Our church gets lots of phone calls for help from people outside of the church. Usually it is for gas, food or help with bills. We help if we can and send some to the local food bank for more help. Today my sister took a call from a lady asking if we ever helped with school tuition. This was new. My sister was telling me about the call and that she is going to ask the deacons if we can help the lady with her fees. (around $600.00) We also discussed the idea for a new program at church where we could have some fund raisers to get started and then pay for people who were out of work to go take CNA training like this young woman is trying to do. It is a course you can complete in 6 weeks. After finishing the course and going to work we would ask that you repay the fund $10.00 from each paycheck so we could keep the program going. We also talked about other courses that only take a few weeks to complete so people could get back to work in a hurry. So many places around here are closing and benefits are running out. This would help a few get back on their feet or help others needing to go to work. What do you think? Anything we should add or consider? We know there will be some who may never pay the money back or even finish their course, but that is on them. We are just looking for a way to reach out to the community without asking for so much money from the church family. It seems we are always asking for money and we have many living on a fixed income. Thanks for any ideas. Beth
Without giving it very deep thought or praying specifically about it, Beth, it sounds to me like a good program to have. Are there any other type of training courses (not just CNA - maybe phlebotomist or other tech job) available in your area with a similar time frame and tuition, that people could attend as well? At $10 each paycheck, it would take a huge amount of time to repay the whole thing...
I am open to doing anything the Lord is placing upon a persons heart. I also believe that it is the church who should be helping the public, not the government. With that said, I also agree that paying back $10 a paycheck is a very slow return if this ministry is to continue supporting others with assistance.
In theory, it could be paid back in a little over a year of working, provided you receive weekly paychecks. I know most receive pay every other week. But that is neither here nor there. If God is the one doing the leading, then by all means it sounds great. However, our pastor is very vocal about the things we want to do for God that aren't necessarily God's plans for us specifically. Obviously pray over it as a program, or as a case by case basis. We could consume ourselves with things we think up to do. The things that are blessed originate with God Himself.
Beth, I think that is so cool and would help out a lot of people. You all are so sweet and kind to help others and think of others.
Yes but-as a former CNA I can tell you-around here they only make around $7-$8/hr-so while yes it is a great idea and will help the person to have a job (And CNA positions are always plentiful in our area) It's not like they will be making a killing. I think it's a great idea. Maybe you could also contact local business (esp Christian businesses) and keep a running list of jobs available? Even if they are just temporary ones. Instead of donating money each time, can the people of your congregation hire people to do things for them (again, it may not be some great career or long term job-but I know hubs and I are more than willing to work and earn our money rather than just asking for a handout) Do the elderly need yardwork done? Do 2 income families need their house cleaned? Does the church need repairs or upgrades? Do you need people to help with outreach programs? Etc.
I do not know how much they make around here. However in California, especially in the inner cities, they are in high demand along with nurses in general. I do not know what the demand is in NC but if it is like California, it is in demand. Still, I do not think a $10 return a paycheck will keep a steady flow of outgoing money to keep a ministry running. Granted, exceptions always exist. How much will the ministry start off with? Who qualifies for the funding and so forth. Above all, I believe that wherever God is present, if this is His will, He will see it through. Finances will never stand in the way of God's plan.
It sounds like a good idea. Here in NJ, CNAs make about $20.00/hr. However, the cost of living is outrageous. It still beat minimum wage by far, and there is a need.
I would seriously make sure the money is paid DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL, and not to the individual. Also, my mom use to be a probation officer. She said something commonly done is to sign up for classes through a government program. The money would be paid directly to the school. After two or three weeks, the girls would drop out. They'd go to the Bursar's office, requesting a check reimbursing the fees (pro rated, of course!) which they would get. And they would do this again and again, each quarter. Drove Mom crazy, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Thank you all so much. You have made some good suggestions and raised some points we will need to look at if we are able to proceed with our plan. We have thought of other programs that are not long term and were even wondering about truck driving training. This is all a brand new idea and we will be praying and brain storming in the days ahead. Please keep us in your prayers.
