January 20, 2003
CHURCH READS FOR NEEDS:
Ripped from headlines
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___LONGVIEW--Television dramas often proclaim their plots are "ripped straight from today's headlines." First Baptist Church in Longview can say the same about its ministry.
___Headline Ministries began at the East Texas church last fall, but Jane Ann Crowson said it has been in her head and heart much longer than that.
___"I seem to remember about 10 years ago when I was working with Acteens that one of the things suggested in some of the materials was getting the girls involved in projects in the local media," she said. "We didn't do anything with it then, but it has always stuck with me."
JANE ANN CROWSON searches the headlines of her local newspaper to find people who need ministry from First Baptist Church of Longview. The church's Headline Ministries provides not only financial assistance, but volunteer time and physical assistance. (David Clanton/Standard Photo)
___The idea is simple: When local media uncover people with needs, the church seeks to meet them. While the church can't meet all the needs, some needs can be met.
___Crowson first heard of Jonathan Pierce's family's needs when his mother sought teams for a softball tournament to raise funds to buy a turning bed. Jonathan, 16, was struck by a car while riding his bicycle two years ago. He is paralyzed from the cheeks down. He communicates with his mother by winking one of his eyes. Since he has grown to be more than 6 feet tall, it was becoming difficult for his mother and a nurse to turn him in his bed.
___Crowson thought it would be good if the church supplied the mattress Pierce's mother sought.
___That plan was thwarted, however, when a local hospital supplied the mattress.
___"The first thought was, 'God, was this something you really wanted us to be involved in?'" Crowson admitted.
___After further prayer, she visited the family at home to see what other needs were there. It immediately became apparent that remodeling the bathroom would help the family better accommodate Jonathan's needs. The price tag ran to more than $11,000.
___At first the money came in well, but then the project stalled short of the total amount required.
___"We just kept praying that God would show us what we were supposed to do," Crowson recalled. Then Jonathan's mother called and left a message on the telephone. Crowson admits it was hard to call back because she was afraid it was to question the delay.
___"But she was calling to say that Jonathan had had several colds and the flu and his doctor thought it was because he didn't have central heat and air and was getting too cold," Crowson said. Several heating and air conditioning companies offered bids to make the adjustments, but all were much more than the fund allowed. Finally, Acme Air Conditioning, a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity projects in the area, agreed to install the central heating and air and also an air purifier for the amount the church had raised.
___"God's hand was really in things, because they told us they could also add insulation, but we told them we didn't have the money," Crowson said. "I called to the church to check, though, and another donation had come in the day before that covered the insulation too, with only $50 left over."
___The ministry appeals to many people because it is built on meeting short-term, immediate tangible needs with visible results, she said. But not all the needs require money.
___At Thanksgiving, more than 100 members of First Baptist turned out to deliver meals to the needy after a call for help went out from a local ministry.
___"We're just using the headlines in the paper as a way for our church to minister to the community," Crowson said. "Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's volunteers, sometimes it's collecting blankets and coats."
___
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