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Advocacy, Coronavirus, Ministry News

FFPSA could help states with pandemic

The Coronavirus Pandemic: Leveraging Federal Child Welfare Programs

April 2020 · Advocacy, Coronavirus, Ministry News

Even as the world works diligently to contain the COVID-19 physical health crisis, child welfare leaders are recognizing the mental health crisis and trauma that puts families, children and communities at risk. School closures, social distancing measures, economic impacts and escalating stresses that can increase domestic and child abuse or neglect is creating a mental health crisis that will likely have long-term impacts.

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Salina Area United Way grant supports children, families during pandemic

April 2020 · Ministry News, Press Releases

A $1,000 grant to Saint Francis Ministries from the Salina Area United Way is helping the organization’s efforts to provide needed dollars and support to foster and kinship families being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic is having a significant impact on families around the world, and it is certainly affecting many of the foster care and kinship families that Saint Francis serves.

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Amid our fears, Easter gives hope

April 2020 · Ministry News

Winter is not my favorite season. Through January and February, the darkness and the cold begin to feel oppressive and heavy on my soul. As a result, I am always on the lookout for signs that spring is around the corner. These signs include the hardy flowers like crocuses and daffodils poking up – even through snow cover some years and of course the return of birdsong serenading me early in the morning. Having grown up in central Kansas one of the other signs that spring has sprung for me are the lush emerald green fields of winter wheat leaving its dormant state and coming to life once again. After months of seeing grey and beige, the bright green of these fields always puts a smile on my face.

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At first glance, there’s nothing “Good” about this Friday

April 2020 · Ministry News

Singer and songwriter John Prine passed away Tuesday in Nashville. Prine was seventy-three. However, Prine’s music still lives on and will continue to do so. For me personally, John Prine was more than just a great artist. Prine was a theologian whose songs connected the human condition of suffering with the hope of a better tomorrow. Prine had a hope that humanity would come to its senses and learn to love and care for each other. And on the first Good Friday and this Good Friday, hope seems to be in short supply.

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God’s Love Will Do Anything for Us

April 2020 · Ministry News

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (KJV) A picture is worth a thousand words. At least that’s how the old saying goes. I find this to be true. Just take a moment and scroll through your photo library on your phone. Or look at all your photos on Facebook. And look at a picture of a relative who has passed on from this life. I’ve found that looking at these pictures often brings up memories, good and bad. It’s as if each picture has a story to tell- some shorter than a thousand words and many that could fill a thousand-page book. Pictures are memories, stories, parts of our lives that are frozen glimpses of our individual life stories. Pictures really are worth a thousand words.

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Keep Looking for Signs of New Life, New Growth

April 2020 · Ministry News

There is a meme circulating social media of late that I have really appreciated.  It simply says, “This is the Lentiest Lent I’ve ever Lented.”  It certainly holds true for me.  As a reminder, this season of Lent is the 40-day preparation period for Christians before the celebration of Easter.  It is a time that has long been characterized by increased prayer, acts of mercy, and by giving up or fasting from items that we enjoy or love.

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We Never Pray Alone

March 2020 · Ministry News

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:26-29

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