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Covenant Communtiy Services Inc. presents the...
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Hart Park, Bakersfield, CA
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Any MTB riders are encouraged to particpate!!
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Please check out the link below for registration details:
-------------- Foothill Classic MTB Race
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GOING
GLOCAL
...in Tanzania,
Africa
Please keep Randy in your prayers as he will be in Tanzania for 10 days at the end of January/beginning of February to launch the partnership in Tanzania and meet with government officials.
Here are some links to help further explain the need for foster care in Tanzania and the position we hold on partnering with regards to foster care.
Directly below are some statistics on Tanzania that may interest you. |
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Some Tanzanian Statistics:
Half of Tanzania's 16 million children are not in school, nor are they learning life skills or employment skills
10 percent of first pregnancies in Tanzania occur in girls 15 years of age and below
Over one million Tanzanians are HIV positive and there are estimated to be 65,000 babies who have been born seropositive for HIV
Children affected by AIDS in Tanzania are estimated to number more than 800,000
The number of AIDS orphans in Tanzania is estimated to be more than one million
As early as 1994 it was estimated that, in some regions of Tanzania, up to 8.3 percent of newborn babies were born HIV-infected. Most of these children die before their second birthday
Two and a half million Tanzanian children under five years old are malnourished
Every day 450 children die in Tanzania, largely due to preventable diseases combined with malnutrition
43 percent of Tanzanian children are stunted in growth, 31 percent are underweight, and 45 percent are anemic
30 percent of all school age children in Tanzania are deficient in Vitamin A, which is the leading cause of blindness and preventable childhood illnesses
Malaria is the leading killer of children under the age of 5 and it accounts for 15 percent of child deaths in Tanzania
rt a "read
Pneumonia kills 38,000 children in Tanzania every year. |
BUILDING BLOCKS
Kristin entered Building Blocks on August 26, 2008. She will complete our program at the end of this month.
Since moving in, she has graduated from San Joaquin College as a nursing assistant. She has also assisted in two different offices in her field. She has been a model tenant and has always encouraged others to not give up. Receiving a Section 8 Voucher from the Housing Authority is one of the benefits to completing the Building Blocks program. She has opted not to receive this voucher since she feels she will be able to support herself and wants those funds to be available to others who may need it more.
She has been accepted into the Nursing Program in Napa Valley and will be moving into the dorms there. We are very proud of Kristin, considering only two percent of emancipated youth complete college. She asked if we could please keep her in our prayers and we will keep you informed on her progress. J
--Mark Williams, Building Blocks |
 Once a month, Covenant Community Services sends out a newsletter to partners and volunteers detailing the different programs and services that Covenant provides, and how they impact and provide hope to individuals in the community.
I would like to share with you how CARENET brings hope and encouragement to families regaining custody of their children, as well as foster youth aging out of the system, trying to make it on their own.
CARENET is designed to establish relationships between people in distressed situations and the church community and body of Christ. CARENET provides the necessities: beds, dressers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishes, couches etc..., for those in need. For example, we are currently working with a single mother who has 10 kids and is in need of a few of beds. This where the connection happens and the hope begins.
We bring beds and share with the client who we are and what we do, and before we leave, pray with them. It's a pretty simple formula to reach a population that is behind the scenes and forgotten about. The next step, and the more difficult task, is to connect them with the local church in hopes that they will establish healthy relationships, and most of all begin a relationship with the King of Kings.
There are hurting people all over our county and we all need to do our part to see Gods kingdom here on earth.
One last thing, if you have gently used beds, dressers, refrigerators, etc. and have no use for them, please give us a call and we will come out and pick it up!! In addition, we will provide you with a tax-deductible receipt!! Thank you for all your prayers and continued support! Blessings!!!
--Kevin Codd, CARENET |
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TODAY!
Covenant needs your help! If you would like to invest in the work of Covenant, become a prayer partner or a volunteer, please visit our website or call the office.
Call 326-8304
for more information or to donate online! | |
Greetings!
Dear Friend,
Going Glocal ... I am thrilled to share the news of the launch of Covenant Foster Care of Tanzania! On January 26th, I will head to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to meet with government officials, Covenant staff, local church leaders, the Director of Kurasini Orphanage, and future foster parents. It is amazing to watch God not only open this door but usher us in. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 16:9 talked about such opportunities of faith, "because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me."
Glocal is the combination of two words - global and local. We use glocal to describe our mission that takes us from our Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) On the home front, Covenant is launching two new ministries. One is a "Horse Program" to provide recreational horsemanship opportunities to former foster youth and foster children for the development of their self-worth and awareness. The other launch is the partnership of Covenant Foster Care of Covina with Arrow Ministries (www.arrow.org) for increased development of foster care services in Los Angeles County and Southern California.
God is great! He is opening doors and developing the team to walk through them in His grace! I am privileged and humbled to lead such an endeavor. Thank you for your partnership and prayer. Please check out our new website www.covenantcs.net
P.S. Be on the lookout for Covenant Coffee in the near future - a strategic plan to provide jobs, careers, and development both here and abroad! Also, don't forget to check out the new Covenant gear including "I've Gone Glocal" and "Hope Lives Here" t-shirts.
For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin, CEO |
THP+ ALERT
THP-Plus Alert
Take Action to Protect THP-Plus in the State Budget
This past week, Governor Schwarzenegger released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010-11. Among his budget proposals was the complete elimination of THP-Plus funding if the state is unable to secure an additional $6.9 billion in federal funding. Other programs slated for complete cuts include CalWORKs, In Home Supportive Services, and the Healthy Families program.
Get Involved to Protect THP-Plus!
Please join us in telling the legislature to protect THP-Plus.
1.Call your state legislators
Phone calls and letters to elected officials make a difference. You can find out who you represents you in the State Assembly and State Senate by visiting http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. Ask to speak to the staffperson that handles foster care issues, and express your concern about the Governor's proposal.
2.Write a letter to Speaker-elect John Pérez
Last month, the California State Assembly elected John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) as the next Speaker of the Assembly. As a community, it is time to educate the Speaker-elect about the importance of THP-Plus, and to ask for his commitment to protecting this vital program.
Download a sample letter by clicking here. After you have sent your letter, please send a copy to the John Burton Foundation by e-mailing michele@johnburtonfoundation.org or sending a fax to (415) 348-0099.
3.Write an email & call the senators. Please click the names below for direct links to their contact page:
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The Blind Side
I recently went to see the movie "The Blind Side." I saw it twice actually.
For those who do not know, it is the story of Michael Oher, a homeless
African-American youngster from a broken home. He is taken in by the
Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the
same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some
insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. It is a wonderful and inspiring film that shows a family helping an abused and neglected youth find hope and love! Go see it!
Mentors Make a Difference
One of our Mentors reported that he brought his mentee to his home to experience Christmas Eve with his family. They went to church. This gave them an opportunity to explain Communion and share the true meaning of Christmas. The young man told Darren, his mentor, that he was the only person he bought a gift for this Christmas. It is obvious that Darren is making and impact on this young man's life. And the Mentee is making and impact on Darren and his family!
January is National Mentor Month!
"Because we continue to face tremendous demand for caring mentors for America's youth, this resolution is particularly important. Mentoring Month is an opportunity to recognize the positive impact of mentoring, recruit new volunteers and honor the contributions of the millions of mentors and organizations across the country that empower our youth," Congresswoman McCollum said.
Thank you for being a partner in providing Hope and Love through Mentoring!
Upcoming events:
Jeremiah Mentoring Orientation and Training
January 23rd 9am-12noon
Parkside Church,
2515 Church Ave.
Scripture for the Month:
"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. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:13-15--John Payne, Jeremiah Mentoring Project |
 David and Carmen Santiago have been foster parents for 18 years and have provided a temporary home for many children, as well as a permanent home for six children.
They decided to become foster parents when they were unable to have children. Then they realized just how rewarding it is. The children are longing for men and women in their lives who will love them, and it is such a blessing when they become attached.
Their very first placement is their favorite memory. They remember how excited they were to have this baby placed in their home. Pablo was placed in their home when he was an infant, and they went on to adopt him. Since that time, they have adopted three additional children and become legal guardians of two. They have a heart to keep siblings together and they are incredible advocates for children with special needs.
They currently have seven children in their home, ages: 18, 17, 16, 15, 8, 6, and 2. Most of them have been in their home since they were infants or toddlers. The youngest three are siblings, two brothers and a sister. All three have displayed some very difficult behaviors, as well as developmental delays, but with the help and care of David and Carmen, the two boys are thriving in school.
David and Carmen provide a home that is loving and fun, as well as structured. David stated they continue to be foster parents because, "there is a huge need for kids out there who need a dad and mom." They rely on the strength of God to help them be the advocates that the children need in order to provide them with hope and love that they can get only through Jesus.
--Becky Colaw, Case Manager |
CHOICES Transitional Housing Program (THP+)
We are more than just case managers with our THP+ emancipated foster youth. We are missionaries providing hope and love to these young people and we are making a difference!
It has been almost a year since we took over this program from the Department of Human Services and we have watched many lives begin to be transformed. We have sat with young moms in the hospital in the middle of the night while they gave birth, alone, to their first children. We have hugged and prayed with hurting youth as they try to process and overcome their painful pasts. We have partnered with churches and the local community to provide household goods to create homes for these youth and even allow some to take custody of their younger siblings, also in the system. We have helped youth to get reliable transportation and have helped youth to go back to school, to get jobs and have even watched them flourish, get raises and begin to find their place in society.
It is inspiring to watch these young men and women try to overcome their pasts and take hold of their future. Continue to pray for these youth and for the future of the THP+ program as it is being considered for complete elimination due to statewide budget cuts for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. These youth stand a chance with our support, but their lives will be in great danger without this great program. Please keep this program in your prayers and ask us how you can do a part in fighting to save it!
Prayer Requests:
--Pray for Rachel, Blessing, Anita, Maria, Kenny, & Baudelio to be newly inspired and motivated this year to get out and find employment!
--Pray for Crystal as she is still trying to gain custody of her 4 younger siblings. Her house is all ready thanks to the help of Carenet and Kaleo Fellowship Church. Pray for favor, a positive decision and a smooth transition for the family.
--Leah Garza, Director of Family Services |
CHOICES Transitional Housing Program (THP+)
Matthew was shipped off to recruit training in the Army just after the New Year. He has been a participant of CHOICES THP+ for seven months and has been a pleasure to work with. He's a timid guy and lacks the confidence that comes from having a father. However, Matt is a guy that always made an effort even though he never had any real guidance.
During this past year he was attending Bakersfield College. However, it was a real uphill battle and the odds of him graduating were not good. Matthew was taking the bus from Lamont to attend classes and he really didn't have the help or support he needed at home.
We are encouraged by Matt's courage to join the Army and continue to press on to beat the odds of succeeding and excelling in life as a former foster youth.
--For Nathanael who feels unable to care for his younger brother who is a ward of the court. Ask God that Nate may receive the heart of the Father. Ask that the younger brother my seek and find his heavenly Father who did not leave him as an orphan.
--For Luis and Vinson who need to get their driver's license in order to get jobs that are available to them.
--For Rosemary who is attempting to pass the math portion of the high school exit exam.
--For Matthew who just left for Army recruit training.
--For Christopher, Christian, Jeannette, and Eulogio who needs to find work.
--For Daniel, Abigail, Shavocia, Romein, and Junior to stay on track with school and making good decisions.
--Jonah Long, Case Manager | |
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