … We spend time with the ladies (in the strip clubs) …  let them know we love them as Christ loves them,” the volunteer said in a letter.

The upcoming baby shower is the church and Justice Ministries’ first baby shower for victims of human trafficking. Blackwell said Justice Ministries has rescued and led recovery efforts for 185 survivors to-date, most of whom become pregnant. Blackwell added not all the survivors are impregnated by enforced sex acts, but some are.

Blackwell explained each case is complex and unique.

“Our goal is to completely customize the way we help each person,” he said. “We meet them where they are.”

Justice Ministries volunteer Anitra Polk-Davis organized the shower with the help of McKelvey and co-missions leader Debra Engelhardt-Nash. Attendees are encouraged to drop by the church with gender-neutral baby gifts, meet Blackwell and learn more about Justice Ministries while enjoying cake and light refreshments.

Some items the pregnant women need include, but are not limited to, diapers, blankets, bottles, wipes, crib sheets, clothing and gift cards.

Justice Ministries operates on a budget of $125,000 per year through donations from churches and individuals. Blackwell said they stretch every dollar to provide for these women. Their financial obligations include supporting local residential rehabilitation facilities by helping pay for their clients’ cost of living expenses, travel expenses for rescue and recovery and emergency items like clothing, undergarments, hygiene and feminine products. 

“Our needs adapt and change often because of the increase (in local human trafficking rings),” said Blackwell.

Blackwell said their biggest needs are a fleet of vehicles for recovery efforts, recurring donors and building funds for their future residential rehabilitation program.

“It’s a sense of duty. We have a responsibility to help our neighbors and the oppressed. And this is a way to do it,” said Blackwell.

The beneficiaries will not be at the baby shower, because Justice Ministries prefers to protect their privacy. Engelhardt-Nash said the lack of personal connection shouldn’t be a deterrent to provide for these women and their unborn babies.

“Do something for someone else that doesn’t require a ‘thank you’ … thank you is compassionately held within your heart.”

Visit http://www.justiceministries.org for more information on the organization and human trafficking.

Posted in Events and Galas, Family and Parenting, Health and Wellness, Human Interest, Human Rights, Newspaper, Philanthropy, South Charlotte Weekly, Spirituality and Religion, Traditional Journalism | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Waxhaw organization helps victims of human trafficking

Posted on April 10, 2015 by crystalogormanwrites

Union County Weekly

Posted by on April 9, 2015 in News

WAXHAW – In response to the growing problem of human trafficking in the Charlotte area, Debbie Hancock and Kate Stahlman co-founded Compassion To Act, a faith-based nonprofit based in Waxhaw that provides a residential rehabilitation program for victims of human trafficking, as well as providing community outreach and raising awareness.

Stahlman and Hancock became friends over Bible study and found their shared vision during a missionary conference in Fort Mill, South Carolina in October 2010. Hancock said the mission speaker Heidi Baker’s message on the urgency of serving others struck a chord with both women. Hancock said they simultaneously felt called by God and agreed, “We are going to do this for human trafficking.”

They originally believed they would be working with trafficking victims internationally, but soon found out Charlotte was a major hub for human trafficking.

“Originally, we thought we were going to be in India or some place overseas and as we started studying and learning more about human trafficking, we found out that Charlotte is the No. 1 city in North Carolina for human trafficking and one of the top ten states of the nation for human trafficking,” said Stahlman in the following video message:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/122680386

“God was clear to us in saying you need to clean up your own backyard before going over seas,” Stahlman said.

They spent the next seven months reaching out to local human trafficking organizations to learn as much as they could to better serve survivors of human trafficking. In May 2011, they held a conference at Elevation Church in south Charlotte, where 600 people and representatives from 23 human trafficking organizations met and listened to Ellie Collins, a former sex trafficking victim from California, speak about her personal experiences in the sex industry.

Since then, Compassion To Act has housed and rehabilitated seven women through “Compassion Cottage,” a four-bed, residential rehabilitation program for women 19 years old and older who are survivors of human trafficking.

“It’s about cultivating dreams,” Hancock said.

She said their program focuses on healing and providing victims the life skills needed to live independently and pursue their dreams after leaving the program. Matthews Free Clinic provides victims with free medical care and also has access to a local psychologist to help survivors overcome the psychological impact of human trafficking, which can include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction and dissociative identity disorder, Hancock said.

Hancock said they decided to keep their facility small, only housing up to four women at a time in order to provide a familial experience as opposed to an institutional one. She said she encourages women to build a family connection with other survivors and the cottage’s full-time staff members.

Beyond building trust and relationships for healing, they are taught meal planning, budgeting, house keeping and job skills. They also apply for jobs and work towards a higher education.

Compassion To Act volunteers also regularly visit local strip clubs through their Third Stage outreach program. In the video recording, Stahlman said strip clubs are the prime location for procurers to look for women who are already vulnerable.

“We exist in order to serve, love and fully respect the women we come into contact with,” said Lacey McGowan, a longtime volunteer, said about her role with Third Stage.

Compassion To Act is working on developing a third program called Men of Compassion to combat pornography and the sex industry head on, said Hancock. They are recruiting small groups of men to stand up for the mistreatment of women by not actively viewing or funding the development of pornography.

“We want men to free the grips of pornography and sexual assault from our city,” Hancock said. “This is not to bring shame to men, but bring awareness to it.”

Compassion To Act relies on private donations from businesses, churches, organizations and individuals to combat sex trafficking. Hancock said they’ve been fortunate to have a great response from the community, but as demands grow they need more community support.

She also said they are always looking for volunteers to work in the house, work outreach at clubs and for men to become advocates for women’s rights.

“God gave us a number, we are going to rescue a million women, but we don’t focus on a million; we focus on the one. One at a time with intention,” Hancock said.

For more information about Compassion To Act, visit their website, compassiontoact.org/.

Posted in Human Rights, Newspaper, Philanthropy, Traditional Journalism, Union County Weekly | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Deerfield Creek’s Spring Fling to benefit orphans in Kenya

Posted on April 10, 2015 by crystalogormanwrites

Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly

Posted by on April 9, 2015 in News

MATTHEWS – One local community is reaching across the Atlantic Ocean to lend a helping hand through a neighborhood fundraiser.

Deerfield Creek residents Erin Dummert and Keenan McGrath will host their second annual Deerfield Creek Spring Fling Fundraiser to benefit orphans in Africa on April 18, a Saturday, at the Deerfield Community Center from 3 to 7 p.m.

More than 200 people attended last year’s event, which raised $8,000 for the Amukura Orphanage, in Amukura, Kenya. The money went toward purchasing rabbits, supplies and building a rabbit hutch. The rabbits are used for husbandry, consumed and sold to pay for living expenses at the orphanage.

Pictured are the nuns and children at the Amukura Orphanage in Kenya. Photo courtesy of Little Sisters Angel Fund.

This year’s event proceeds will support a building fund and other short- and long-term endeavors. The current building is falling apart and lacks the space needed to adequately meet the demand for housing abandoned children in Amukura, according to Sister Lucy Marindany, president of Little Sisters Angel Fund and a Senior Sister with Little Sisters of St. Francis – the fundraising organization and indigenous African religious entity that runs the orphanage.

“The current building has had essential repairs to make it functional, but to continue doing so is similar to putting a bandage on a broken bone,” said Marindany, who is from Kenya. “We have made it livable, but our goal is to expand to accommodate more children.”

The Little Sisters of St. Francis had plans drawn for a building large enough to accommodate 50 children. It includes separate girls’ and boys’ dormitories, a room for infants, nursery, infirmary, community room, art room, a study, kitchen, cafeteria, bathrooms and a convent.

Dummert, Little Sisters Angel Fund vice president, said the building is estimated to cost more than $50,000. Other than Dummert donating approximately $2,000 per year from the sales from her Etsy business, Little Random Boutique, Little Sisters of St. Francis relies solely on the funds raised by Little Sisters Angel Fund.

Dummert was actively looking for a cause when a connection from her hometown, Milwaukee, contacted her for support.

“One woman, Sister Evelyn Nanyama from Little Sisters of St. Francis, was in a women’s group from my former church group,” Dummert said. “When we moved to Charlotte, a friend from St. Monica was doing a fundraiser for an African orphanage ran by Sister Lucy (Marindany).”

Dummert felt inspired and wanted to invest her time and energy into supporting these children.

“When you imagine two women caring for 23 to 25 children, mostly under the age of 5, with little funds and in dilapidated conditions, how can you not get involved?” she said.

Dummert shared stories of children being tied to doorknobs or left in the woods to starve and die, and how the tribal orders turn over the abandoned children to the Little Sisters of St. Francis to raise and educate without government assistance.

Moved by these stories, Dummert started doing small drives to raise money and collect supplies for the orphanage in 2013. Those food, medicine and diaper drives turned into raising money to keep the orphanage in operation.

“You just can’t stop and slow down,” she said. “These 20-plus kids are depending on you.”

Marindany and Dummert worked together to create Little Sisters Angel Fund to support Little Sisters of St. Francis’ work at Amukura Orphanage, as well as their work at Franciscan Brethren of St. Philip – a Virginia-based residential and day facility for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

Funds raised through the Deerfield Creek Spring Fling Fundraiser will be reserved for the Amukura Orphanage. The orphanage’s main priorities are short-term critical needs, such as fixing their broken stove; raising money for the building fund; and self-sufficiency by gardening and animal husbandry projects.

The Spring Fling costs $25 per family and includes free hot dogs from JJ’s Red Hots, drinks, beer, live entertainment, kids’ games, a strolling magician, face painting, a bounce house, vendor booths, a raffle and silent auction. Participants can meet Marindany and learn more about the orphanages, as well as read letters from the orphans.

“We, sisters, cannot do it by ourselves. We need others, and the Matthews community has come in handy,” Marindany said. “We are lucky to have them, and we hope this partnership will continue, so together we can continue to change lives of thousands upon thousands of kids whose future depends on the services of the sisters.”

Visit the Facebook event page, www.facebook.com/events/1550479591895424, orwww.littlesistersangelfund.org or email Dummert at erin@littlesistersangelfund.org for more information.

Did you like this? Share it:
Posted in Education, Events and Galas, Family and Parenting, Health and Wellness, Human Interest, Human Rights, Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, Newspaper, Philanthropy, Traditional Journalism | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment