How we will SHINE During a Pandemic
As global cases of COVID-19 cases continue to climb, our churches are responding and pointing out that we should not be living in a state of fear and panic- God is still in control and is not surprised by this pandemic. In fact, I believe he has been preparing Shine for this very day. I find great hope and peace in that fact.
We also know that following public-health guidelines and reducing exposure for the sake of the elderly and immunocompromised members of our communities is a vital part of loving our neighbors in this season. And we will continue to encourage our volunteers and staff to make wise, healthy decisions that includes social distancing as much as possible.
However, all that we will need to do to stay physically healthy will no doubt have downstream effects on our economic health. We know that job loss and catastrophic effects on small business are in our future. And we know that the materially poor are likely to feel the effects first and most abundantly. The families of children in our Title-1 schools are facing a serious crisis.
Shine works to reach these families through the local school, and now that schools are closed what do we do? We certainly do not close Shine for the next three weeks. In fact, God has been preparing us through our family development project to resource churches with an understanding of material poverty and the importance of proximity and relationships. We have listened over the last several days to the response of both APS and the city as well as many other organizations, we use this information to assess where there are gaps in services. WE want to find ways to hear from our families and those in need so we will know precisely what is needed. We have been in communication with APS to learn how we can best serve them at this time. It is so important that we not assume we know what people need. We must ask and we must listen.
We will not be making any long-term decisions, but will update you weekly as the situation progresses and evolves. Here is what we know as of today.
YOUR SHINE PARTNERSHIPS ARE A VITALLY NEEDED RESOURCE IN YOUR SCHOOL’S COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
Shine is not closed while the schools are closed. But Shine may look a little different. We will still be concerned with teachers, students, and families. We will be creative in how we reach these three groups. We will also be wise and keep each other safe, but we will not be afraid.
God has really been speaking to Shine’s leadership about ways to reach families in our schools. The training and preparation we have gone through over the last year has prepared us for responding to this crisis. Here are some suggestions:
Create a map of your school’s boundaries
We want to encourage your church to create a map of your school’s boundaries. This map is your current mission field. These are your kids, these are your families. We want you to own some responsibility for caring for this community during this time. Within this map highlight businesses like laundry mats, stores, gas stations, and public places where families might be doing business.
Use this link to map school boundaries:
Form a Prayer Team
Ask your volunteers and parishioners who are a high-risk population, that should not be getting out, to form your prayer team. Give them copies of this map and specific things to be praying for (teachers, students, families).
Conduct business within the school boundary when possible
Volunteers and parishioners who are healthy should be encouraged to do their business within this map whenever possible. (We are not asking them to go out unnecessarily, only to go to this boundary if the need arises) Go to the store in this boundary, buy gas in this boundary, etc. Visit the laundromat or other places families may need to access. While they are there they should be striking conversation and listening to the needs of the people in this community. Ask questions like, “What are you hearing from your neighbors about this?” “What are people afraid of?” “What do you think people need the most?” Just listen to conversations as you walk through the store and you will hear a lot of this being discussed. Again we are saying if you need to go to the store, plan to go to the store in the boundary, DO NOT make additional unnecessary trips.
Contact staff and families that you know
Reach out to your contacts from the school in the area and ask them how they are feeling and what they are hearing.
Put a post on the Nextdoor App
Add a post with your church’s information, offering to help if anyone has a need. Hang flyers in prominent places so people may contact your church.
Shop local whenever possible.
Support small businesses in your neighborhoods.
We must keep our ear to the ground in our school communities and listen to what people need. Let’s not assume we know, let’s uncover the need and build relationships in the safest ways possible. With discernment, give out your number or your churches number and tell people to share it with their neighbors who may have a need. These are the people God has given you to care for, meet needs accordingly, share what you have with one another.
APS has some specific needs:
APS is organizing distribution of food bags for families who received this assistance during the school year. They are asking for Shine churches to participate in this. Your church may:
Collect food for food bags and donate it to a collection site
Provide volunteers for food bag packing and/or distribution.
This is not the lunch distribution program. These are food bags for APS families. We may be asked to provide volunteers for the lunch programs in the near future.
**Please contact ynette@shineabq.org if your church is able to help in this way.**
We have done a lot of training regarding crisis vs chronic poverty. This is a time of crisis and we will respond accordingly, which means providing crisis relief to individuals in need. This is not a time of development. However, the far-reaching effects of this crisis will require our long-term response that will need adjustment as time goes on. We will need to continue to be an organization that cares about the long-term flourishing of those in need. We should position ourselves right now to look for gaps in services that we could fill.
AS THE WORLD GROWS DARKER THE LIGHT OF JESUS SHINES BRIGHTER. LET’S SHINE THE LIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE AND BE DEALERS OF HOPE AND LOVE TO THOSE IN OUR MIDST.
Blessings!
Lisa Fuller
