On Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 1 to 5 p.m., Rev. Jeff Snyder and Bishop Karen Dixson are coordinating with Healing Communities (Rev. Dr. Harold Trulear spoke to us about them) to offer a workshop in Westphal Hall of Lansdowne Baptist Church, Lansdowne, PA (second floor in wing closest to Lansdowne Avenue) on how we can become a Healing Community for families and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. All are welcome. No fee charged but a donation will be taken. Light refreshments served at the program’s beginning.
For an explanation of what Healing Communities do, here is information from their website:
We train communities of faith to:
· walk with the returning citizens (connect returning citizens to resources that will help set attainable goals)We provide support and technical assistance to faith communities by:
· help them connect with their faith (provide spiritual support)
· open their hearts to them (foster positive relationships)
· embrace them (extend open and affirming fellowship)
· provide understanding (collaboration with family and friends to rebuild relationships)
· advocate for political change on a local, state, and federal level
· offering seminars in restorative justice, family reintegration and family support
· identifying resources and building networks for capacity building, service delivery and advocacy
· offering opportunities for peer learning from other congregations and expert learning at local, regional and national conferences
· customized programming for local congregations
To hear Rev. Dr. Trulear speak out about helping the prisoners and their families, see the sermon he delivered at Lansdowne Baptist Church in May of 2017: https://lansdownebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/2017/05/living-between-expectation-experience.html
If you wish to learn more about the Healing Communities organization, see: http://www.healingcommunitiesusa.com/