The following is a message from  Rev. Teresa Ely, Chairperson of the ABCNJ Public Missions Committee

The ABCNJ Public Mission Committee will again be awarding grants to minister to people in poverty.   The Committee is soliciting applications from the region’s churches to start or enlarge programs specifically designed to minister to the poor. In 2012 grants up to $500 will be awarded.

The application letter should be one page in length and should include the aims of the ministry, history of the church in dealing with the issue, key people who will administer the program, and a budget outline. Applications dealing with the following areas of need will have priority; however, applications in other areas will also be considered:

• Helping poor families get out of debt (financial and budget training)
• After-school latchkey programming for children
• Food and clothing distribution ministries

Preference will be given to first-time applicants, but previous applicants are welcome to apply. Applications from small churches are especially encouraged. Only churches that are financial supporters of the mission of ABCNJ will be considered. This means that your church contributes to either United Mission or ABCNJ’s Region Offering.

The deadline for submitting grant applications is July 31, 2012.

Applications should be sent to:

American Baptist Churches of New Jersey 
3752 Nottingham Way, Suite 101
Trenton, NJ 08690

These grants are possible because of the author royalties from Dr. Spitzer’s book “Making Friends, Making Disciples” and other contributions. Individuals and churches can help support and increase this ministry by making an additional gift/contribution to ABCNJ to increase the amount or number of grants that can be awarded.

Grant awards are presented during the ABCNJ Annual Session.

Previous American Baptist Churches of New Jersey Anti-Poverty Grant Recipients

The ABCNJ Public Mission Committee has long been involved in helping churches identify and support mission in our local communities and in the state of New Jersey. Since 2006 the Committee has been able to offer grants to churches to start or enlarge programs specifically designed to minister to people in poverty.

2006 Grants

• Primera Iglesia Bautista de Trenton, Rev. Salvador Orellana, pastor -- $1,000 for La Casita: Legal Services for Immigrants.  This program will assist the immigrant community of Trenton to obtain Green Cards, driver licenses, buy homes, and become US citizens.
• First Baptist Church, South Plainfield, Rev. Gordon Braun, pastor -- $500 for the Clothing for Children in Foster Care Program.  FBC has been collecting, storing, organizing and transporting used clothing for children in foster care, and now they will be able to purchase those essential items that are still needed.
• Hispanic Mission of Englewood, Rev. Rodolfo Luis, pastor -- $500 for their After School Programming of the Latino Cultural Development Committee.  They plan to expand their program to offer more days of supervised activities to more children.
• Stelton Baptist Church, Edison, Rev. Kathleen Tice, pastor -- $500 for the “No Debt No Sweat” Financial Planning Course.  Designed for Christians, this program will offer families help in basic financial planning, including oversight of debt.

2007 Grants

•  Christ Resurrection Missionary Baptist Church, East Orange, Dr. Leora Liggins, pastor -- $400 for their Youth Ministry which is in dire need of transportation to get their youth to worship services, activities, and educational programs.
• First Baptist Church of Cranford/Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Rev. Diana L. Brown, pastor -- $200 for the expansion of their food ministry to include nutritional information, a food preparation workshop, and other materials.
• First Baptist Church, Woodstown, Rev. Daryle G. Cook, pastor -- $400 to help with expenses of an after-school program for girls who are at high risk.
• The Missionary Ministry of First Baptist Church, Bridgeton -- $400 to help them with equipment and supplies for a soup kitchen which can offer hot food.

2008 Grants

• First Baptist Church of Laurelton, Rev. H. Regine Harding, pastor -- $300 for expanding their food pantry, especially to enable them to purchase more fresh foods.
• Grace Community Church of Trenton, Rev. Ethan S. Evans, pastor--$300 for their “Feed the Children” program.
• First Maplewood Baptist Church, Maplewood, the late Rev. Roy Butler, pastor at the time of the grant distribution -- $300 for their SHARE food package ministry which feeds the hungry.
• Church at the Crossroads, East Orange, Rev. Annell Johnson, pastor -- $300 for their Food Pantry.
• Central Baptist Church, Woodbury, Rev. Charles Reed, pastor -- $300 to expand “New Visions” which provides lunches every Saturday for the homeless in Camden.

2009 Grants

• Rev. Dr. Gloria White, Senior Pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Newark for their Food Pantry Ministry -- $500.00 Grant
• Rev. Hojin Yu, Rev. Douglas Hargis and Rev. Andrew Cannon, Co-Pastors, First Baptist Church, Merchantville for their Burmese Ministry -- $500.00 Grant

2010 Grants

•  Rev. Dr. Leora Liggins, Senior Pastor, Christ Resurrection Missionary BC, East Orange -- $500 for their “Summer Enrichment Evening Program”
• Rev. Dr. Peter Ely, Senior Pastor, Cohansey Baptist Church of Roadstown, Bridgeton -- $500 for their “Family Promise of Cumberland County Program”

2011 Grants

•  Rev. Michael Mazer, East Dover Baptist Church, Toms River -- $100  for their ministry to the homeless (Tent City) in the Lakewood Area.
• Rev. Robert Davidson, First Baptist Church of Moorestown, Moorestown -- $300 for their food pantry ministry.
• Rev. Gloria White, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Newark -- $300 for their Food Pantry Ministry.
• Rev. Byron Wess, Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park, Asbury Park -- $300  for their Christian Caring and Helping Hand Ministry.