This month has an air of celebration
about it. Celebrating our nation’s
independence, celebrating 46 years of Dove’s work in central Illinois, and
having - after a year-long stalemate - a partial state budget. Indeed, we have plenty to celebrate.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about
the state budget since its passage Thursday, most of which I cannot answer. The
state budget is both a saving grace and a daunting challenge to our future. So
when I am asked these questions, my mind draws from the text of The Gospel According
to Mark 12:13-17.
In today’s Illinois there is a role for
both government and God to play in how we focus our efforts to relieve human
suffering. Our mission at Dove has
become a work of God largely paid for by Caesar (or in this case the US and
Illinois governing bodies, and ultimately the taxpayers). The challenge of
being a faith-based organization in this circumstance, is making sure that we
continue to focus on our mission and steady ourselves for the budgetary ebbs
and flows which surround us.
One way to do this is to create
pathways by which we are assured that we can continue the mission, even after
the stop-gap budget expires in just 6 short months. I have been reaching out to local
congregations, churches, organizations, and groups to share the message that
caring about this people of this area is our job, and our responsibility. We need to coordinate, collaborate, and pool
resources. We need to focus on local and private support.
If you or your organization’s members
are ready, please reach out to our Volunteer & Community Relations
Director, Barb Blakey. Dove, Inc. is
only as strong as its member organizations, volunteers and advocates. It is my
sincere hope that you will be a part of making our home a self-sustaining
community free of human suffering.
Sincerely,
Christine Gregory
Executive Director of Dove
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