Seek and ye shall find: More than 200 job seekers and 17 employment agencies took part in a job fair at the Altamonte Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo: James Hippolyte
I’m sure you’ve heard this question before: “If your church burned down, would anyone in the neighborhood miss it?”
The old adage is a call to action for churches to get more involved with their communities. The members of Altamonte Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida are answering that call by expanding their services to residents. While actively engaging in a food distribution program that supports 1200 individuals monthly facing food insecurity, the church also addresses underlying factors contributing to the issue. The congregation took on the challenge of unemployment with a grassroots program that includes resume-building workshops, a job fair, and collaboration with local businesses and community agencies. Through dedication and prayer, this vision became a reality when the church partnered with key institutions such as AdventHealth, Andrews University Center for Community Change, and Central Florida Employment Council (CFEC), a division of the Christian Help Employment and Resource Center (CHERC).
On April 25, 2024, scores of job seekers filed into the church gymnasium to dialogue with local businesses about job opportunities. Some applicants had heard about the event through CFEC, while others came from the church’s food drive. Each job seeker had the chance to speak with several local businesses and apply for jobs. After conversing with potential employers, many applicants stopped by the prayer table before leaving, seeking God’s blessing in their job search. A few weeks later, CFEC Director Paulette Weir indicated that 226 job seekers and 17 employment agencies attended the program. The remarkable news was that 157 individuals gained employment after the event. Pastor Dion Henry attributed the impressive success of the program to the prayers of church members.
The church received several positive comments, such as “Thank you, and we look forward to working with you more in the future.” Other comments were, “I thought that this event was much better for the type of candidates we were looking for, and the location was easy to find,” and “We like the smaller event. If you do another one, let us know.” Jobseekers said that they were happy for this opportunity.
Prayer warrior: Before the visitors left the job fair, they had an opportunity to receive intercessory prayer from Rachel Dada. Photo: James Hippolyte
Bob O’Malley, who sits on the Altamonte Springs Board of Commissioners, praised the church’s efforts to uplift the neighborhood. He said, “The successful hiring event and weekly food distribution program are examples of the good work the Altamonte Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church is doing in our community. We appreciate everything the church does to support those in need.” Pastor Dion Henry credited the success of the job fair to Vickie Martin, CHERC executive director, who organized the event. He believes the event has birthed a long-term relationship between CFEC and other agencies. Looking forward, Pastor Dion Henry says the job fair will be an annual event, and he plans to expand the services with additional job-preparation opportunities.
Ellen G. White wrote, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, ‘Follow Me’” (Ministry of Healing, p. 143).
After forging new relations and providing needed services, Pastor Henry truly believes, “If our church burned down, the community would miss it.”
Carlos Medley, a retired online editor of the Adventist Review, lives in Orlando, Florida.