Rev. Marilyn P. Turner (front right), National Ministries' associate director for Program Ministries, delivered the keynote address for the event. In the background (left to right) are Rev. Florence Li, national coordinator for Intercultural Ministries-Asian Church Strategist; Dr. Cassandra Williams, national coordinator for Discipleship Resources Development; Rev. Dorian Mendez-Vaz, national coordinator for Children's and Intergenerational Ministries; and PBA Executive Minister, Dr. James E. McJunkin Jr.

Approximately 150 church leaders, pastors and laypersons from across the Philadelphia region participated in the day-long program.

Child poverty and school drop-out rates dominated the discussions at the recent 301st annual meeting of the Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA). Approximately 150 church leaders, pastors and laypersons from across the Philadelphia region participated in the day-long program.

Keynoter Rev. Marilyn P. Turner, National Ministries'associate director for Program Ministries, told the group, "Poverty exists everywhere. When we start talking about making a difference in the lives of children in poverty, you don't have to go very far. It exists in a neighborhood near you."

Citing statistics, Turner pointed to the growing numbers and worsening conditions among poor children in the United States, particularly as they relate to education. She termed "appalling" a recent report that showed more students drop-out of Philadelphia schools than graduate, noting the role that poverty plays in such decisions.

"Our public schools need a great deal of assistance," Turner said. "The 'Children in Poverty' initiative focuses on ways churches can partner with public school systems to make a difference. National Ministries-supported programs like 'Adopt-a-School,' 'One Church, One School,' and 'Teach for America' are ways churches can get involved; another way is through individual volunteerism as mentors or tutors in after school programs," Turner suggested.

During the day, members of National Ministries' staff led workshops about literacy and children in poverty; biblical foundations for ministry to children in poverty, poverty issues related to Burmese Refugee resettlement, and building the church/investing in the Kingdom. Participating staff included Rev. Dorian Mendez-Vaz, national coordinator for Children's and Intergenerational Ministries; Dr. Cassandra Williams, national coordinator for Discipleship Resources Development; Rev. Florence Li, national coordinator for Intercultural Ministries-Asian Church Strategist; and Valoria L. Cheek, Esq., president of The American Baptist Extension Corporation.

According to PBA Executive Minister Dr. James E. McJunkin Jr., "The faith community has a longstanding relationship with Philadelphia area schools. Ours has been a long history of dealing with education issues both as a region and as congregations."

Citing the involvement of PBA churches and pastors in various church-school partnerships such as back to school, adopt-a-school, tutoring, mentoring and violence prevention programs, McJunkin noted, "Volunteers have a tremendous impact on the lives of kids—the drop-out rate slows and we don't lose as many. When a community abandons its youth, when no supports are provided—kids flounder."

At this year's PBA meeting, McJunkin had hoped to "raise the consciousness among our congregations about poverty in Philadelphia as well as across the region; and provide our churches with the information, resources and connections to structure a response at the local church level."

Poverty-related drop-out rates have also been increasing in other urban school systems, like Washington, D.C. In 2006, Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, executive minister of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, chronicled the school drop-out problem in his article, "A Stand-Up Church for a Dropout Nation." Originally published in "Capital Baptist," a publication of the D.C. convention, the article was reprinted in "The Christian Citizen" (Vol. 3, 2006), a journal of Christian social concern published by National Ministries.

According to Haggray, there appears to be a correlation between dropping out of school and dropping out of church. He theorizes that churches with full-time youth pastors have fewer youth who drop out of school and more who stay in church.

"Developing youth programs and ministries that inspire, give hope and a framework for success, can produce a trickle down effect that results in youth staying in school and pursuing their goals," Haggray said.

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