Last January I spent time in Washington DC as part of an advocacy conference focusing on children's issues. One of the topics discussed was SCHIP which provides health coverage to America's low income families. It is a Federal program that provides money to state run programs that actually provide the services. It is funded by a federal tax on cigarettes so it is neutral as far as the budget is concerned.
With bi-partisan support the reauthorization and expansion of the SCHIP program passed the House and the Senate earlier this month. However, it was vetoed yesterday by President Bush. Thankfully the Senate has enough votes currently to override and the house is 10 votes away. If you feel this program is important I would like to encourage you to contact your elected officials and let them know how you feel. Services are available (like this one: www.democrats.org/RejectBush) to help you identify your representatives and send them an email.
My son is insured via Ohio's version of SCHIP and I don't know if I could be a seminary without it. Many people who work in ministry also meet the requirements for SCHIP assistance. When we talk about low income workers we are not only talking about unskilled labor and service workers we are also talking about our brothers and sisters engaged in mission around the country.
Ask anyone -- slavery is illegal. Every country has passed laws stating that it is unlawful to own another human being and to exercise total control over that person’s life, work, and family. Therefore, it is shocking to discover that slavery persists in many countries around the world, including the United States. Over 27 million men, women, and children are held in slavery at this moment; whether through debt bondage in South Asia or the U.S., forced child soldiering in Central Africa, contract slavery in Brazil, classical “chattel” slavery in North Africa, or sex slavery in Thailand. In the U.S. alone, nearly 200,000 people live in slavery, and an additional 17,500 are trafficked across the border every year. Some of the most horrific stories come from the sex trafficking industry, where an estimated 2 million children are raped daily by paying customers. These women and children are typically tricked, coerced, or outright abducted into this growing criminal enterprise. The enslavement of people across the world generates almost $32 billion per year, approaching the revenues from the drug and arms trades, and rapidly becoming the most lucrative criminal enterprise in the world.
A friend of mine once said, quoting someone else I’m certain, that ‘church’ is people “doing life together.” At the time I found it to be a rather obvious statement simply crafted to remind us of the basics of life. However, as I now look back at my first year of seminary, I understand more and more the depth and breadth of those three words and discover that I have been attending church nearly daily at the Church of Kliest Manor.
The Kliest Manors are the on-campus housing here at MTSO for couples and people with children. Our cozy two-bedroom apartment became our home last August. My wife and I divested of about a third of our worldly goods to fit into our new home yet surprising have yet to feel ourselves wanting for anything left behind. Our son, dripping with natural personality at the age of one, became and instant star on campus and we were known throughout as Gavin’s parents. The fellow students were warm and welcoming and it did not take long for friendships to form.
We all suffer when we hear of news like what happened in Virginia. We all die a little when we hear of the senseless death of others. And we all ask God why this wasn’t stopped, why we don’t live in a perfect world. It may be difficult to see now but God has a plan for us. To save us from these types of tragedies. And God’s plan is us. We are to be the ones out front offering care and comfort. We are the ones who, with love and compassion, offer council to the sick of body and of mind. We are called to a holy purpose to be agents to those in need.
In the days to come blame will descend like a hawk on all those involved. The school, police, and even some fellow students will not escape summery judgment. They will be tried in court of opinion in front of us all. But we should take no part in it. We already know all we need to know. From here we must trust in God that the right people will learn what needs to be learned and not misplace our anger on whomever the media chooses to dangle before us. They will descend like wolves but it is for us to stand with the sheep, stand with those in pain.
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