Celebrating Dr. King's Commitment to Peace and Unity

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK –           This week, Joshua Beckley of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship in San Bernardino talks about the services and programs provided by the church to both the congregation as well as the general community in order to deal with the challenges of the current economy and deal with social stressors.
     Q:  What are the primary concerns of members of your congregation?
     A:  Jobs and Housing! Then comes food, clothing, and education. The people we serve want no more than what is needed to live a safe and comfortable life, and we seek out community resources and relationships to help meet those needs.
     Q: Which of your ministries is the busiest?
     A:  Currently the Food/Pantry and Benevolence program (financial assistance with Rent and Utilities).
     Q: Does your church offer any social services?
     A:  Yes. Along with the food, clothing and benevolence assistance we offer counseling with professions in the field, from Anger Management, to Marriage/Divorce to Alcohol & Drugs. We also are a recognize site by the City of San Bernardino for court ordered Community Service.
                Q: Do you have any solutions to offer to some of the problems our community faces at this time?
     A:  Yes!  By addressing the issues of Basic Needs such as Food, Clothing, Shelter and Job placement Assistance, we reduce the level of despair and give no reason to steal.  We also utilize our Mighty Men of Ecclesia Men’s Outreach program to address the issue of no Fathers in the homes or Fathers living up to their responsibilities even if they are not the home, providing guidance to these fathers and thereby helping their children.
     Q: What is the proportion of youth in the congregation?
     A:  We have a high proportion of youth in attendance for Sunday services, with 150 to 200 young adults, 50 to 100 teens, and 100 to 150 children, including infants.  We also have many men ages 18 and up.
Q: What do think of some of the scandals that have affected several churches, especially mega churches?
     A:  One should never get so big that they are not held accountable to someone for your conduct! (That’s all I have to say about that!)
     Q:  What do you think congregations can do to make sure they are not misled?
     A: Have a more in depth evaluation and interview process. Not just with the potential candidate, but with friends and associations and do a professional background check, including financial habits and credit. Ask straight forward questions of his/her previous employer or congregation.
     Q:  Are there any other issues you would like to address:
     Yes, I have several concerns:  The serious plight of the education of our children and their future success in this global economy. Will they be competitive? Do they really understand what is needed to succeed and just survive? Do they understand the mentality that they are going to be dealing with in America and the rest of the World?
     The other is my concern about  the local condition of our City government, what is it going to take to make more members of the minority community to recognize we  truly hold the power, with our votes, and we must use that power to elect leaders that are after our own heart?
     That’s just a couple of things that I am concerned about!
     [For more information about Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, located at 1314 Date Street (near Del Rosa) in San Bernardino, call  or visit www.  – L. Pezant, WSSN 01/12/12]