An Executive Director With an Infectious Optimism, Beth Bordeaux

I met Beth Bordeaux through a chance meeting.  She is the kind of person who warms your heart because despite the challenges of running a human services nonprofit in an era of budget cuts and uncertainty, she’s not jaded.  In fact, she inspires you to believe in her cause with her infectious optimism.  Don’t get me wrong: she understands the reality on the ground better than anyone.  She lives it every day.  But where some folks talk about the people they help as ‘the homeless population’ or the ‘working poor’, Beth refuses to label people.  She connects to their humanity.

PLM Families Together Isn’t Afraid of Change

PLM Families Together isn’t a huge organization, but it’s been around quite a long time.  You can read its history on the new website launched recently, but what stood out for me was the ability of this organization to meet the need of the times, and evolve over the years.  Many nonprofits get stuck and refuse to change as society’s needs change.  PLM Families Together adapts quickly and nimbly, and makes brave decisions when confronted with challenges.  I’ve always believed that a strength of an organization is revealed in its toughest moments.  Do you reduce your program by two-thirds because it’s the right thing to do and move in a new direction?  Or do you falter because change scares you?  This video does a great job of charting the organization’s path over the past 30 years.

What This Organization Does

Today PLM Families Together offers short-term housing for families facing homelessness, and re-housing to low-income families who are barely getting by.  Their Mentor Advocates coach these families, and provide after-care services to prevent them from falling back into homelessness.

It costs around $5,000 to move a family into permanent housing.  The research indicates that homeless shelters are not as effective in ending homelessness, and kids don’t do well in shelter environments if they live there for extended periods of time.  In fact, it is becoming very obvious that the Housing First model works exceedingly well when a family receives one-on-one assistance from a Mentor Advocate.  Beth is especially happy that PLM Families Together is able to provide after-care to clients.  She believes it is the reason why most of the families helped retain their housing in the long-term.

PLM Offices & Apartments for Families

PLM’s offices are on the first floor of an apartment complex building on Plainview Drive. The team doesn’t have fancy digs — they seem to be focused on keeping their overhead low.  But don’t judge this book by its cover.  What goes on inside these humble offices is pretty impressive.

The rest of the apartment complex is dedicated to housing families.  The organization also works with landlords around the city to house its families.  In helping families have positive relationships with landlords, it teaches conflict resolution and inter-personal skills.

Why Funds PLM Families Together?

“We get approximately 50 percent of our budget from donors and 50 percent from grants, including federal and county funding,” Beth said. “We were able to find safe and affordable rental housing for 70 previously homeless families in Wake County this past year because of our generous funders,” she added.

The Typical Family PLM Helps

PLM Families Together Client

Most PLM clients are hard-working mothers and fathers who often work 50-60 hours a week in healthcare, fast food, or other industries, but barely scrape by on minimum wage paychecks.  All it takes is a health care emergency or a car breaking down, and they find themselves behind on the rent — then evicted — and eventually homeless. “So you help the working poor,” I asked Beth. She hesitated, “We prefer not to use such labels.  Our partnership with the families we serve is rooted in empathy and mutual respect.  If you only saw how hard they work and how much they want to do better for their kids…  some of them blow us away with their courage, resilience, and work ethic.  They are willing to work two jobs just to make ends meet.”  She reminded me how flawed all of us are.  Who are we to label anyone?

Why Beth is Such an Optimist

I suddenly understood the source of Beth’s optimism: when you help take 70 families a year from a life of heartache and uncertainty to one of stability and security, you probably do wake up with a spring in your step, and a desire to do more.  You can’t help advocating for the kids you’ve met who slept on park benches, in cars, in motels or spent years couch surfing while their parents work hard but can never catch a break. I saw a sweet little note written by one of the kids PLM Families Together helped. This is what keeps Beth, her staff, her donors, and her volunteers motivated.  When a little boy thanks you for helping his family, what more inspiration do you need?

I think Beth is Lucky 

Long-time Supporter of PLM, Marianne VanTassel

She has visionary supporters who are tired of putting band-aids on problems.  Her donors know that till a family goes from homelessness to independence you haven’t solved the problem.  You’ve just delayed the solution.  I think you have to serve a few turkey dinners on Thanksgiving before you realize there has to be a better way to chip away at the homelessness problem in America.  Short-term programs for the homeless have their place: they meet an urgent need, especially for those who have no income. Homeless shelters and day-centers meet emergency housing needs.  But imagine for a moment, you are a working mom parent living paycheck to paycheck and you’ve lost your housing, would you want to move your kids around from one temporary space to another — or work with an agency like PLM Families Together to secure a permanent place to call home?

Dreams for the Future

Beth wishes PLM could do more:  create employment opportunities for clients, do more for the kids, and create a peer-support network for families going through the program so they can be there for each other.  She tries to implement whatever she can within her limited resources.  I wonder what this group could do if it had more resources?

PLM Families Video

What’s Next

PLM Families Together is working on an annual campaign to invite the public to learn about its work and support it.  This wonderful little nonprofit packs a powerful punch in combatting homelessness.  Now that the capable and experienced Julie Sager is on board, I know Beth will have the breathing room to take on the next chapter in PLM’s continued evolution as an agent of change in our community.

I found myself smiling while walking my dog yesterday.  I was thinking of that little kid’s thank you note on PLM’s corkboard.  Though Beth was really articulate and animated about her nonprofit, that simple thank you note actually brought her points home for me. I think I have a little extra bounce in my step too!  If believe in sustainable solutions to social issues and you’d like a little bounce in your step, get in touch and see if PLM is a good vehicle for your philanthropy.  Tell Beth and the team at PLM I said hi!

PLM Families Together

I don’t know. I hate Republicans a lot. Just the thought of them makes my skin crawl much like the sight of a cockroach.

From: ttssuf@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ttssuf@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf OfGordon Guy

Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 1:51 AM

To: FKerogen@aol.com; Mckinneyhunter2@aol.com; groups; welcome hotel;whatnowdebate@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [ttssuf] Re: Chavez is mourned by….

Nobody knows hate like a republican

---

From: ”FKerogen@aol.com” <FKerogen@aol.com>

Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 12:43 AM

Subject: Re: Chavez is mourned by….

Hate Hugo Chavez? You’re brainwashed by the CIA. You have no intellect and you’ll always be controlled by somebody else.

90 per cent of the people in the world are like you, stupid. That’s why they can so easily be sent to murder innocent people and enjoy it.

In a message dated 3/5/2013 9:10:36 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,Mckinneyhunter2@aol.com writes:

I know that it’s a sad day in Liberalville with Hugo Chavez dying of cancer. His punks are even blaming it on Bush ! HAHAHA!!   But Venezuelans living here in the States are dancing in the streets !   I guess C astro’s socialized heaalthcare didn’t work so well? 

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The incredibly rare Triple Eagle Court of Honor is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights.

The new Eagle Scouts have been sharing adventures since Wolf Cubs and have been active in the Order of the Arrow holding different chapter positions.

The trio are juniors at Park High School in Cottage Grove.

The weekend before the big makeover, a volunteer group from ACTS Church Lakeway prepped the space and cleared and moved out the old furniture and clutter. Another crew from ACTS Church, Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Austin, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church helped with the cleaning, painting, and moving in. All totaled, 11 people worked between 8-22 hours each over a two-day period. To quote one of the volunteers: “It was a lot of work – but so worth it!” Another volunteer summed it up this way: “It was an amazing ‘transformation’ of a space … in a place where amazing ‘transformations’ of young girls’ lives happen every day.”

Now “Move that bus!” and take a look at the finished product …

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The song, “Smile and the World Smiles With You,” written in part by silent screen movie idol Charlie Chaplin, was always sung at my Dad’s Rotary Club luncheon held every Tuesday.  I used to think it was a bit corny but after last Friday’s Harvest Dinner at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lansing, my attitude has done a one-eighty.

The dinner was the 13th consecutive one put on for the Internationals of Friendship House MSU, the result of great generosity and kindness by the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in west Lansing.  Nearly 90 Internationals and family members from a dozen different countries were present to enjoy the Thanksgiving-style feast.

And, boy, did they smile.

Members of the church not only labored long and hard to make the dinner delicious and inviting, they sat with the students during dinner to swap understanding about their respective cultures and customs.

Following dinner, the children participated in organized games while the students and family members were given a tour of the church, including the sanctuary where its many Christian symbols were explained.

In addition to thanking the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran, we want to thank:

• Martin Luther Chapel for the use of their bus
• Linda Maxwell for driving the bus
• Volunteers who drove other students – Don, Carol, Bob, Joan, Sam, Wei, Dave, Lupita and Juan Xiang
• House manager Kelly for serving as host at Friendship House MSU
• Janine for organizing the children

Still, the smiles were what most caught my attention.  Their beaming faces proved that the world smiled with us — from ear to ear.

]]> http://leadvilletoday.com/2012/10/12/latest-news-october-12-fri/ Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:56:27 +0000 Leadville Today http://leadvilletoday.com/2012/10/12/latest-news-october-12-fri/ A new obituary has been posted. 

Friday Movie Night at CMC – Join the Fun!

The Colorado Mountain College International Film Series continues tonight at 6 p.m. with the 2011 Spanish film “The Skin I Live In.”  Prior to the start of the film, there will be an introduction to help understand the film’s thematic content and the filmmaker’s techniques such as the narrative structure and cinematography. Topics of interest may include the film’s treatment of gender, race and ethnicity. Post-film discussions will examine the social, cultural, and historic relevance of the film.

The CMC International Film Series brings seven culturally diverse films shown on Fridays. Enjoy one or all seven films for $10. Register at CMC in advance or on the night of the movie. For information, call 719-486-4292.

I was up in the Queen City of Regina doing a website photo package for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  It’s always nice to have photos of your building and what you do on your website so people can check out what’s shaking. The name of the game this time round was architectural shots, staff portraits, stock photography and some action shots of a typical sunday service. The shoot was fast and furious and fairly extensive. But we got it done before Regan and I went off to see Fiddler on the Roof live at the Arts Centre (which was AMAZING! Highly recommend you check it out). I wish I could have taken some pictures but they have a “poison dart photo policy” which means they employ a rainforest aborigine with his blow dart gun to *ftoof* shoot you in the neck if he sees you with a camera. You wake up naked on a hill of fire ants somewhere near buffalo pound I’m told.  Shudder!

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Southampton had been using slides and even videos in sermons for a while, but now Pastor Michael Carlson has cut out the middle man in the A/V room by using an iPad as a control device while he’s preaching. And, no, this is not more flash than substance.

“I hope that whenever I’m sharing with the congregation that it’s the message that is foremost,” Carlson says. “Ours is a fairly traditional Lutheran congregation and, you know, using media in worship in any form was not our tradition. I’ve detected no real resistance.”

Despite technical wrinkles, Pastor Carlson finds that because the iPad screen lets him see what’s next he’s more conversational and spontaneous.  His sermons are online as text but maybe multi-media is in the offing here too.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060

[listicle id=55129 align=left show_title=true]

As always, this season is filled with excitement for Empowered Women International! We have many events that we’re attending – home parties, conferences, crafts fairs, CFC events, and more. Please find a list of our fall events below, along with location and contact information, should you wish to attend. We hope to see you frequently throughout the fall at many of these wonderful events!

* September

* October

* November

* December

SEPTEMBER

Saturday, September 11 — 2:00-5:00pm

Home Party Hosted by EWI Supporter

Alexandria, VA

Drink, nibble, and shop for unique gifts for yourself, friends, and family. This event supports a wonderful cause, as well as providing you with the opportunity to learn more about our organization and get some truly unique art and craftwork.

Please RSVP with Juliana at juliana@ewint.org or (410) 409-1683. She will give you directions at that time.

Wednesday, September 29 — 12:30-3:30pm

Specialty Tea: International Tea featuring EWI

The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD

Snack on international food and experience live music from around the world, as you enjoy Afternoon Tea in the cozy atmosphere of The Shapiro Music Room at Strathmore.

$26 per person; please call (301) 581-5108 for reservations.

Back to the top ↑

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 2 – 4:00-9:00pm

International Dinner and Trade Fair

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA

EWI will be present with a variety of different work by our artists. We will also be offering henna designs and performing felt soap production demos.

Thursday, October 14 — 11:00am-1:30pm

Success In Style: The Pink Bag Lunch

Maple Lawn Community Center, 7600 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Fulton, MD

The Pink Bag Lunch is a lot of things:
~ It’s a lunch, of course, provided by everyone’s favorite, Panera Bread.
~ It’s networking event, or social event depending on where you are in life.
~ It’s a fashion show, our beautiful clients modeling our fabulous donated clothing!
~ It’s a unique market, about a dozen area vendors will provide a fabulous shopping experience.
~ It’s Success In Style’s main fundraiser.

Tickets are $40; please visit http://www.successinstyle.org to learn more.

Thursday, October 14 — 1:30-3:00pm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ CFC Kick-Off Event and Ice Cream Social

DHHS, Parklawn Complex, Rockville, MD

Tuesday, October 19 — 10:00am-3:30pm

U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s Diversity Fair

FDA, White Oak Campus, Silver Spring, MD

The event will feature international vendors, local companies and services, and performances.

Saturday, October 23 — 9:00am-noon

Brooksfield School’s McLean Green Day

St. Dunstan’s Church, 1830 Kirby Road, McLean, VA

Highlights include green vendors, pony rides, a climbing wall, pumpkin painting, face painting, green Halloween activities, gardening demonstrations, local and organic foods, and fitness demonstrations.

Tuesday, October 26 — 11:00am-2:00pm

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s CFC Event

PTO, Alexandria, VA

Wednesday, October 27 — 11:00am-6:30pm

Companies for Causes: Power of Us

Bethesda North Marriott, Bethesda, MD

Companies for Causes will host its First annual Corporate Social Responsibility Symposia, bringing together the region’s most committed community-minded thought leadership to set the stage for a better tomorrow – and EWI will be there! Hundreds of private sector CEO’s, philanthropists, and elected and civic leaders from throughout the region will gather for a day of exceptional vision and exchange.

Back to the top ↑

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 6 — 8:00-11:00am

Crafts Fair at Curves in Bowie

Curves, 3266 Superior Lane, Bowie, MD

Sunday, November 7 — 4:00-8:00pm

2hands indie craft market

Holy Grounds Youth Center, 617 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, Severna Park, MD

2hands indie craft market is supporting Empowered Women International and hosting two of our artists – Brigitta Kral and Debbie Schran – at their upcoming market. 2hands is a showcase for emerging independent designers selling authentic, fresh wares against a backdrop of live music, lively conversation and good things to eat and drink. What more could you ask for on a Sunday afternoon?

To learn more, go to www.2handsmarket.com.

Wednesday, November 10 — 5:00-9:00pm

The Busy Women “Holiday Shopping” Expo

Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville, MD

Just in Time for the Holidays! InSight Performance Group is proud to present the Busy Women “Holiday Shopping” Expo. What is the Busy Women “Holiday Shopping” Expo? … You have to shop anyway. Why not buy from Women Owned Businesses, support the Domestic Violence Center, and have a lot fun at the same time!

Saturday, November 13 — 9:00am-4:00pm

EWI Marketplace at WATESOL Conference

Riggs Alumni Center, University of Maryland, College Park

The WATESOL Fall Convention 2010 is a full-day professional development event and will include an EWI Marketplace featuring artist members’ art and work.

Wednesday, November 18 — 11:00am-1:30pm

Meridian International Center’s 2010 Holiday Crafts Fair

Meridian International Center, Washington, DC

The event will feature original jewelry, photography, handmade soaps and lotions, handmade candles, baked goods, fine art, craft work, and much, much more! EWI is looking forward to showcasing wonderful holiday gifts and art.

Back to the top ↑

DECEMBER

Thursday, December 2 — 7:00-9:00pm

Home Party Hosted by EWI Board Member

Alexandria, VA

Drink, nibble, and shop for unique holiday gifts for yourself, friends, and family. This event supports a wonderful cause, as well as providing you with the opportunity to learn more about our organization and get some truly unique art and craftwork.

Please RSVP with Ann at AEWS@aol.com. She will give you directions at that time.

Saturday, December 4 — 12:00-5:00pm

Reston Giving Circle of Hope: “Gifts That Give Hope” Alternative Market

Truro Church, 10520 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22031

Please come and select special gifts that give HOPE and HELP to those less fortunate! The event features over 20 participating nonprofits.

This year, the fair will be held in conjunction with Fairfax City’s Festival of Lights and Carols.  Both tangible and virtual gifts will be available to shoppers.  A number of fair trade gifts have been added that directly benefit needy populations and there are many brand new nonprofit organizations.  For each “virtual gift”, shoppers will receive a gift card with a description of the gift (donation) they selected in honor of a friend or relative.  All gifts give help and hope to others!

You can learn more at www.giftsthatgivehope.org/fairfax.

Saturday, December 4 — 7:00-10:30pm

Divas and Bards: A Winter Enchantment, Convergence Holiday Gala and Fundraiser

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA

Divas and Bards: A Winter’s Enchantment, begins at 7:00 p.m. with a concert by the 7 Sopranos, a unique, fun combination of arrangements of classics from all genres; a celebration of all things soprano! EWI will be selling work by artist members, all the perfect purchases for special and unique holiday gifts.

To learn more about 7 Sopranos, please visit their website. Tickets for the event are $30/person in advance (buy online) and $35 at the door.

Wednesday, December 8 — 8:30-10:00am

Women in Business Networking Breakfast

Sheraton Columbia Hotel, Columbia, MD

The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber hosts a light breakfast featuring Marga Fripp, EWI’s founder. The event will also include an EWI Artisan Market showcasing four of our artist members.

To register for the event, please go to www.bwcc.org. Prepaid tickets are $25 for BWCC Members; tickets at the door and for non-members are $45.

Saturday, December 11 — 4:00-7:00pm

Women of Courage Gala Event

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA

Join us for a multicultural celebration of art, music and entrepreneurship on Saturday from 4-7pm at Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane. The event is FREE but RSVPs are required.  You’ll have the opportunity to meet the 12 amazing graduates from our 2010 Entrepreneur Training for Success program, hear from inspiring speakers, and visit our Gift Shop to get some last-minute holiday shopping done. Please take advantage of this chance to celebrate EWI’s empowering work in the community!

See the full event schedule.

Sunday, December 12 — 2:00-5:00pm

Home Party hosted by EWI Supporter

McLean, VA

Have last minute holiday gifts to buy? EWI has the perfect solution: drink, nibble, and shop for unique gifts for yourself, friends, and family. This event supports a wonderful cause, as well as providing you with the opportunity to learn more about our organization and get some truly unique art and craftwork.

Please RSVP with Juliana at juliana@ewint.org or (410) 409-1683. She will give you directions at that time.

Friday, December 17 — 7:30-9:00pm

Alexandria Singers’ Yule School Reunion Concert with EWI Art Market

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA

Join the Alexandria Singers as they weave jazzy arrangements of your favorite holiday tunes into a fun filled tale of students at Elf School returning for their 20th reunion, where they reconnect with each other and find the holiday spirit again. Fun for the whole family. Guest appearance by Santa!

The EWI Gift Shop will be open before and after the performances, staffed by artist members and featuring one-of-a-kind handmade work by a variety of EWI artists.

Buy tickets for the performance on Friday, December 17 at 7:30pm.

Saturday, December 18 — 2:00-3:30pm

Alexandria Singers’ Yule School Reunion Concert with EWI Art Market

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA

Join the Alexandria Singers as they weave jazzy arrangements of your favorite holiday tunes into a fun filled tale of students at Elf School returning for their 20th reunion, where they reconnect with each other and find the holiday spirit again. Fun for the whole family. Guest appearance by Santa!

The EWI Gift Shop will be open before and after the performances, staffed by artist members and featuring one-of-a-kind handmade work by a variety of EWI artists.

Buy tickets for the performance on Saturday, December 18 at 2:00pm.

Saturday, December 18 — 7:30-9:00pm

Alexandria Singers’ Yule School Reunion Concert with EWI Art Market

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA

Join the Alexandria Singers as they weave jazzy arrangements of your favorite holiday tunes into a fun filled tale of students at Elf School returning for their 20th reunion, where they reconnect with each other and find the holiday spirit again. Fun for the whole family. Guest appearance by Santa!

The EWI Gift Shop will be open before and after the performances, staffed by artist members and featuring one-of-a-kind handmade work by a variety of EWI artists.

Buy tickets for the performance on Saturday, December 18 at 7:30pm.

Back to the top ↑

April 26, 2009 – During a Sunday service, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria made a $500 gift to EWI and recognized the organization for its service to empower and build self-sufficiency paths for artistically talented immigrant and refugee women and families. We thank Good Shepard Lutheran Church for their continued support and investment in our work.

Muslim groups angered by ruling to allow Catholic newspaper to use word ‘Allah.’

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, January 11 (CDN) — In unprecedented acts that stunned Christians in Malaysia, suspected Islamists have attacked eight church buildings since the country’s High Court ruled that a Catholic weekly could use the word “Allah.”

Firebombs were thrown into the compounds of four churches in Kuala Lumpur and neighboring Petaling Jaya on Friday (Jan. 8); three more attacks occurred on Sunday (Jan. 10) in Taiping, Melaka and Miri; and another church building was hit today in Seremban. There were no reports of injuries.

Judge Lau Bee Lan delivered the controversial court ruling on Dec. 31, arguing that the Herald had a constitutional right to use the word “Allah” for God in the Malay section of its multi-lingual newspaper. The ruling caused an uproar among many Muslim groups widely reported to have called for nationwide protests after Friday prayers, asserting that “Allah” can be used only in the context of Islam. Among groups calling for protests were the Muslim Youth Movement and the National Association of Muslim Students.

Inflammatory rhetoric has emerged in the escalating conflict; at a protest in Shah Alam since protests began on Friday, a speaker at one rally urged listeners to “burn churches,” according to the online news site Malaysian Insider. The crowd reportedly stood in stunned silence.

Malaysia’s Home Ministry filed an appeal against the High Court decision on Jan. 4. Two days later, the court allowed a freeze on the decision to permit the Herald to use the word “Allah” pending hearing in the Court of Appeal.

The attacked churches were Metro Tabernacle (Assembly of God) in Kuala Lumpur, and three churches in Petaling Jaya: Life Chapel (Brethren), Assumption Church (Catholic) and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Lutheran); also damaged were All Saints’ Church (Anglican) in Taiping, Melaka Baptist Church in Melaka (vandalized but not firebombed), Good Shepherd Church (Catholic) in Miri (pelted with stones) and Sidang Injil Borneo (Evangelical Church of Borneo) in Seremban.

Though there were no casualties, a number of the church buildings were damaged in the attacks. Metro Tabernacle suffered the worst damage, with the ground floor of its three-story building, which housed its administrative office, completely gutted. The main door of the church in Seremban was charred.

The Rev. Ong Sek Leang, senior pastor of Metro Tabernacle, reportedly said that the church harbors no ill feelings toward the culprits and would forgive those responsible, but that it does not condone the acts.

Most of the other church buildings suffered minor damage, though the Assumption Church was spared when the Molotov cocktail thrown into its compound failed to go off. The Melaka Baptist Church building was splashed with black paint, while stones were thrown into the Good Shepherd Church building in Miri.

The Malaysian Insider reported on Friday (Jan. 8) that two other churches received telephone threats from unknown sources.

Christian leaders, government and opposition leaders, and Non-Governmental Organizations have condemned the attacks. Police have promised to increase security around church buildings, but Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan told the Malaysian Insider that churches must beef up their own security since there is a shortage of police personnel.

Malaysia’s population is about 60 percent Muslim, 19 percent Buddhist and 9 percent Christian. About 6 percent are Hindu, with 2.6 percent of the population adhering to Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions.

Shocked

The spate of church attacks shocked the Christian community and nation, as acts of violence on places of worship are unprecedented in Malaysia.

Ramon Navaratnam, Chairman of the Centre of Public Policy Studies, said in a press statement on Friday (Jan. 8) that the attacks marked a “troubling trend” and “a low point in our nation’s history.”

The same day, Malaysian Bar Council Chairman Ragunath Kesavan said in a press statement that the attacks were “shocking and offensive” and that “all right-minded Malaysians must condemn it as indecent and unacceptable.”

Christian leaders strongly denounced the attacks and have asked the government to safeguard the community and its places of worship. They have also called on the government to take firm steps against the perpetrators while paving the way for greater understanding between the different religious communities.

The Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches Malaysia, called on the government to “show zero tolerance for the use, threat or incitement, of violence as a means to pressure the decision of the court.” The Rev. Eu Hong Seng, chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, called on the government “to take the necessary steps to educate those who lack understanding and are ‘easily confused’ to be mature-minded in a progressive democratic society.”

Leaders on both sides of the political divide have also denounced the attacks, while a number of opposition leaders – including Anwar Ibrahim, adviser to the People’s Justice Party – put the blame on the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), the leading partner in the ruling coalition government. Anwar reportedly accused UMNO-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia of having incited Muslims over the court decision.

A number of local commentators have also criticized Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for not defusing rising tensions in the initial days of the court ruling. They have also come under fire for saying they would allow public demonstrations by Muslim groups to proceed, and that they would take action “only if things got out of hand.”

Despite the attacks, a check with parishioners of several churches in the Klang Valley showed Christians were undeterred by the acts of violence and continued to gather for worship yesterday.

Urging Christians to pray, Sam Ang, secretary-general of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, told Compass, “We see this as an opportunity to trust in the Lord and to revitalize our faith, especially for second-generation Christians.”

Report from Compass Direct News 

Tonight, The Madison Chorale will presents its Spring Concert at Berkley First United Methodist Church. On Sunday, the program will be presented at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Royal Oak at 3 p.m.

Featuring classical choral music, the program begins at 8 p.m. tonight at Berkley First United Methodist Church, located at 2820 12 Mile Road, Berkley, Michigan, 48072. The public is invited to arrive and take in the silent auction that supports The Madison Chorale.

Tickets are $15. Please call (248) 808-6238 for advance tickets or questions.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the venue for Sunday‘s performance, is located at 814 Campbell Street, Royal Oak, 48067.