Saturday, January 5, 2013
JMC LIVE Interviews Singer/Songwriter Tara Johnson
JMC LIVE Interviews Singer/Songwriter Tara Johnson
Tara Shares how she is reaching people with the Gospel through her ministry and also shares her own personal testimony
To learn more about Tara and her ministry visit
http://www.tarajohnsonministries.com
Joy Junction Sees Increased Need with Decreased Donations -- Shelter Officials Concerned that Tax Reform and Other Policy Priorities Affect Joy Junction and the People it Serves
ALBUQUERQUE, Jan. 5, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, served as many as 50,000 more meals in 2012 than in 2011.
Joy Junction Founder and CEO Dr. Jeremy Reynalds said, "We have seen an especially large increase on our mobile feeding unit-The Lifeline of Hope. We're seeing more people daily who have to make an agonizing daily decision between eating and having a place to stay, or eating and putting gas in their cars."
That increase in meals served has come despite a serious revenue shortfall. By the time everything had been tallied up, Joy Junction received just over $134,000 less in donations for 2012 when compared to 2011 revenue.
The donation shortfall, Reynalds believes, was compounded by fear of the fiscal cliff and what lay ahead.
While the charitable tax deduction remained relatively unscathed, it appears that higher income donors will have less discretionary income in 2013. However, the issue of the charitable tax deduction will be back on the table later this year.
Reynalds said, "With need up and donations down, this is still an obviously nerve wracking time for us. I met with a few longtime friends of Joy Junction in mid-2012 who said if their charitable tax deduction changes, they will be forced to cut back on their giving to us and other charities. With an increasing need, that's downright scary-in fact, potentially tragic."
In early 2012, Reynalds met with some of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation staff in Washington as part of a brief lobbying effort by some members of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, of which Joy Junction is a long time member.
Reynalds said he urged congressional staff to encourage their bosses not to change the charitable tax deduction.
Others charities with no experience raising money in the private sector that depend on government funding may find cuts in those programs cause them to die a quick death.
Fortunately, Joy Junction does not receive government funding from any level. Most donations come from individuals, and the rest comes from churches, businesses and organizations.
However, the donations from these sources seem most at risk if lawmakers tinker with the deductibility of charitable donations in the months ahead.
Reynalds said, "During the upcoming year, we will tell our elected officials that tax reform and other policy priorities affect Joy Junction and the people we serve."
For more information about Joy Junction go to www.joyjunction.org
Christian Newswire
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Returns from Ministry in Newtown
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 4, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Three weeks ago today the lives of 26 people were abruptly taken as a shooter stormed into Sandy Hook Elementary School near Newtown, Conn., and perpetrated one of the most horrific tragedies this country has ever seen. In the face of so much anguish, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team had chaplains on the ground within hours to minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of the first responders, teachers, family members and the community at-large.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has now officially completed its ministry in the community, having prayed with and comforted some 830 people. During the deployment, the crisis-trained chaplains had the opportunity to reach out to those who saw first-hand the tragedy inside the elementary school, as well as be a part of counseling teams set up to help the grief-stricken. They attended every funeral held in the area in support of the families, and were with the families as they collectively visited the memorial sites.
"Though the memorials have been taken down and our chaplains are heading home, I speak for all of our folks when I say that our hearts will always be with Newtown and the first responders, teachers, children and families there," said Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
"Things will never be the same, but we ask you to pray as the kids return to school and the community begins to seek 'the new normal.' Most of all, please continue to pray for the families of those dear little children and the teachers and administrators who died that day. They need our prayers as much as ever."
While in the area, Munday led a grief response training attended by approximately 200 people at Calvary Church in Southbury, Conn. "Our ministry is designed to bring hope and comfort in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, but the grief continues," said Munday. "Our prayer is that others will now be equipped to continue offering emotional and spiritual care to their neighbors, co-workers and family members long after we're gone."
Note to Media: Photos from Newtown are available for download at bit.ly/RRTNewtown.
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team: The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of Christian chaplains across 48 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has responded to more than 150 natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings. For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, visit www.billygraham.org/rrt. For videos, photos and news articles from recent Billy Graham Rapid Response Team deployments, visit www.billygraham.org/
Christian Newswire
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