The St. Louis Dream Center has appointed a new director. Pastor Alex Bryant, a graduate of Evangel University, is gearing up for the New Year with initiatives to bring life-changing programs to an area filled with poverty.
“My goal for the next couple years is to expand our reach so that we can see more people move from being in a state of extreme poverty to becoming productive members of society,” Bryant said.
Having grown up in the housing projects, Bryant brings a unique perspective to the community. In an area challenged with crime and drug activity, the St. Louis Dream Center, 3921 Clarence Ave., has become a place of hope for many.
Bryant says, “I want to help kids realize that not only can they make it, but they can live with a purpose.”
Members of the community know the St. Louis Dream Center in North St. Louis for its meal programs, a place to get groceries or a haircut, as well as pick out clothes for their family in the Dream Center clothing boutique.
In 2014, along with these weekly activities, the St. Louis Dream Center will also host their annual Easter outreach, Back 2 School Blast, Turkey Basket Giveaway, and Christmas Blessing event.
An outreach arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries, the St. Louis Dream Center was founded in 2000 by Dave and Joyce Meyer. The Dream Center provides meals to the hungry and assists the homeless. Staff and volunteers make visits to area homes, nursing and retirement communities offering prayer, gifts, companionship and comfort.
Bryant says he also wants to add more initiatives that will help people move along in life from where they are to where they need to be. This means incorporating outreaches like a GED program, budgeting skills, job skills training, home ownership help, medical and dental clinics, tutoring for school-aged kids, etc.
These initiatives will require more local volunteers, skilled with unique offerings. “We are looking forward to getting things going,” says Bryant. “This will be an momentous year with the help of our St. Louis volunteers.”
If you are interested in volunteering at the St. Louis Dream Center, please contact Judy Lamborn at 314-381-0700, ext. 8001 or visit www.stldreamcenter.org.
Religious groups release poverty report
Missourians to End Poverty, a coalition of businesses, religious organizations and governmental agencies, released the first “State of the State: Poverty in Missouri” report last week at the State Capitol Building in Jefferson City.
Pat Dougherty, senior director of advocacy for Catholic Charities, said that the report shows that poverty has been rising in Missouri for five consecutive years.
Rev. Christopher Ross, pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Owensville, spoke of the biblical mandate for people of faith to act in compassionate solidarity with those in poverty. He called the poverty report “a tool to help us become informed about the basic facts of people suffering around us so we can answer this calling.”
The “State of the State: Poverty in Missouri” report is available on-line at:
http://www.communityaction.org/2009%20Poverty%20Summit.aspx
Bethesda Temple conference
The Bethesda Temple Bible Institute Annual Conference and Symposium will be held January 30 through February 1 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Renewal of the Mind.” Contact Bethesda Temple Church, 5401 Bishop J. A. Johnson Ln., Normandy. Email btbistl@yahoo.com or call 314-382-2606.
