Churches Help Out Cash-Strapped Public Schools; Get Access To Families

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports that as public schools experience increased budget cuts, they are looking for private sector partnerships. In some places, churches have stepped in to become those partners. When Lakeland, Florida's Combee Elementary School had its budget for essential supplies cut by a third, a local Baptist church "adopted" the school. First Baptist Church at the Mall, a 9000-member congregation, stocked a resource room with $5000 worth of supplies, sends in math and English tutors, caters spaghetti dinners at evening events and buys sneakers for students who cannot afford them. The Church's pastor, Dave McClamma, says: "We have inroads into public schools that we had not had before. By befriending the students, we have the opportunity to visit homes to talk to parents about Jesus Christ." Last Christmas, the school connected the Church with 30 families who agreed to visits at home by the Church. The pastor says 13 of those families "came to the Lord." School principal Steve Comparato says he would welcome congregations of any faith as sponsors, but added: "My personal conviction is that I hope through this they'll know Jesus and they'll get saved." [Thanks to Glenn Katon for the lead.]