Letter From Dove's July Newsletter

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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