“We are happiest when we are thinking about someone other than ourselves,” said President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Safeco Field in Seattle last month. He explained, “This is also why the Church actively engages in humanitarian service around the globe…, our efforts are designed to help all mankind. No shipments are labeled ‘For Latter-day Saints only.’”
President Nelson continued, “As a Church we need to be doing what the Savior wishes us to do. And as a people we need to be looking and acting like true followers of Jesus Christ.” In keeping with his vision, local leaders have invited city officials to learn more about what we can do as Latter-day Saints in the area to help and to serve.
Rev. Ann Helmke, who is the city’s “Faith Liaison” and heads up the City’s Faith Based Initiative toured the San Antonio Bishop’s Storehouse. Her office was created and funded to to connect the city with faith and secular organizations that serve the needy. She hopes to “fill the gaps” in caring, as connections are made throughout the city.
During her tour, Rev. Helmke was impressed with the Church’s organization, because as congregations, the Church uses “proximity” to serve and care for each other. Helmke said: “San Antonio is supposed to be twice this size in 20 years. In order to expand that way, I think we need to be working smaller in geographical proximity. You’re modeling that already with your Stakes and the whole self-sustainability and being responsible.” She said as she has been working with the city, and watching how other cities grow, “they tend to get very centralized in the work. The city gets to a certain size and the city is never going to have enough centralized [resources] to cover the need.” She said: “…proximity is essential and that’s where you grow communities and relationships.” Helmke continued “Part of my role is to navigate an intersection – to help the faith community to grow and be better.”
Elder Watkins, currently serving at the Bishop’s Storehouse, explained the procedure for receiving the resources and food available. He said that everything goes through the Bishops. “We can’t hand out food if someone comes to the door asking for help, because this is the Bishop’s Storehouse.” The Bishop has the stewardship over those resources. Helmke is hopeful to get many to tour the Bishop’s Storehouse including City Councilpersons and “Faith leaders from other expressions”.
Due to the “proximity” model of Church congregations, Helmke feels it is a great fit to overlay Stake and Ward boundaries with the different City Council Districts. Helmke feels there is potential for a City Councilperson to help a particular constituent to meet and work with a local bishop. Helmke sees it as a great preventative measure. She said individual families that councilmen would be encountering could be lifted out of a tight spot. She said: “There are people living in their own homes, but very much on the edge, so if we’re working in proximity that can help us to prevent problems.” She lauded Haven for Hope for it’s ability to help, especially when more services, like mental health might be needed, but it cannot handle the sheer volume of need in the city.
Helmke said that when they have overlaid the locations of the city’s 1,400 faith congregations and food pantries onto a map of the city, it becomes apparent how much good they accomplish. In those areas where congregations and food pantries are absent crime and violence is dramatically pronounced. She sees a Stake being able to make a big difference in those areas that are largely void of care, and where there are no other congregations with which to partner.
The tour at the Bishop’s Storehouse will hopefully open up some other exploratory options and possibly a trial with one or two of the City’s Districts participating. As we pick up President Nelson’s vision, there certainly is much we can do to lift those in need around us. JustServe.org and generous Fast offering donations certainly provide a great starting place to, “…be doing what the Savior wishes us to do.”