THRiVE! Y O U R C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T FA N
B U F FA L O N I A G A R A R E G I O N W W W. T H R I V E B U F FA L O . O R G
88 VICTIMS H AVE BE
EN RESCUED
FROM HUMA N
TRAFFICKING
IN BUFFALO
HOW YOU CA N
STOP IT. PAGE 27
PALADINO UNDER FIRE PAGE 15
HOW TO START A NON-PROFT PAGE 18
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF DELORES POWELL PAGE 27
BUFFALO’S GROWING May/June 2010 $3.95
POPULATION OF REFUGEES PAGE 39
IDEAS: DESIGN WEBSITES ADVERTISING VIDEO PHOTOGRAP
G
PHY
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THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
CONTENTS
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43 35
5
Editor’s Note
8
Partners
9
Comments
11
Upcoming
13
Picture Page
15
Paladino Under Fire
18
How to Start a Non-Proft
19
10 Must See Getaways
23
The Case for Community
27
Human Trafficking
31
Spiritual Journey of Delores Powell
35
Designed for Perfect Love
39
LIFT Music
41
James Giles
43
Buffalo’s Growing Population of Refugees
47
Entrepreneurs
49
Poverty
50
Leadership 101
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NOTE : 18
th Century statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.” Found within this quote is the theme of this issue. Change begins with you and I. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” There is a tendency within each of us to talk and dream of the change and impact we desire to have on the world - rather than being the answer to the problems confronting us. With change in mind, we present this issue in hopes of inspiring you to move from apathy to action. On page 22 writer Nancy Carmichael examines the 21st Century epidemic of human trafficking: the underground industry that has enslaved millions worldwide including tens of thousands in the United States. Quoting Carmichael, “There are more human beings living in bondage today than in all 300 years of the African slave trade combined. Unthinkable, but true.” The call to action for you is not to skim the article, look at the pictures and pass it by; rather get involved and be part of the solution. One way to do that is to work with STOP! a local
organization formed to combat this evil with real solutions, read the rest of the article to find out more. Speaking of change, our cover story was originally with developer and governor hopeful Carl Paladino but was quickly changed after he came under fire for sending foul emails. None the less he is a man wanting to bring change so we published a revised article featuring Paladino and his mission for change. Paladino has demonstrated a genuine remorse for his emails and so we highlighted lessons learned, steps forward, and what we believe his future in politics will entail. Lastly, Buffalo as a city is experiencing a demographic shift within our own population. Ryan Kozey on page 34 explores the increasing growth of refugees within our city limits and what you can do to serve them. Organizations like the International Institute, Jericho Road Ministries, Peace of the City, Journey’s End, Catholic Charities, and Jewish Family Services are helping but more is needed. According to Kozey’s research, “Throughout the year 2010, it is estimated that roughly 2,000 refugees will find a place to live in the city of Buffalo.” So get involved, engage our culture and contribute to the story or Buffalo’s redemption. Go ahead and be inspired; read the articles and then pass them on to your friends and reflect together. Then come up with a plan and take action; take that small step of faith forward. You are needed in Buffalo and there is a place for you.
THRiVE! Y O U R C I T Y ’ S B I G G E S T FA N
B U F FA L O N I A G A R A R E G I O N W W W. T H R I V E B U F FA L O . O R G
THRiVE Magazine May/June 2010 www.thrivebuffalo.org
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Kyle Patterson OPERATIONS DIRECTOR: Julianna Patterson ART DIRECTOR: Jamie Callari PHOTOGRAPHY: Matt And Angela Brown Dan Hutchens PHOTO EDITOR: Jennifer Santora CONTRIBUTING Ryan Kozey WRITERS: Nancy Carmichael Matthew L. Brown Robert Stearns Stuart Harper Sandra Arcadipane Robert Cousins Christine Smyczynski
THRiVE! Magazine is a production of THRiVE! Media Group, a Buffalo, NY based media company. THRiVE! operates through subscriptions, bulk subscriptions, and advertising. Please visit www.thrivebuffalo.org or call 716-668-1072 for more information on how you can receive THRiVE! and help spread THRiVE! across Western New York and beyond! THRiVE! is associated with COVNet under the leadership of Tommy Reid.
COMMENTS? Please E-mail: kyle@thrivebuffalo.org
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! www.thrivebuffalo.org/subscribe Phone: 716-668-1072 Rates: 1 year (6 issues) $19.95
DISTRIBUTE THRiVE! If you are a church, ministry, or business looking to get bulk copies of THRiVE! please contact: Julianna Patterson THRiVE! Magazine Julianna@ThriveBuffalo.Org
Visit www.thrivebuffalo.org for news, articles, teachings
Kyle Patterson Editor
and video coverage. In addition you can subscribe to our free monthly E-Zine and receive breaking news and teachings in your inbox every month. You can subscribe by going to our website, thrivebuffalo.org or by emailing us at info@thrivebuffalo.org . Advertising opportunities are available for online and print. Contact us today for more info.
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THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
bring Your
WEBSITE ouT of THe
STONE AGE.
newbirddesign.com buffalo, nY: 716-989-4373
D E S I G N
begin@newbirddesign.com THRiVE! | www.thrivebuffalo.org
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You love Buffalo. You want to make a difference. You want to giveback, serve your city, engage the culture, and connect with others who are like minded. You want a resource that reflects your values and educates your community.
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THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
PARTNERS Clarence Center UMC Pastors Chuck and Kim Smith 741.2410 www.thewayonline.net
Zion Dominion Global Ministries Pastor Roderick L. Hennings 716-250-7040 www.ziondominion.org
True Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Darius Pridgen 716-895-8222 Truebethel.org
Wesleyan Church of Hamburg Pastor Greg McClain 716-649-6335 www.wchamburg.org
The Chapel at CrossPoint Lead Pastor Jerry Gillis 716-631-2636 www.thechapel.com
The Tabernacle Pastor Tommy Reid 716-675-2888 www.thetab.org
Northgate Community Church Pastor Jon Hasselbeck www.northgatebuffalo.com
Elim Christian Fellowship Bishop Troy Bronner 716-832-7698 www.elim-world.org
Grace Fellowship Pastor Richard Giano 716-681-2059 www.gracefic.org
Teen Challenge of WNY Rev. Walter Thomas 716-855-0602 www.buffalotc.org
All Nations House of Prayer Pastors Sean & Tammi O’Brien 716-462-6300 www.anhopinc.org
Pastor Matthew L. Brown 716-852-5502, www.pentecostaltemplechurch.com
Bethel Baptist Church Rev. Kevin L. Wright 716-688-8668 www.bethel-nab.org
My Father’s House Pastor Randall Smith 716-655-1389 www.myfathershouseministry.net
Eagles’ Wings Ministry Robert Stearns 716-759-1058 www.eagleswings.to
The Philadelphia Church
Lovejoy Gospel Church Pastors Ron and Judy Burgio 716-651-0400 www.lovejoy.org
New Life World Harvest Restoration Center
Pastors John & Barbara Burkholder 716-832-6791 www.swordofthespiritministries.com
Your city, your passion, your magazine.
Pentecostal Temple
Sam O. Pulliam 716-408-7400 www.tpc2.org
Sword of the Spirit
We’re Buffalo’s biggest fan.
Pastor Melvin J. Taylor 716-725-6235 www.newliferestorationcenter.org
New Bethel Community Church Pastors William and Toni Clark 716-835-8300 www.newbethelonline.com
6 issues for $19.95 Subscribe at www.thrivebuffalo.org
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COMMENTS Great edition featuring David Stapleton on the cover. What Stapleton started has sparked a movement in Western New York that has been stirring for years and came to a crescendo during the makeover. May this event be looked back on in Buffalo’s history as a catalyst to the change and community revitalization we have been hoping and praying for.
*
*
Seems like President Simpson is counting on money from Albany as a resource to get things done and right now that’s not happening Hopefully Albany will pass a budget soon that will include some help for UB.
- Anonymous
- Sandy via thrivebuffalo.org
I almost cried when I saw it – me
*
and my friends passed it around at our social event last night admiring the whole issue – the design, the photos, the article subjects. - Mark J. Weber via facebook
I love the look of the magazine! It’s getting better and better.
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– Uta Milewski via facebook.
THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
LEADING A GENERATION TO CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP
IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US
Pick up a copy of the NEW CD today at Life Resources Christian Bookstore 1551 Niagara Falls Boulevard
www.myspace.com/immanuelmusic
UPCOMING Upcoming:
JUNE 17
JULY 17
STOP! Awareness Night | Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church
Kingdom Vision | Niagara Square
Human Trafficking is the second largest – and fastest growing
Square in front of Buffalo City Hall on Saturday, July 17th 12pm-
– criminal industry in the world. It is no longer an issue that can
9pm. The festival is organized by Back to Basics Outreach Ministries
be ignored, rather it needs to be exposed and dealt with. Stop
Inc. Family friendly, free rain or shine event with remarks by clergy,
Trafficking of Persons Task Force is a local grassroots organization
officials, athletes and others. National keynote speakers include
raising awareness and educating others of human trafficking and
Nicky Cruz, S. Renee Smith, national recording artist Pastor Adrian
modern day slavery both globally and locally. 17,500 victims of
(Agee) Smith, and Buffalo’s 500 voice choir Rise Up. Also in the
human trafficking are trafficked into the United States, many
lineup is national recording artist Tee-Nyce and many other local
of whom are minors. STOP! is based out Eastern Hills Wesleyan
musical groups and talent. Kids Kingdom Corner will include crafts
Church, if you are interested in helping to eliminate human
and Bible stories. Food and refreshments will be available.
Kingdom Vision is a power packed, hope-filled festival in Niagara
trafficking, start with STOP!
JUNE 24 -27 Citybration | Downtown Buffalo
AUGUST 1-4 Kingdom Bound | Darien Lake Theme Park Kingdom Bound, Western New York’s largest Christian music festival
Citybration is a three day Buffalo festival showcasing Buffalo’s many
is celebrating its 24th annual event this year August 1-4. The lineup
assets and celebrating its successes. Included in this year’s event
includes local talent Relevant Worship and Jerry Gillis along with a
is an investor and entrepreneur forum, Spree Best of Western New
plethora of local and national musical talent, speakers, and seminars
York Party, Career Connexions, Spotlight on Buffalo Successes
designed for every age. Each year an estimated 50,000 gather from
event, Indie Market @ Bidwell, Discover Buffalo Tours, Make A
across NY, Ontario, and the east coast of the United States making
Difference Awards Luncheon and everything else happening in and
the event one of WNY’s largest tourist attractions. Hosted annually
around Buffalo.
at Darien Lake Theme Park, this year will be no exception to the stellar festival’s annual success.
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THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
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13 THRiVE! | MAY / JUNE 2010
Rockin’ For Relief March concert to benefit Haiti victims. Photos by Matt Brown.
THRiVE! | www.thrivebuffalo.org 14
PALADI UNDER FIRE by Kyle Patterson
Kyle Patterson
Carl Paladino is under fire, but he seems to like it that way. He, after all, is a man swirling in controversy even before his twisted emails were exposed. His loud mouth, say whatever comes to mind tactics have earned him a reputation in Buffalo as someone to be reckoned with. So when Tea Party Activists approached him about running for governor, Paladino put some money where his mouth was, pledging to spend up to $10 million personally to overthrow what he refers to as the “Albany ruling class.” His anger, something he feels is justified, runs deep in his Italian bones toward the political corruption he sees in Albany and he says he isn’t going to take it anymore. Paladino told THRiVE! in an interview April 5th, indifference in Albany is what bothers him most, “Our legislature and government has evolved to the point where they are indifferent; state employees are not required to be courteous. When you see that out of a grunt employee you know they are not properly disciplined by their superiors, and there is a lack of respect. We’ve evolved to a government that does not respect the tax payers, it’s despicable.” According to Paladino, (pre-scandal) he believes he is the master of his own fate; I am not sure if he saw the email scandal coming, however. His fast track towards success in the business world was something he thought could translate in the political world, others
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disagree. Though he professes values and a faith that there is a God, Paladino says he is taking his future into his own hands and trotting on despite the political and yet personal retribution again him. Despite good intentions, Paladino’s fate for governor may unfortunately be slipping from his hands by his own doing. It truly is unfortunate, considering Paladino seemed promising to turn the tide in Albany, and who better to do it than a man who built a real estate company from the ground up, employs 400 people and is someone who can get things done. But as expected Paladino isn’t going down without a fight. He told us in our pre-scandal interview, “This is my mission now. I am only looking to serve four years. And notice how I used the word serve. I did my government service in the army. I am a wartime guy. I am the guy you need to take out the bad guys. After that the peace time guy can come in and work within the constraints of the new government that we will restructure.” Paladino spoke confidently about his ability to navigate the political system in Albany, something he doesn’t have experience doing but believes his inexperience is an asset, “I don’t play in their sandbox, I have my own sandbox. I have my own toys. People have asked me why I don’t work my way up in the system. That is how they co-opt you and they build fences around you. Those fences
INO
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are limits that you are conditioned to learn in their little politically correct world. Their emissaries come to me and say, “You don’t want to put up with the nightmare of Albany, ha, that is what I am all about.” In regards to the scandal, Paladino told supporters, “The Liberal elite are hysterical; they are panicking because they know we’re coming. If they want me to back down, they will be disappointed. I’m not proud of everything I’ve done in my life - who is? - but I sure as he** don’t run from anything I’ve done in my life. I’m not a racist. I’m not a sexist. I am average. Your continued support and kind words steel my resolve.” Despite Paladino’s vision for a better New York, his plan to slash the budget, freeze state employee wages, and scatter his enemies “like rats” in Albany, what started out as a hope filled mission to reform the evils of Albany may have backfired and his reputation as a politician, a businessman and person
His ideas of reforming Albany with a hard handed, take no prisoners type attitude had thousands of supporters cheering his every move, and with the money to back it up, he may have helped bring the change we needed, but now his fate clearly rests out of his hands. now stands in the balance. Granted he may have put a target on his back by lashing out against the powers that be in Albany, creating enemies quickly and throwing the liberal party into a tailspin. His ideas of reforming Albany with a hard handed, take no prisoners type attitude had thousands of supporters cheering his every move, and with the money to back it up, he may have helped bring the change we needed, but now his fate clearly rests out of his hands. LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY FOR THE PALADINO CAMPAIGN.
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Anger rests in the bosom of fools. His “Mad as He**” message may have backfired. Now some of the people who supported him are mad right back at him, not to mention embarrassed and red faced over the email scandal. There is nothing wrong with being passionate about your beliefs but mad as he**, is that the best option here?
2
Never do anything you wouldn’t want the world to know. Whether or not Paladino looked at the emails, he willfully passed on to his friends trash that belongs in no one’s inbox, much less the governor of New York. There is no excuse for that behavior whatsoever. Now that he is in the public eye, what he thought he could “getaway with” as a private citizen won’t stand as a public servant.
3
Honesty is always the best policy. Paladino did the right thing when he confessed his sin- a professing Catholic he now needs to live out his change of heart.
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“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” - Warren Buffet In a moment the political and business career of Paladino was under review for something he had no idea would come back to bite him.
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Politically incorrect isn’t a license for bigotry. Change doesn’t mean you need to ostrocize people and condemn your enemies. Let your actions speak louder than words.
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Money can’t buy success. Pledging up to $10 million of your own money doesn’t guarantee success.
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Politics can be a dirty game. Whether the “liberal elites” are behind the revelation of twisted emails from Paladino or not, he may have made enemies quicker than he expected. His enemies truly are alive and well !
How to Start a Non-Profit By Sandra Arcadipane
So, you want to help change the world, raise support for orphans, feed the poor or build a youth center in the inner city. If you are contemplating starting a non-profit organization it isn’t something to be taken lightly, it takes a lot of work and almost always requires an upfront investment. But, if it’s done right, your organization can have positive and lasting effects for generations to come. Here are 12 steps to consider as you move forward, the “how to” of forming a non-profit. 1.
4.
8.
12.
Understand what a non-profit really is and decide if it’s right for you. A non-profit is a charitable or service-type organization. If you are looking to get rich and distribute it to shareholders or executives, this isn’t the avenue you want to take. Most of the funds earned stay within the organization to help meet its goals and continue its service to the community. A 501(c)(3) is a type of non-profit that can receive charitable donations and is exempt from income and (sometimes) property taxes.
Hire an attorney who specializes in non-profit law. There is a lot of paper work involved in creating a non-profit such as filing articles of incorporation with the state. Each state has specific laws that govern how a business or organization can incorporate and you want to make certain that you are filing the right papers at the right time and are taking the appropriate steps to reaching your goals.
Draft your bylaws. Your attorney will help you write these rules or laws that will help govern your organization.
Market your service. Even nonprofits need to raise awareness of what it is they do. You can do a mass mailing and file for a permit that will give you a discount. Also radio, print, television and internet provide many streams of advertising possibilities. Often times discounts are available based on your non-profit status.
2. Create a mission statement. This statement should be one or two sentences that describe the purpose, mission, values and goals of your organization. 3. Form a Board of Directors. Research your state’s guidelines for the minimum number of board members you must have. When deciding who will be on your board, look at the qualities each person possesses. You want someone who has integrity, is honest and supportive of you and your mission.
5. Open a bank account in the organizations name and hire an accountant that will help you set up your basic bookkeeping. 6. Create a budget. You need to estimate what your potential income will be and break down all the costs that you estimate having. This budget will be one of the main guides to running your organization. 7. Get insured. Ask for a referral and speak with an agent about what you are planning to do and find out what type of insurance you may need.
9. File for your 501(c)(3) status. You can find forms for this in your local IRS office. Form 1023 (application) and Publication 557 will allow you to do this. You must have your budget worked out before you do this because the fee that you will pay depends on the size of your budget. 10. Complete more paperwork. You will need to apply to get your Federal Tax ID number. This may automatically happen through the paperwork that your attorney or bookkeeper files for you. Additionally you will need your attorney or accountant to file for incorporation with the state, file for federal and state tax exemption, and file for property tax exemption. 11. Obtain a solicitation license if you plan on soliciting funds. Your attorney can also help you with that.
Feeling overwhelmed? Speak with people in your life who you consider to be wise. Explain your desires and vision. They will give you a perspective you had not looked at. If you decide to form a non-profit, know that every work comes with a cost, there is sacrifice that will be involved. Enduring projects come with blood, sweat, and tears but if you ask those who have gone before you, they would not change anything! It is always more than worth it in the end !
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THE CASE FOR COMMUNITY > Dan Trippie
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W
estern civilization has contributed so much good to the modern world, yet have we sacrificed the benefits of interdependence with our zeal for individuality? At every turn our culture of consumption screams, “Personal need! Private comfort! Individuality!”
The reality of being a unique individual has so engrained our society it seems hard to view life through any other lens. Yet is it possible in the championing of individual uniqueness we have lost the beauty of interdependency?
In a recent trip to Italy the different perspective I had on the West from across the pond struck me. As I walked through the ruins of the Roman Forum, I was awed by the sheer age of my surroundings. Quickly my mind rushed to thoughts of how young we are as a nation. In many ways we are still in our adolescence as a society and a people. The comparisons are striking to consider. Think about the way a teenager handles money. Do you notice any similarities to the way we as a nation have handled money? Notice how an adolescent conducts itself in the neighborhood when given influence. See anything similar? Above all have you ever noticed how a teenager acts toward their parents? There seems to be some correlation with chronological years and the fervor in which humans long for independence. Nevertheless, there seems to be a price to be paid for an overemphasis on independence. Teens often struggle with feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood. How many times in your younger years do you remember feeling like you were the only one in the world to go through ________? Isolation has been linked with bouts of depression, and anxiety is often a byproduct of the fear of standing out. On one hand, culture screams, “You need to be a rugged individual,” yet the echoes of the soul seem to whisper, “Something is not right with this.” In my time overseas, I couldn’t help but wonder if
the youthfulness of our nation has caused us to minimize the necessity of actively engaging in healthy community. Perhaps many of the emotional dysfunctions we face as a people result from our unrelenting commitment to isolation. Yet if we are creatures unique and universal at the same time, how do we go about recapturing the benefits of community? Perhaps it starts with something simple, like finding places to congregate once again. One aspect of the Italian culture I found so appealing was the abundance of public meeting spaces. Each street seemed saturated with numerous cafés and espresso shops where ironically enough people talked to one another. I noticed repeatedly patrons would walk in, greet the entire establishment and then join in whatever conversation was available. The interesting aspect for me was to notice how everyone seemed to know each other in the establishment. In contrast to meeting spaces in our culture, these establishments were designed so that a person could not gravitate alone to an individual table. The configuration pushed one another to a single counter where you stood shoulder to shoulder with your neighbor. Something as simple as meeting space like this fostered conversation and relationship. As I took notice of people’s actions, I was impressed with the ease in which patrons conversed. There did not
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seem to be any awkward small-talk, nor unspoken pressure to rush off to work. This unique tribe of people was strangely comfortable just being together with no apparent agenda and for no specific plan. As people conversed one with another it was evident they shared something much deeper than simply talk about the weather and sports. In their conversations you could almost feel they shared a universal sense of destiny one with another. In watching their interactions, I couldn’t help but contemplate if the fall of an empire, if attacks from barbarians, and two world wars fought on their soil has taught them that survival as a people demands we acknowledge our need for one another. Any culture that overemphasizes individualism will surely lose their sense of destiny. It seems this is something America is in the throws of as we speak. Any culture that overemphasizes universalism will surely lose their freedoms. If a community is to exist at all, there must be some form of productivity. How then do we live in the tension of both extremes? I wonder if the answer is not found in what we do, but how we view the world around us. Is there a way of thinking that would allow humans to celebrate their uniqueness without sacrificing community? If such a worldview exists, what would it look like? Perhaps it would be a group of people who saw themselves as responsible for the neighborhood and environment around them. Maybe this same group of people would see their occupation as a part of an unfolding history, thus productivity would be for global purpose. Possibly this body would view one another’s differences in such a way that mutual appreciation could be found thus ending racism and bigotry. Perhaps personal preference would be placed to the side so that care for one another’s needs could take place. In such a community I imagine it might not be a comfortable place to live all the time, but it would certainly be safe. As I consider the elements needed to form such a community I am drawn once again to the life of Jesus Christ. In his life we see all the attributes needed to live in healthy community. In the body He so dearly called “The Church”, we find our deepest longing for independence and dependence satisfied at the same time. The great mystery of being a part of this new society is that it is the only place in creation where balance between the two can be found !
Dan Trippie is lead pastor of Restoration Church located in Snyder, NY.
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NANCY CARM ICHAEL
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
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S
he was extremely thin with long, dark hair and a vacant expression in her large, deep set eyes. When she arrived at World Hope International’s Cambodian assessment center, she was understandably aloof, not fully understanding what was going on… after all, despite the smiling, kind faces and the friendly atmosphere, for all she knew this was just another new brothel she had been trafficked to. She’d most certainly been through this before, and she knew the drill. Sooner or later someone would want her, would take her and use her. So she stood in the corner with her guard up, cautiously taking in this strange new environment where nobody seemed to want anything from her. She did not understand. By the end of the day, however, she realized no one was going to abuse her. The kindness of these strangers had prevailed, and her guard came down. She picked up a jump rope, and for the first time in a very long time, jumped for joy, like any other six year old girl, without a care in the world.
“
any Fortune 500 company revenues, profiteers rake in about 32 billion dollars every year. The U.S. State Department estimates that up to 900,000 persons are trafficked per year internationally. But did you know that 17,500 of them are trafficked into the United States, many of whom are minors? More grim news: America is now considered the number one destination for child sex trafficking. If that’s not sobering enough, consider this: There are more human beings living in bondage today than in all 300 years of the African slave trade combined. Unthinkable, but true. But what about Western NY? Surely the unthinkable is not happening right here in our own back yard? Think again. Cheektowaga. Depew. West Seneca. Amherst. Kenmore. Tonawanda. Clarence. Niagara Falls. Buffalo. All towns where people have been rescued from enslavement. Our neighbors. Recently. Right here. What does human trafficking look like in Western NY? The answer may surprise you. Raids have taken place everywhere from massage and nail salons to acupressure clinics, restaurants and even private homes. 88 victims were rescued since March of 2007 from slave labor and the sex trade, according to the International Institute of Buffalo, a non profit support center for immigrants who face exploitation, established in 1918. So who are these 88 people, and where do they come from? What is the profile of the “average” victim? Not so “average”, as it turns out. They are male as well as female. They come
Cheektowaga. Depew. West Seneca. Amherst. Kenmore. Tonawanda. Clarence. Niagara Falls. Buffalo. All towns where people have been
”
rescued from enslavement. Our neighbors. Recently.
The good news is, there is hope for this little Cambodian girl, and many like her who have been rescued from the perils of human trafficking, thanks to the tireless work of individuals and organizations fighting to end injustice around the world. The bad news? Cambodia is just the tip of the iceberg. While most people are aware, on some level, that human trafficking exists in the world, few realize how prevalent it really is. Or how close to home. Worldwide, over 27 million people are living in slavery, whether in the sex trade or through forced labor. There is a staggering amount of money to be made in this business of selling human beings. Far eclipsing
from places like China, Mexico, Thailand, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Honduras, Guatemala, just to name a few, and of course, from right here in the U.S as well. They are documented as well as undocumented immigrants. And although the largest group falls in the 18-30 bracket, they range in age from minors to senior citizens. The truth is, there is no “typical” victim when it comes to human trafficking. That’s why the Western NY District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance was formed. Under the umbrella of the International Institute of Buffalo, it trains law enforcement and rescue personnel as well as the general public on what
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RESOURCES To schedule a STOP presentation for your organization, contact Nicole Schara at stop@easternhillschurch.org
BOOKS Disposable People, by Kevin Bales End of Slavery, by Kevin Bales The Slave Next Door, by Kevin Bales Not For Sale, by David Batstone
MOVIES Taken (2009), Holly (2007), Price of Sugar (2007). Amazing Grace (2007), Born Into Brothels (2004), Dying to Leave (2003)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Worldhopeinternational.org Notforsalecampaign.org, www.iibuff.org (International Institute of Buffalo) http://hopesewing.wordpress.com http://www.emancipationnetwork.org polarisproject.org, love146.org williamsville.tenthousandvillages.com You can also follow STOP on Twitter @StopTaskForce
29 THRiVE! THRiVE! | MAY | MAY / JUNE / JUNE 2010 2010
signs to look for when it comes to human trafficking, which is, as they put it, hiding in plain sight. It is entirely possible that the average person in the greater Buffalo area may be encountering victims of enslavement and not even know it. That’s why the Task force poses questions for you to ask yourself if you encounter a questionable situation, such as, “Can this person leave this situation if he/she wants to?” “Do they seem to live where they work?” “Can they speak for themselves?” “Do they make eye contact with you?” “Does this person have any identification?” Remember, there is no “typical” victim, but there are some tell tale signs. Robin Schara, Women’s Ministry Director at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Clarence traveled to Cambodia in February with a team on a learning mission with World Hope. But why all the way around the world, when the problem is right here? “World Hope’s war against human trafficking in Cambodia is precedent setting,” says Schara, they are far ahead of the rest of the world in terms of having the knowledge and equipment to combat human slavery. Besides the Assessment Center, which is the first step in the process of rescuing people out of slavery, World Hope also employs pro-active means to stop trafficking before it starts, including schools, small business initiatives and community rice banks, just to name a few. The purpose of these programs is to combat poverty, and cut off at the root one of traffickers favorite ploys to ensnare would be slaves, which is summed up in the question “Do you want a job?” “They will make false promises of a better job and a better life for victim’s families to get unwitting victims to go with them,” Schara says. Needless to say, by the time they realize the empty promise, it’s too late, and they have been cut off from all connections to the world they knew. World Hope wants to prevent that. One of their initiatives, called the Adelphe program, empowers women through education, agricultural loans and access to health services, all important elements in keeping the traffickers at bay. “By helping people over there,” Schara says, “We are cutting off a human supply source to the U.S., so we are really helping ourselves.” Schara’s goal as a team on
this trip was to arm themselves with information and come home ready to fight. Their mission is two pronged: 1) To take what they learned and educate as many people as possible here in the states, and 2) To challenge those they educate to take action and do something.
“
Once people are aware, they will take a stand; go to their legislators to change laws;
”
make change.
Schara’s work in Cambodia has resulted in the formation of Stop Trafficking of Persons (STOP) task force. STOP’s goal is to promote awareness of the human trafficking issue within the community, collaborating with the WNY Task Force to eradicate slavery in Western NY. “Education is our first objective,” Schara says. As such, they have created several initiatives, including developing age appropriate presentations (from grade school through college/adult), training speakers, identifying venues, and continuing to build coalitions within the faith community and beyond. “Awareness is key”, Schara says, “Once people are aware, they will take a stand; go to their legislators to change laws; make change.” And there are lots of ways everyone can make a difference, from looking for the fair trade label when purchasing products like coffee or cocoa, to educating yourself or your organization through books, movies or presentations put on by STOP (see information at end of article) , by wearing orange (the color of freedom!) , by sponsoring a child or a woman either locally through Hope Refugee Services (a local organization in Buffalo that provides sewing machines, and therefore small business opportunities, for refugees through private grants) or through World Hope International, or by reporting a tip with a local anti trafficker by calling the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at (888) 373-7888 “It is a staggering problem”, says Schara, “But there is hope. It is our job to spread awareness. When people are aware, they will take action !”
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The Unyielding Spiritual Journey of Delores Powell Kyle Patterson
D
elores Powell (now Delores Powell-Tyson by marriage this past April) may have been selected for Extreme Makeover in November because of her journey from Jamaica, to Brooklyn, to Buffalo and the struggle, heartache, and pain in between- but, she credits her persistent, yet at one point faltering faith for making last fall’s west side revival a reality. “I remember praying one day in my living room, I got up and asked, ‘What if Extreme Makeover comes and builds my house yet does nothing for my neighbors?’ Then, I walk out in the morning feeling all good and mighty high and my neighbor doesn’t even have a cup of coffee. I said, ‘God I don’t want it. I said if they are not going to do the neighborhood, I don’t want the house.’ God does hear and answer my prayers, because it was truly from the depths of my heart, and God knows I meant it.” According to Delores and hundreds of others, there is more to the makeover than meets the eye; what started as a television production turned into a movement to restore Buffalo, something Delores had been praying for since 2004. Delores explained it was her father and mother who instilled a deep faith in her while growing up in Jamaica. Those values, however, were not always easy for Delores to follow. She explained she was stuck in a cycle of bitterness and anger for many years and only recently began leaving the pain of her past behind. Delores openly confessed her struggle with anger at her ex-husband and the resulting bitterness that almost destroyed her life. The bitterness grew so deep Delores was suffering stomach problems, headaches, and sleepless nights. She explained in 2007 her life changed - only after forgiving her ex-husband - and much prayer. “I spent three hours praying and asking God to help me forgive my ex-husband. God answered my prayers. I called him the next night, prayed with him and forgave him. When you forgive someone you’re not only doing them a favor, your doing yourself a favor,” she explained. Delores remembers the night she forgave her ex-husband was the sweetest night sleep she had had in years, and life began to take a turn for her. Gone were the sleepless nights, strife and anger, instead Delores began seeing herself and others differently. “It is so easy to see faults in others rather than ourselves. I started looking for the best in others. I don’t care
what this person did-they can change- and that change is the work of God,” said Delores. She continued, “Who am I too judge others. We are all at God’s mercy, we all breathe the same air, and all men are created equal. I believe God has worked in my life because I have seen my faults, errors, and problems. I thought I was a mighty big woman, but God showed me I am nothing without him. It is not for me to judge others; there is some good in every person.” This humble attitude has given Delores compassion rather than judgment towards those she meets. In our interview, she recited 1 Corinthians 13- the Bible passage on love, recalling its power to change her actions and the way she was treating others. “I could walk from here and go into a crowd of people and know which person was hurting,” she told me, reflecting that bitterness has slowly been replaced with compassion. “Unless you know what it is like to be hungry or frost bitten you just don’t understand. It has to be raining in your life to appreciate the sun,” said Delores. “I feel just the same
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as someone living on the street, we are both flesh and blood,” she continued. Her new home and the many luxuries therein are something Delores is thankful for, however she recognizes they could be gone tomorrow. “Yes, I thank God for it, but tomorrow it could go up in dust. We come into this world with nothing and when we leave we take nothing with us. People tell me I deserve it, I disagree.” That may be hard to believe when the home boasts some of the latest consumer technology available on the market today. Delores’s new home includes everything from a full security system including splash-resistant outdoor cameras to a full energy management solution, allowing the family to monitor their real-time energy usage through graphs on their TVs while music, movies and TV are accessed by one remote control connected to a centralized equipment rack in the basement. Shawn Lemay, President of the Buffalo based company Sound & Theater, the company who integrated the solution believes technology can only help provide tools necessary to aid Delores and her vision, “Any technology that can help improve a lifestyle while reducing costs can only benefit a family. Inner city kids, for example, that were given laptops and internet access saw dramatic increases in their testing scores while improving their overall attitude and thus in turn keeping them out of trouble. I can only see technology, such as this, improving their lifestyle and making the ease of obtaining information much easier.” Delores is using resources like these to lead her community towards continued change on the west side, a vision she has had since she moved in. She has since started hosting community
{
}
“We come into this world with nothing and when we leave we take nothing with us.”
meetings in her home strategizing around their next project. Delores stated, “Living in the neighborhood I always believed there would be change. I had a vision when I came here of what this place could be on Massachusetts Avenue, a beautiful street with beautiful houses and people enjoying the community. The picture I saw in my mind happened to an extent the week of Extreme Makeover, it was a giant leap forward; I know the vision I had is coming to pass. I have faith in God, if we ask anything in his name, believing that we will have it, we will. This is what
I want for the people in our neighborhood, people to be happy and children to be safe. It takes a village to raise a child.” Community living is something familiar to her after growing up in a large family in Jamaica. Delores believes she is in Buffalo for a reason, and one of those reasons is to put action behind the faith she grew up with, a faith with roots in the 7th Day Adventist Church, a denomination her grandfather helped expand in Jamaica when he built a church. Like her mother who prayed three times daily, Delores believes God is able to take her through the rough times and come out the other side, “Unless God provided it would not be possible, when that faith starts to play out in your life you realize how important it is and then faith begins to work for you. It doesn’t matter where you come from, faith moves God.” The momentum from last fall’s makeover is still lingering on the city streets in Buffalo’s changing west side. According to Powell, “If you come on the block now you can’t find a piece of trash,
it’s beautiful. There is much more to be done but it’s going to happen. Believing is the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for. People are out cleaning the streets. There are a lot of people that are happy about what has been done and we are going to continue the work.” As for her future, Delores plans with her new husband, Kevin Tyson to continue her vision of working towards a better, safer, and cleaner community on the west side. She is also working on two books, is planning on studying communications at Canisus College and is working at Niagara Lutheran as a CNA nurse seeing up to 20 patients per night. She is needless to say inspired by what has happened over the last 6 months but her job is far from over. One thing is certain, her faith is sure as she herself said, “God holds our future and rules our destiny. What God predestined to happen is going to happen!”
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DESIGNED FOR PERFECT
{ LOVE }
Robert Cousins 35
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T
he human conception of love is constantly changing. Cultural understanding and representation of this most innately human emotion is enduringly expressed through literature. Indeed, literature often functions as a mirror held up to society, illuminating this or a bygone era. Medieval literature, for instance, features numerous examples of what is today called “Love at first sight.” Two characters are introduced to each other and instantly fall in love. Their marital happily-ever-after is a foregone conclusion. There is no depth to the relationship, no apparent impetus save serendipity. One early instance of this motif arises in the 11th century Welsh folktales The Mabinogi. The first branch of The Mabinogi, “Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed,” sees the titular Welshman encounter the goddess Rhiannon while out in the country. She is, “Dressed in brilliant gold silk brocade” and Pwyll’s first impression of her is that, “The faces of all the maidens he had ever seen were unpleasant compared with her face.” i After exchanging merely five lines of conversation, including introductory pleasantries, Pwyll declares to Rhiannon, “If I could choose from all the women and maidens in the world, ‘tis you I would choose.”ii Soon thereafter, the two marry and start a family. Pwyll and Rhiannon, without any prior acquaintance, fall instantaneously in love with each other and move quickly toward settling down together. This episode is representative of many of the courtships that take place in medieval literature. Ubiquity suggests cultural acceptability.
If poems and folktales contain consistent depictions of love, then this representation must strike a familiar chord with the audience. If love were portrayed in an unreasonable or foreign way, there would surely be some kind of backlash against the poets. The fact that there was no change in literary convention speaks volumes. Contemporary culture departs dramatically from medieval times in its perception of romantic love. Love is placed on a rarified pedestal, shrouded in mystique and exalted to the point of becoming a societal fascination. This enthrallment has grown to such heights that romantic fulfillment is now embodied in the “soul mate,” the perfect person who is absolutely compatible on every possible level of desirability. Whereas medieval lovers would fall in love and marry following a chance encounter, the search for the perfect partner has grown to nearly obsessive proportions in modern times. Prospective mates are now scrutinized and evaluated for suitability before any lasting emotional commitment is extended. A potential partner must possess a preponderance of desirable qualities. Popular Internet dating website Eharmony. com, for example, boasts that it matches its clients based on “29 Dimensions” of compatibility.III This is the byproduct of a culture that proceeds warily, wading rather than falling into love and marriage. Providential meetings between two strangers, leading to lasting love at first sight, are simply no longer the romantic standard.
Prospective mates are now scrutinized and evaluated for suitability before any lasting emotional commitment is extended.
The stark difference between these approaches is not the result of any dynamic quality intrinsic to romance. Rather, the shift from one end of the spectrum to the other represents mankind’s collective dissatisfaction with the various versions of romantic love that have developed. What we’ve had, quite simply, hasn’t worked. Over the centuries and across cultures, humanity has mounted a quest for a new, better way to understand love. But perhaps the answer is not a new and better way to understand love, but rather a new and better love to understand. Sheldon Vanauken, author of the National Book Award-winning autobiography A Severe Mercy, once wrote to C.S. Lewis with the observation that happiness was found in timelessness. It was the pressure of time—always passing, always weighing on you—that stood in opposition to true Joy. Lewis’s reply to Vanauken, who was not yet a Christian, also sheds light on the question of mankind’s dissatisfaction with the seemingly inconstant essence of love. He writes, “Do fish complain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that fact itself not strongly suggest that they had not always been, or would not always be, purely aquatic creatures? Notice how we are perpetually surprised at Time . . . why? Unless, indeed, there is something in us which is not temporal.”iv Lewis identifies Vanauken’s unease with time as evidence that he, and indeed all of humanity, had not always been and would not always be living within time. Indeed, man was created for eternity. But in order for this creation to take place, there must first have been a Creator who Himself dwelt in eternity. Lewis’s mode of analysis applies equally well to love. If his exchange with Vanauken points to the existence of a Creator, then examining love similarly can shed light on His character. Consider the broad evolution
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of mankind’s perception of romantic love. If human beings were intended to aspire only and always to earthly romantic love, then why do we feel such gnawing discomfort with it? The answer is that humanity was not intended to experience romance as the highest form of love. Just as Vanauken’s resistance to time demonstrates that man was originally designed for timelessness, our modern resistance to past forms of romantic love shows that we were created to experience love as something greater. And when considering that for which we were created, it is wise to start with the Creator Himself. The apostle John writes, “Love comes from God . . . because God is love.”v Indeed, love is the driving force of the entire Gospel narrative. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”vi Love is an intrinsic part of God’s character. Whatever earthly imitation we are able to muster will never perfectly reproduce its source, but we can still actively participate in God’s divine love all the same. During the Upper Room Discourse after the Last Supper, Jesus gave his disciples instruction in doing precisely that. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”vii Not only did Jesus emphasize the selfsacrificial nature of love, though, but he lived out this teaching too. He demonstrated the fullness of self-sacrificial love—and its union with divine love—by dying on the Cross to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins. Obedience to God and His commands is the primary duty of every human being. But this goes far beyond simple subservience; obedience to God’s commands is how we demonstrate our love for him. “He who
has my commands and obeys them,” Jesus tells the disciples, “he is the one who loves me . . . he who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”viii We may not be able to generate the holy, divine love that God bears us, but we can fully participate in that love through study and obedience to God’s Word. This standard helps to put our collective dissatisfaction with erotic love into better perspective. Undeniably, romance has an abundance of pleasant and positive qualities. Chief among these, however, is actually our awareness that romance is ultimately inadequate to meet our thirst for being known and loved. Through this realization, we are given poignant evidence that humanity was created to enjoy a greater, perfect, divine love, that of union with God Himself ! END NOTES: i The Mabinogi. Trans. Patrick K. Ford. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1977. 42, 45. ii Ibid., 45. iii Eharmony.com home page. 1 Dec. 2009. iv Lewis, Clive Staples. Letter to Sheldon Vanauken. 23 Dec. 1950. Reprinted in Vanauken, Sheldon. A Severe Mercy. New York: Harper and Row, 1980. 93. v 1 John 4:7-8. vi John 3:16 vii John 15:13-14 viii John 14: 21, 24
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Music has that uncanny ability to sooth the soul, inspire the heart, and engage the mind simultaneously. We listen to music to change our mood, get motivated, or in this circumstance, fuel our faith. LiFT, a band out of Hamburg, NY, plays not for fame or money but what they consider to be an act of worship. THRiVE! writer Valerie Nicholas sat down with three members of LiFT recently to find out why they do what
LiFT
they do. Band members include Trevor Kaufman-vocals/acoustic guitar, Brandon Gollwitzer-electric guitar, Tony Cipriano-electric guitar, Matt Mackiewicz-bass guitar/keys and Gary Bianchi-drums. LIFT WAS OFFICIALLY FORMED IN 2006, WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO START THE BAND? BRANDON Once we began playing together, it became pretty clear that there was a unique chemistry
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between us. In my experience, it is rare to get musicians with such diverse musical influences to gel together with such a like minded vision for leading people to the foot of the cross. TREVOR The band really just fell together. It was a very collective process and it moved from just being Sunday morning worship, to a “working band” pretty much on its own. It just sort of fell into place. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ROCK MUSIC RATHER THAN CHOIR GOSPEL TO EXPRESS YOUR FAITH?
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT INSPIRE YOUR SONGWRITING?
Hub. We are hoping to have it available in more stores soon.
BRANDON I have always identified best with people through songs, and I think that is what drew me into songwriting. I tend to write about things I am learning in my own life.
DOES THE SONGWRITING, RECORDING, LIVE SHOWS PLUS DAY JOBS SOMETIMES FEEL TOO OVERWHELMING?
TREVOR Topics we are dealing with in the youth department (at Hamburg Wesleyan) and what the students at The Hub are going through really move us to write a lot of our songs.
BRANDON This is what we love to do. I work really hard to balance my family life and my work with the band.
MATT Things we’re dealing with in our own lives as we’re walking with God and learning what it is to be a Christian. We pray that these songs are inspired and other people relate to them and see their own circumstances and the circumstances of the world in them.
MATT How we play, and I think this applies to all musicians, is an extension of our personality - our own voice. So the band’s sound is a blending of each one of us, and that turns out to sound like rock music. We also think it relates a lot better to the people we are trying to reach.
IS YOUR CD SOLD IN STORES? BRANDON Our album is available as a download at all of the major online stores like iTunes, AmazonMP3, and Naptser. (Search “LiFT Worship Band”) Actual CD’s can be purchased from CDBaby.com or locally at the
TREVOR It really suits all of our strengths and it’s an overall style we personally can relate to. It also relates very well to the students we are ministering to on a weekly basis.
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MATT While I also have a “real job”, I love playing music and I’d like to think it’s a gift God has given me. So using that gift for him is an honor and privilege. DO YOU PLAN ON TOURING? BRANDON The release of our album has yielded tremendous opportunities for us to connect with new people, and we really hope that continues. We have played several venues and events out of state over the past year, and are booking dates now for the next 12 months. It has been really exciting to see people outside of the Buffalo area connect with us. Right now a traditional tour is tough
for us to schedule because we all have day jobs and families, but we really just want to be faithful to the opportunities God puts before us. So we’ll see what the future brings! TREVOR All the guys have full time careers, other than myself. We do however love playing one day shows and weekend retreats. We love the multi day events, over weekends, where we are actually able to connect with those in attendance a bit more than we could on a full scale tour with multiple shows a week. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR A SECOND CD? MATT While we’re still “recovering” from the first CD, I think we still have a lot of creative energy between us. It’s just a matter of time before that starts flowing out again!
James Giles The CEO of Back to Basics Outreach Ministries is set on turning Buffalo’s blight into hope this summer with the first annual Kingdom Vision event, an event that may be Buffalo’s biggest outdoor event hosted in Niagara Square. James Giles is calling on service providers, churches, not-for-profits, ministries, and individuals to combat the depression in Buffalo with a collaborative effort this summer. The free event is scheduled for July 17 from 12-9pm and features an impressive line up of speakers including Nicky Cruz and musicians including Buffalo’s own 500 voice Rise Up Choir. We sat down with him recently for a brief interview regarding his plans.
Your event is scheduled for July 17th in Niagara Square. Your expecting thousands to attend with Nicky Cruz as one of your main speakers, what are you trying to accomplish through Kingdom Vision? Kingdom vision is a response to two events that have taken place in the city of Buffalo. First off, there is a spirit that exists in Buffalo that says, “We can’t work together unless there is a tragedy involved.” We want to combat that by establishing a community that is willing to work together all the time to prevent things from happening. So Kingdom Vision is a response to address that problem. The other problem is the decrease in the number of dollars available for human service programs. The community is feeling a little depressed about that and no one is providing any answers that they can wrap their minds around. Kingdom Vision is an effort or collaboration to bring the community together to say, listen we are going to do something to help. How many organizations are working with you? We have about 10-12 organizations working with us. A number of big agencies that are saying, yes we can come together to help in an ongoing way. We want to set up a community collaboration to respond to the needs in our city. You mentioned Kingdom Vision serving as a catalyst to get things moving. Can you talk about that? The event itself, Kingdom Vision as a concert is just a catalyst to get us all together. On the day of the event it will be a concert atmosphere. We are going to have music, entertainment, public speakers who are going to come with a message of inspiration, hope and information to advise and let people know there are a lot of services still available and many of them will be at the event but it brings everybody to the table and then we can discuss what we can do ongoing to combat some of the conditions in the city of Buffalo. Why is it important to work together for change in Buffalo? It is a biblical principle that says, “One can send a thousand to flight, two can send ten thousand to flight.” Which tells me what we can do by ourselves no where compares to what we can accomplish if we unite our forces together, if we unite our resources together and bring those resources to bear. We can turn this community around spiritually. We want to give a message of hope where there is depression and frustration. We want to send some inspiration and let people know, “hey we are a good city, we are the city of good neighbors, and we can come together and turn things around.” What do you see happening after the event? There will be a lot of buzz around what happened and more so behind the scenes there will be a huge effort to connect with this experience. The experience is- here is a group of people representing the city of Buffalo and they have the well being of the city at heart and they are scrambling to put together an effort to solve some of the city’s problems beyond government and beyond our own agency agenda. We are going to come together and do this on an ongoing way and we are going to be looking at some of the projects that need to be supported. We are starting a movement to all year round bring change in our community!
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refugee Ryan S. Kozey, PhD 43
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Buffalo’s Growing Population of Refugees { & HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM } Throughout the year 2010, it is estimated that roughly 2,000 refugees will find a place to live in the city of Buffalo1. What’s ironic about this trend is that most of the people of Western New York simply aren’t aware. The city of Buffalo is undergoing a demographic shift, the likes of what is happening in many dying cities throughout the United States (Cleveland, Toledo, & Detroit to name a few). A predominant picture of refugee growth in Buffalo can be seen on the lower west side where a significant Burmese population is budding.
Recently, I examined what services existed in the city to help with the burgeoning refugee population. There are a handful of organizations that have thrown their hat into the ring to help serve this particular community of newcomers, most notably, the International Institute, Jericho Road Ministries, Peace of the City, Journey’s End, Catholic Charities, and Jewish Family Services. When inquiring as to key ways to serve newcomer refugees to the city, Molly Short, Executive Director of Journey’s End noted language training, practical education, job development, employment servicing, healthcare, and overall orientation to a drastically new environment were desperately needed. This reality speaks to the need to address the very basics of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs2, which start with the need to accommodate for basic physiological as well as safety and security needs.
Short points out that many in Western New York simply don’t understand what the term refugee means. Specifically, she points out that refugees are not here illegally, they strive to be independent, they work here in the United States legally, and they are not here to convert people. Essentially, they are pursuing a life in which to sustain their existence. People can abuse the system, but that is simply not an issue among refugees. The makeup of refugees is diverse. Short pointed out a number of cultural groups that she is actively working with at Journey’s End—Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali, Sudanese, Bhutanese, and Congolese. The list goes on, but the mosaic mentioned here should suffice. Given Short’s mention of misperception of refugees among people within Western New York, there is pause for some to propose the question, in somewhat annoyed tone, “Why
are these people here?” That very question was asked recently of Short as she was involved in helping a refugee seek treatment for a mental breakdown. After biting her tongue, Short stayed the course in providing the correct help for the person. Regardless, the comment spoke profoundly of a lack of understanding. The landscape of the city of Buffalo is changing. The responsibility of the people is not. Organizations are taking this responsibility seriously and coming to aid but perhaps greater than the question of why refugees are here, “What is our responsibility to serve this growing people group?” Short had a very interesting take. To her, it’s more than simply throwing money at a problem. She cited Hamburg Wesleyan Church’s impact in the city as being one above and beyond both simply throwing money at problems and proselytizing. This
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is at the heart of my perspective as to the solve of helping to love and serve the refugee population, and to a greater extent, all people in our geographic context (be it rural, suburban, or urban). If we are to truly make a noticeable impact and be intentional about our geography, we need an honest selfexamination. First, what is our level of willingness to inherit the problems of the context that we find ourselves in? In this particular context, are we willing to embrace the reality of the influx of refugees (and their needs) into the city? Further, are we willing to own that the responsibility, a responsibility above and beyond simply giving someone a Gospel tract, a few dollars, and washing our hands of the outcome? My sense is that the solve here is more profound than that. At some point, people need to inherit the city—not just the art, the culture, and the food; rather, the underbelly of it as well. Ultimately, I think it is appropriate to ask if our heart truly does break for the brokenness of the city—be it spiritual, infrastructure, or physiological need. If the genesis of the journey is forged within that question, I’m hopeful of the outcome. Short mentioned that if people do want to come and volunteer at Journey’s End, it’s her hope that they are there for more than simply their experience and the opportunity to proselytize. I can see her line of reasoning. The entry point of dialogue
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about faith in today’s culture espouses different methodologies. I see love and service speaking volumes, offering people a sense of presence. The presence to love and serve does, I believe, beg the question, “What is different about you?” It is in that presence one can proclaim the difference.
“We must not forget that the mosaic of people here is all the more diverse and beautiful with refugee settlement.” Hopefully, our proclamation is in the doctrine of changed lives through Jesus Christ. A final question to consider is this: “What would it look like if every man, woman, and child had a repeated opportunity to hear and see the Gospel?”3 Profound as the question may be, it really is something to build our directional compass around. Understanding the differences in various churches and denominations, the infrastructure of people into a community ultimately will display the willingness (or lack thereof) of a faith community to do something about the
physiological and spiritual need in the city of Buffalo. The challenge for the church however, is if they can rise above their distinctives and instead rally around their points of common ground. This is not a radical call to throw the proverbial baby (doctrine) out with the bathwater. Rather, it is an opportunity for the church to examine the value of key non-negotiable points of agreement with peripheral points of doctrinal contention and disagreement. If considered too complex, my rebuttal is that no one said that this was going to be easy. In sum, people in Buffalo need to come into contact with the Gospel on repeated occasions, seeing, hearing, and experiencing it. We must not forget that the mosaic of people here is all the more diverse and beautiful with refugee settlement. The influence of Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somali, Congolese, Sudanese, and Bhutanese culture (to name a few) are a part of the DNA of the city that could be loved and served in such a manner that begs the question, “What is different about you?” The greater question is will you rise up to meet such needs! 1 | Personal communication with Molly Short, Executive Director of Journey’s End Refugee Services 2 | Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50, pp. 370. 3 | Question derived from Renovation video and workbook series through Dr. Dwight Smith. For more information, see: http:// www.theinfinityalliance.com
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ENTREPRENEURS: Matthew L. Brown
Why Buffalo Needs Them
The City of Buffalo’s economy is showing signs of
Avoiding these common snares, there are
based, and technology driven economy, there are
recovery and incremental growth. Experts tell us
immeasurable rewards to starting and running
a myriad of opportunities that abound for small
the way forward in a sluggish economy is through
your own business including a sense of self
business owners. The government, business and
the rough and tumble risk of small business
accomplishment, creativity and opportunity of
financial sector of the city provides another bevy
ventures. In fact, the Small Business Administration
limitless income and the resulting freedom.
of opportunity for small business owners. The
reported America’s largest employer is small
The City of Buffalo’s economy thrives off of small
construction of the new IRS Building on Elmwood,
business. In the U.S. they employ more than
business owners. Drive down Elmwood, Hertel
the new Federal Court House and the Delaware/
half of the private workforce and are the primary
or Jefferson Avenue and you will find that niche
Chippewa corridor is experiencing revitalization
exporters. This fact coupled with the opportunity
business models are thriving from restaurants to
as developers continue to provide new housing
for growth in Western New York make today an
boutique shops to creative retail and everything
opportunities in the downtown area. Empty
opportune time to start a business despite the risk,
in between. Buffalo’s small business sector
here’s why.
has maintained its prominent profile for several
“
With massive layoffs,
One of the effects of the latest recession has
decades. Our independent study has found that
been a reconsideration of one’s personal economic
since 2006 the City of Buffalo has announced $4.5
security. With massive layoffs, foreclosures
billion dollars worth of projects, those projects
and volatile market shifts, more Americans are
welcome small businesses who can supply, source
considering renewing the pioneering independent
and resource various parts of the construction
are considering renewing the
spirit of entrepreneurialism. Admittedly there is
related initiative thus increasing opportunity for
pioneering independent spirit of
risk in starting a small business. The SBA has
small business capacity building and expansion.
entrepreneurialism.
foreclosures and volatile
market shifts, more Americans
”
cited that after five years only 50% of business
Recently Turner Construction sponsored a
launches are successful. For small businesses
multi-session class for minority businesses in
in 2009 there were 672,200 business starts and
construction related projects to learn how to bid
nesters, young urban professionals and students
595,600 business closures and of the closures
jobs. Over 30 graduates were celebrated and
are repopulating the downtown corridor and driving
43,546 ended in bankruptcy. Consider some of the
now have the skills to bid on paramount projects
the demand for new products and services to be
frequent mistakes that attribute to an early closure.
within the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
introduced and consumed.
and Waterfront projects. I know for certain
1. Inability of management to reach decisions and act on them 2. Bad relations with suppliers and customers 3. Bad budgeting, over borrowing and using too much credit 4. Reluctance or inability to seek professional assistance 5. Under pricing goods sold 6. Illness of key personnel
The City of Buffalo has placed a premium on
that many eastside churches are doing major
those small business risk takers by providing a city
and minor rehabilitation and new construction
department dedicated to assist in the creation,
projects to enhance the communities they
capacity building and in some cases financing of
serve. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to work
the business. For information on how to grow your
with community organizations, churches and
business in the city go to www.city-buffalo.org and
developers to source, consult, construct, and
look at the economic development page.
provide labor, janitorial services, management
Buffalo needs a new breed of entrepreneur. Are
services and the like to these pending projects.
you one of them!
As the City of Buffalo moves towards a service
*(source from www.focus.com)
5¢
Summer Campaign Overview Summer is hot, but life can still be cold for the poor and homeless. Your support of “Quench Their Thirst for Hope” can make this a summer of healing and hope for our neighbors in need.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: From June 1st through August 31st we’re challenging our community to collect as many plastic bottles or cans as possible and take them to the nearest grocery store for the $.05 refund. Then donate your refund to the Buffalo City Mission’s “Quench Their Thirst for Hope” campaign. Every 1,200 bottles recycled will provide 31 meals for our neighbors in need.
TO DONATE: Mail your donation or grocery store return receipt to the Buffalo City Missionn at 100 E. Tupper Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, c/o “Summer Bottle Challenge,” or visit www.buffalocitymission.org to make an online donation. When you do, tell us how you and your church, youth groups/clubs of all ages, school, business, friends or family took the “Summer Bottle Challenge.” The most compelling story will be featured on our website and newsletter, and the best photo/story will be shared with our local media outlets.
5¢
per bottle or CAN
Our goal To provide 63,000 meals during the 90 days of summer
Visit www.buffalocitymission.org to get a “Summer Bottle Challenge” form. For those who do not wish to take the challenge, please visit our website today to make a generous donation. A gift of just $19.80 will provide 10 meals for those who might otherwise not eat at all.
POVERTY: Stuart Harper
the Relationship Between Drugs and Poverty Drug abuse is happening right now. From the inner city to the suburbs and out to the rural community, drug abuse is happening as you read this. The drug abuse we are confronted with at the Buffalo City Mission often comes from an attempt by our clients to cover up pain from their past that many times is driving their present behavior. They may have been abused, hurt, or neglected as a child, think about it – even as adults we look at our past and remember vividly pain that we experienced years ago as if it happened yesterday. Painful memories, if allowed, can drive our behavior and reveal feelings of inadequacy. Drug abuse and related addictions live within a large percentage of our population at the Mission. Addictive usage has to be stopped before our clients can have any hope of changing their lives. How do we do it at the Mission? We don’t, God does. I mean it. Men and women come to us after years of addictive behavior broken, hurt and hopeless-by ourselves we can do little to end their history of addiction, but Jesus can do anything and we see it daily. Our clients often come to us for a meal, a bed and maybe even some clean clothes which are all made available through the generosity of our Western New York supporters. Our clients come not with hope but pure hunger and exhaustion. Our staff offer these men and women a message of hope through their actions, smiles and kind words; men talking to men and women talking to women – Jesus works through each of their actions. Think about it – if you were down and out, who knows your plight better then someone who walked through it? No games, no lies – just the bare honest truth. Some stay and some leave but often they come back and ask questions. No tricks, no gimmicks – just God working through men and women helping other men and women. The men and women who come to the Mission are little different from you and I. When they were born someone
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was excited they were alive, the pictures were taken, everyone was brimming with pride; and then life happened. Many times issues they couldn’t control affected them – where they lived, the food they had or didn’t have, the healthcare they received or didn’t receive, love they received or didn’t receive. When you were young did you know someone cared for and loved you? What if the answer to that question was no? How would you feel? How confident would you be when you went to school? How excited about life would you be? You just wanted to be loved. What if your love came from someone who used you? Someone who made you work for them? For some any love is better then no love. Our answer to the situation our clients find themselves in is to provide them with someone they can trust and who never lies, someone who is always with them; someone who loves them unconditionally – and that someone is Jesus Christ. He will always be with them – He will provide love, hope, forgiveness and guidance when we sincerely seek him. We at the Mission guide our men and women to walk in Jesus Christ’s path. We teach them how to live a life He approves and how to pass on His restoration to others. We teach that Jesus was crucified for our salvation and we celebrate that by sharing it with others. Please pray for the men, women and children who find themselves living in poverty. You can also volunteer your time and provide financial support to organizations that reach out to the homeless. Any amount helps. We get donations that range from two quarters taped to a 3x5 card to large personal checks. You can also get involved through the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brother, Big Sister or any organization working to end poverty. If you aren’t sure what to do call me and I will try and help. God bless!
Leadership 101. Get the FUD Out. Dr. Robert Stearns & Dr. Larry Keefauver In this issue, I’m joined by my dear friend and associate, Dr. Larry Keefauver, in sharing with you some important insights about effective leadership. Our friend, Dr. Keith Johnson, is called America’s Confidence Coach. One of his favorite sayings when writing or speaking on Leadership is, Get the FUD Out. So, what’s FUD? FUD is: Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. So, exactly how do we get the FUD out? Well, first it starts with a mindset.
1. Begin with servant leadership. Unsuccessful leaders look for people to follow and serve them. Their actions, if not their words, imply, “Follow me. I am the best.” Consequently, leading is all about them—what they want and how others can help them get it. Being around such a leader is draining and demanding. Effective and successful leaders look for people to serve. Their words and action paint this picture, “How can I serve you? You are the best.” Being around a successful servant leader is: energizing, encouraging and enthusing. Leading has a lot to do with loving. Leading has to do with wanting the best – we would say God’s best – for others and yourself. In loving God, others and myself, I want to serve in a way that brings out the best in others as well as myself. It’s a win-win style that encourages people instead of discouraging people. A servant leader finds
ways to serve others who are willing follow a leader who is other-centered instead of being self-centered. What hinders a leader from being successful and effective? Quite simple, it’s FUD! 2. Then, get the FUD out… Again, here are the simple, age-old culprits: FEAR – of failure, rejection and inadequacy. UNCERTAINTY- relating to my future, my potential, my ability. DOUBT– the truth, the product, the service, the leadership, the reality. The greatest paralysis of Confidence, Commitment & Creativity is fear including The Fear of Failure, The Fear of Rejection, and The Fear of the Unknown A piece of ancient, biblical wisdom I try to remind myself of often is this: “Perfect love casts out all fear.” Friends, we can only overcome fear with love; with desiring the best for the other person. Simply put, success is: loving God, loving others, and loving yourself.
What about the second aspect of FUD, which is uncertainty. Uncertainty is a mindset of unwillingness and lack. When a leader is stopped by uncertainty, he or she is unwilling to believe reality and unwilling to decide to act upon truth and trust others. A leader overcomes uncertainty by beginning to trust. Trust the truth, trust your team, God and yourself. Trust and faith overcome uncertainty. Without faith, it’s impossible to fulfill God’s plans and purpose for your life- to serve and to lead God’s way. The final aspect of FUD is Doubt, which leads to frustration and sometimes depression. Doubt refuses to risk, it rejects the new and will not trust the truth. Doubt sabotages growth while speaking, believing and listening to negative, reports and people. Doubt destroys hope. The successful servant leader overcomes doubt by choosing hope. Hope is confident assurance that you can finish strong. Hope envisions the goal and walks through the path to get there—inch by inch it’s a cinch, mile by mile it’s a trial. Hope encourages a team—
together we are stronger. What will most encourage and empower you as a successful servant leader is to avoid intimidating through fear, dominating through control, manipulating through abuse and legislating through legalism. Such people destroy relationships and the ability to lead when they use these abusive tools. Instead, be a servant leader who communicates and cares. Be a servant leader who affirms, reproduces, empowers, executes, focuses and finishes. You can begin maturing and growing in your leadership today by getting the FUD out and choosing to associate with leaders who share your values, attitudes and actions. Look around, find someone to serve and discover that they in turn will team with you to lead others from success to significance in impacting our city, region and culture for good!
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JAMES MACDONALD
CHARLES STANLEY DAVID JEREMIAH
JAMES DOBSON
JOHN MACARTHUR CHUCK SWINDOLL
STEVE BROWN DAVE RAMSEY WEEKDAYS 1-3 PM
MARTIN DEHAAN
ALISTAIR BEGG J. VERNON MCGEE
CHARLES PRICE NEIL BORON WEEKDAYS 3-6 PM
WOODROW KROLL
JUNE HUNT
BUFFALO 99.5 FM WDCX Radio, www.WDCXfm.com 625 Delaware Avenue, Suite 308, Buffalo, NY 14202, (716) 883-3010, (716) 883-3606 fax ROCHESTER 990 AM WDCX Radio, www.WDCXam.com 625 Delaware Avenue, Suite 308, Buffalo, NY 14202, (716) 883-3010, (716) 883-3606 fax
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