Wilbert Holcomb, Guest Writer
Any Washingtonian listening to the news lately has
likely heard of the troubles of Shiloh Baptist Church
concerning four of its properties along 9th Street, NW,
the block on which the 143-year old church has resided
for 83 years.
It’s true that these properties have been in
deplorable condition for too long, and no one disputes
the church’s responsibility for their upkeep, but ANC
member, Alex Pedro does Shiloh and the Shaw community a
grave injustice when he calls the properties a symbol of
the church’s failure to support its community.
Where were Mr. Padro and the news cameras when Shiloh
was reaching out to Shaw residents displaced by
gentrification? Where were they when the church was
ministering to troubled youth, the homeless, the
unemployed, senior citizens and former prisoners?
Shiloh’s regular outreach efforts rescue the homeless,
feed the hungry, care for the sick, enhance education
and actually make life worth living for individuals the
government doesn’t always reach.Shiloh’s Outreach Ministry and its Family Life Center
Foundation execute programs daily on behalf of the
people of Shaw and the greater Washington area.
Church/Community Partners Against HIV/AIDS provides
workshops, outreach, referrals, counseling services and
city-wide prevention events.
Teen Mothers Take Charge offers teen pregnancy
prevention and support, health workshops, counseling,
case management, recreation and academic and medical
referrals. The Shiloh Child Development Center supplies
academic instruction for preschoolers and after-school
care for children ages four and beyond. The Male Youth
Enhancement Program provides academic support, college
fair sponsorship, recreation, counseling, values
clarification and tutoring.
Human Services delivers direct financial assistance to
individuals and families in need of rent, medical care,
transportation, burial costs and crisis counseling.
Shiloh debutantes sponsor a scholarship and character
development program for girls. The Shiloh Deaf and Hard
of Hearing Outreach Center provides daily social
programming and support to deaf clients, including
transportation, recreation and field trips.
The Senior Citizens Club furnishes advice and
counseling on pertinent issues such as medical insurance
and residential property tax. The Shiloh Brotherhood of
Men provides employment advice, health care seminars and
financial counseling. The Social Justice Ministry
addresses an array of socioeconomic problems, including
youth violence and dropout prevention. It highlights
effects of the rapidly changing face of the Shaw
community and supports the Urban Housing Alliance in
protesting the lack of affordable housing that forces
long-term residents out of our community.
Shiloh’s history in the Shaw community is a rich one,
but you would never know that from the recent news
reports. Although repair of the boarded up buildings was
admittedly long overdue, Shiloh’s support for the
community is as strong as ever and the needs of the
people are greater than ever.
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Readings for Sunday,
August 12, 2007:
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 22,23; Hebrews 11:1-3,
8-16; Luke 12:32-40 |
