Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis' Executive Director Orvin Kimbrough responds to Bankruptcy filing at NBA
The Social Service arm of the Disciples of Christ Church (NBA) filed bankruptcy earlier this week. Being a former resident of NBA ECHO-a residential facility for abused and neglected children, and the leader of a regional interfaith organization the 29 year old Kimbrough calls for people of faith and goodwill to rally around this ministry to ensure its longevity.
(PRWEB) February 22, 2004
Setbacks are inevitable, but failure is not an option.
For years the Disciples of Christ Church through its social service arm, the National Benevolent Association, founded in 1877, delivered compassionate love to citizens in our region and beyond. The story goes that six women in a prayer circle wanted to reach out and provide better care to orphans, and women—in a time when they were being sorely neglected by society. Over the years, this ministry of the church expanded its efforts by being more responsive to the needs of the community and providing more services for the elderly, differently-abled, young moms and children.
Today, I reflect on my experiences with NBA ECHO having been a child who grew up in the State of Missouri Foster Care system and placed in its custody. I am reminded of the tremendous care that I, and my two younger siblings, received during a very difficult stretch in our lives. Prior to that point we had endured the loss of our mother. Then we endured the loss of our caretaker. Amid all of the loss that we were dealing with, we held the steady and caring hand of the people of NBA ECHO who worked tirelessly to ensure that we would hurt no more.
So in this time of great difficulty for this ministry that has done so much to comfort me and thousands of others like me, I call on all people of goodwill and faith to unite and demonstrate love and compassion. I call on all to remember the vision of those six women in a prayer circle who just wanted to do GodÂ’s will.
The truth of the matter is that we are in a time when the services, care and concern of the NBA are needed more than ever. We are in a time when our children are still being neglected and abused and families are being scattered and broken and need a place for refuge and retooling. We are in a time when seniors are living longer and lack adequate healthcare and affordable housing. We are in a time when people who are differently abled are being marginalized. And we are in a time when we are called to make some difficult decisions.
Dr. King once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”.
We are at a pivotal point in history and as a community we must remember that like an ECHO, the message that we emit today, the seed, or weed that we sow will come back tomorrow as friend or foe.
Let’s answer the call and continue our long tradition of caring for our most vulnerable citizens. Let’s rally as a region and nation around this Disciples’ Ministry to ensure its longevity. I pray that we focus on what really matters—the many people that are being served through this great ministry. Setbacks are inevitable, but failure is not an option! For more information on how you can help visit www. nbacares. org
