Taking It to the Streets

Mobile Message – Intro:

Welcome to this UMTV Web Brief; I’m Reed Galin.

Street evangelism stirs up all kinds of images – a lone preacher shouting the word of God on a corner. But how about pie-eating contests and plays? That’s the route the folks with United Methodist Sidewalk Sunday Schools are taking. They’re working in hard-to-reach communities by bringing the church to kids, on the streets where they live. Allysa Adams has the story.

Mobile Message – Story:

“Hi, what’s new?”

Billie Fidlin is gathering her flock ...

“Are you coming out tomorrow?”

… making sure the kids of this Phoenix neighborhood get their weekly dose of United Methodist faith in action – the Sidewalk Sunday School.

Billie Fidlin / Sidewalk Sunday School: “The phrase that we like to use is ‘street evangelism,’ with the point of entry being children.”

This isn’t your average Sunday school. First of all it’s Saturday, and the classroom is a big truck.

Billie Fidlin: “We’re outside in a very accessible spot so that folks who are unchurched for whatever reason – maybe they’re afraid to walk through the doors of a traditional worship service – so we’re out here where it’s free.”

Natsound: “Love and hope … Love and hope … ”

The kids get it – learning about the Bible through games and songs, and a cadre of silly adults who show them they care by being here every week.

Marilou Zavala / Sidewalk Sunday School Student: “It’s fun and you learn about God in the easiest way that we can understand. Like, we play and it’s cool.”

But it’s about more than learning a few Bible passages.

Billie Fidlin: “Our hope is that we come together to know each other as a community.”

There are weekly visits to all the families who participate, and help with everyday problems.

Natsound: “Let’s talk tomorrow. If we need to go downtown together, we can do that.”

And in a neighborhood where uncertainty and instability are everyday challenges, it’s enough to know that, next week, the truck will be back.

Billie Fidlin: “There’s no promises in this. We tell them, ‘Is this going to make your life perfect? Absolutely not, but is it going to give you a tool to cope with some of the hurts in life? You bet it will.’”

Mobile Message – Tag:

So far, there are 15 sidewalk ministries on the road in Arizona and Nevada, with more than 700 volunteers. The sidewalk Sunday school also encourages other United Methodist churches to participate by providing lunch after the service, donating money to support the project or making home visits to families.

Street Sanctuary – Intro:

Have you ever wondered what happens to money donated to charitable organizations? Some will tell you it’s going to help children in some far-off land, but does it really get there? You are about to see some of those donations at work in a place that has more need than money.

Street Sanctuary – Story:

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mike Collins / United Methodist Missionary: “A lot of the people who are living here are people who just have absolutely no place to go.”

Natsound: “Hello.”

Welcome to one of the poorest neighborhoods on earth. This isn’t child’s play; it’s life on the edge.

Esther Gitobu / United Methodist Missionary: “That is where they take a bath in all their clothes.”

This is home to 78 of Cambodia’s poorest children.

Mike Collins: “It mainly is working with the street children and orphans. What we are doing at The United Methodist Church is, we are providing money for one meal a day –approximately $5 to $10 per day.”

Esther Gitobu: “Mostly, they eat once. And if they have more money or they have more donations, then they can afford to have two meals. But, mostly, they can’t afford breakfast, lunch and supper.”

Eventually, the plan is to relocate this orphanage outside the city limits of Phnom Penh.

Esther Gitobu: “We build it out of this community and teach them some vocational skills like sewing or hair dressing for the girls, and auto mechanics for boys.”

Mike Collins: “They teach the children how to do traditional Cambodian dances and then they are hired by hotels. Anything we are doing to help, we are trying to do it in such a way that we are asking them to give something also. So it’s not a type of situation where we’re always giving relief, but we’re trying to help them to help themselves.”

Street Sanctuary – Tag:

The United Methodist Church coordinates several programs to help people of Cambodia become self-sufficient. One of the most important projects is pig farming. The pigs become food for the family and also income when sold at the market.

On the next UMTV Web Brief, giving an arm and leg to help out those less fortunate.

“If it could just be one, one person, then it was worth it all.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.