SHALOM - The Way Things Ought to Be
Scripture teaches that when God created the heavens and the earth, He wove it all together like threads into a beautiful garment each one passing over, under and around countless other “threads” to form a complementary, interdependent and useful whole. This webbing together of God and man with all creation to create universal flourishing and wholeness is what the Hebrew prophets call "shalom". We call it “peace” but in the Bible, shalom means far more than peace of mind or a cease fire among enemies.
Think for a moment about what it would be like to live in a place in which everyone - individuals, families, neighborhoods, institutions, organizations, businesses, even the environment were all knit together like threads in a tapestry to create healthy, flourishing neighborhoods.
Foundational to FCFC's strategy is the belief that the well-being of our communities is best served when all the resources God has provided us with are applied to the many needs around us in the context of solid relationships built on trust, integrity, openness and cooperation.
Serving others has its challenges: feelings of isolation, loneliness and being overwhelmed by too much to do with too little time and too few resources, fatigue and danger of "burn - out" are just some of the demands facing those who seek to help others.
FCFC wants to help everyone be more effective in serving those in need by linking one another to available resources, promoting the building of partnerships, reducing duplication and working together to develop more of a sense of true community and genuine wholeness in our midst.
Equipping Since 1999, FCFC has brought together groups and individuals for practical community-wide trainings around many topics. Networking, mutual encouragement and the gaining of new information, resources, relationships and skills have served to help build the capacity and infrastructure of faith and community - based groups.
Engaging & Collaborating - We’ve encouraged and helped faith groups to be more a part of the lives of their local communities by building on local strengths and resources that already exist and by joining with other organizations and agencies to bring hope and healing to their neighbors.
Hope Institute of S FL: Regular throughout-the-month training and consulting for S. Florida faith and community-based groups. Do you need help with:
> where to find "free stuff" for your group or ministry?
> a low-cost 501-c3 ?
> learning new skills and ways to help the real need of real people?
> legal
advice ?
> accounting ?
> fundraising ?
> grant-writing ?
> technology related
issues ?
> a web-site or graphic design ?
> printing and PR ?
> insurance ?
> 401-K ?
What about assistance with taking your vision to reality, strategic planning or help with understanding your neighborhood better and developing a ministry model for getting involved in your community?
FCFC consultants and partners can answer your questions and serve your needs honestly, professionally & economically. And if we can’t help you, we’ll do our best to refer you to someone who can.
Check out our monthly training calendar HERE
After-school services and summer camp programs serve over 350 children and their families in 6 Miami -Dade locations. Activities include academic enrichment, field trips, cultural events, sports, dance, art, character education, preventive health screenings and homework assistance. In 2009, FCFC's out-of-school program received a 97% quality rating from The Children's Trust. Plus, more than 95% of our children improved in the areas of academic/social skills and physical fitness.
Success Program is an
after school club for middle and high school students with disabilities.
Activities include skills that help young people transition to independence.
Funded by
Project U-Turn Prevention Education reaches youth as well as parents with healthy relationships education. This program encourages young people to set personal goals for their future, thereby helping them to avoid high-risk behaviors which can lead to teen pregnancy and STDs. Funded by the Florida Department of Health. In three years, Project U - Turn reached over 18,000 public school teens with practical training on how to form healthy relationships that will prepare them for responsible and successful adulthood.
Service Network for Children of Inmates - designed to assure that children with an incarcerated parent will have opportunities to be cared for and supported in their development by responsible adults, helping professionals and others in their communities. The Service Network for Children of Inmates is now a national model, receiving media recognition.
FCFC Mentoring Program - mentors meet weekly with a child who has been carefully matched with them; they often live and worship in the same neighborhoods as the children. Our hope is that one-to-one mentoring by caring adults will significantly improve the life opportunities of the children.
Health, Fitness &
Nutrition (Salsa, Sabor y Salud) A healthy lifestyles program designed
especially for families with children under 12 years of age.
As those working with families and kids begin to get to know one another, share ideas, skills and resources and achieve more together than they could alone, the combined voice of these ministries and groups can be used to raise awareness of key issues which can influence and involve the broader community, as well as public policy makers, to make South Florida a safer and better place for everyone.
Uniting our Efforts by Cooperating for Success
Equipping our People by Strengthening for Service
Rebuilding our Communities by Demonstrating God's Shalom
