South Los Angeles church turns theft into a reason to give
When he speaks about the boy who stole the collection plate, the Rev. Henry L. Masters likes to recount the Old Testament story of Joseph and the good that ultimately resulted from his misfortune.
Sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, Joseph eventually comes to their aid, thanks to his relationship with Pharaoh. Masters shared that story with his congregation at Holman United Methodist Church in 2001 after a teenager stole money collected at an annual breakfast fundraiser.
The boy wasn't a stranger at the church on West Adams Boulevard in South Los Angeles. "He had come from a rather difficult home life, so we were trying to reach out to him," Masters said.
But one morning the boy grabbed the plate full of money -- in plain sight -- and ran off. He was never seen again.
"His snatching the money was a grievous thing to do but also a reminder to us that there are kids in the community who don't have money," Masters said.
So the next Sunday, Masters told the story of Joseph and challenged his congregation to do something for young people. Congregants soon raised $50,000 and started the Jobs for Kids program, now in its sixth year.
The idea is simple: The congregation pays teens, ages 14 to 18, $8 an hour (a little more in some cases) while they hold summer jobs at various businesses.
About 200 teenagers have gone through the program, and they've worked 20 hours a week in workplaces such as law offices, nonprofits and a television news station.
About 40 students are in the program this summer, still supported by church members. Masters notes that donations are always welcome.
Each Friday the students take a course in personal development, which teaches practical skills, such as time management, and helps them set goals for the future. The course is offered in conjunction with West Los Angeles College.
"Some of the kids find their passion," said Kathy Walton, a program director at West Los Angeles College. "We've had a number of success stories."
For Masters, the lesson of Jobs for Kids -- and its inspiration -- is simple enough: "We can't choose our circumstances, but we can choose the way to respond."
On behalf of Jews
Hadassah, the influential Jewish women's organization, gathered in Los Angeles this week for its 94th annual national convention, attracting A-list speakers who addressed anti-Semitism, solidarity with Israel and the upcoming presidential election.
