‘Celebrate!’ with SDOP’s new resource and yearbook

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People has released the latest edition of its annual resource and yearbook for sharing with churches, presbyteries, mid councils and others interested in anti-poverty work.

Image

The “Celebrate!” publication, which can be viewed or downloaded here, highlights the work of SDOP and its partners as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) prepares to observe SDOP Sunday on March 16.

SDOP Sunday is an opportunity for Presbyterians to contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing, a Special Offering that assists with eradicating poverty, recovering from disasters, empowering communities and showing love for one’s neighbor, as the yearbook emphasizes.

“As the hands of poverty and oppression continue to tear apart the fabric of wholeness and wellness in many of our communities, it seems that now more than ever, we are called to take care of each other,” SDOP’s manager, the Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, explains in the introduction. “This call is immediate, especially as hunger, homelessness and economic struggles continue to become a disturbingly increasing narrative in our local and global communities. As you engage this resource, I pray that it will inspire you to take care of one another. I also hope that you will be deeply inspired by the work of our community partners to also engage in promoting justice, building stronger communities and seeking economic equity.”

Through the resource and yearbook, readers can get acquainted with partner organizations and projects, such as ADAPT Chicago, which fights for the rights of people with disabilities; the Lakota LockUp Project, which provides an outlet for Native Americans who’ve experienced trauma; and Mothers Organized for Peace and Healing, a coalition that supports families affected by gun violence. Members of the coalition “work together to build a funnel of support for this unique demographic and community,” said the group’s founder, the Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith. “SDOP has poured into this funnel and has brought hope, encouragement and funding to an overlooked issue in South LA.”

Some of the content found in the resource and yearbook includes:

• Feature stories that can be printed out individually for your congregation
• Reflections and reports about the activities of SDOP committee members and national staff
• SDOP by the numbers
• A list of books on poverty and related issues
• A list of ways to become engaged with poverty eradication
• Other free resources, including links to sermons and liturgies from the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice.

Image

“We invite you to share this resource with others in your church, faith community or ministry,” Johnson said. “We also encourage you to utilize this resource in educational settings such as Bible, adult, youth and mission studies. Feel free to use this resource as an evangelism or organizing tool; showcase these stories in your bulletin or newsletter. Be open to creative ways to utilize these powerful stories and links in the context of worship so that these stories of hope, determination, transformation and power can come alive.”

For more information about the resource and SDOP Sunday, go here.

SDOP is constantly looking for ways to engage communities of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people in partnership as well as to promote and interpret the ministry in PC(USA) congregations. If you would like to invite national SDOP staff to your church to speak about poverty and other economic/social justice issues, are interested in participating in a webinar on poverty alleviation or other social and economic justice issues, or would like to recommend a grassroots group for possible funding consideration, please contact the National SDOP Office at sdop@pcusa.org or sdopevents@pcusa.org.