Getting Axed
How can the church help?
Getting retrenched is a depressing and frightening experience, and for many, a rather shameful one too. Losing a job brings with it a lot of emotional baggage, making the 'losers' feel vulnerable and unworthy. With our rapidly-deteriorating economy, more and more people are expected to be shown the door. How does the church help unload that emotional burden off those who are and will be affected?
A quick check around churches shows that while they are concerned about the effects of the economy on their members, not many are taking proactive action to help potential retrenchment "victims". Most churches said they were keeping a lookout for members who might have been retrenched or are in danger of losing their jobs to offer them counseling and material assistance.
But can churches do more than these? And quickly?
"The earlier we help the better. Day by day the situation is deteriorating and more and more of our members are in distress physically and mentally," says Dr Benjamin George Snr, a church leader. Dr George is currently initiating a nationwide job-care force to help retrenched Christians find employment.
"These are the people who have been with us for years supporting us financially, often sacrificially. Now, when they are in dire need how can we fail them? Many are feeling that the church does not care…the leaders are not even aware of the tragedy of their members, and do not want to be involved!"
Dr George admits, however, that establishing a nationwide initiative takes time and laments that "time is not on our side."
Also, mobilising a a nationwide initiative poses a steep challenge. Hence, he feels the most efficient way to help affected church members is to 'localise' the aid programme through individual churches. The programmes need not be big or fanciful.
For instance, some churches in Kuala Lumpur have started to pin up job vacancy notices from their members who are hiring people and link job seekers directly to the prospective employers. One church pastor, who wishes to remain anonymous, shares, "In the last recession, we asked those who were retrenched or were facing financial problems to see us so that the church can provide financial aid to them.
"We interviewed them to ensure they were genuinely in need and then gave out amounts ranging from RM200 to RM700 a month. The money wasn't a loan but a gift to them from the church. We have not started this yet (for this round) but will if it's needed."
Individuals within churches can also make a big impact in assisting their needy brethren in difficult times by offering practical help such as the following examples reported by Dr George:
- A brother gives his works to Christian contractors and buys things from fellow (Christian) businessmen;
- A Christian businessman gives special discounts to needy believers;
- A doctor provides free or hugely-discounted fees to needy Christian patients.
For a more coordinated approach, Dr George has proposed a church membership register where members' details, such as their profession or business, are listed and the register made available to all members. Some churches may shy away from having such a register for fear of misuse, but the benefits of having one far outweighs the negative side, argues Dr George.
This is a proactive step to helping potential needy members. For example, the
register will give an indication of who are likely to be affected by the downturn based on their jobs. The idea is to "know them and find them". Dr George adds, "How can the church help the needy when they do not know who they are?"
Another Christian who was recently retrenched from his CEO position has suggested that churches form 'job placement' committees to match employees and employers within the church. Those who have been retrenched or are unemployed can forward their resumé to the committee. Likewise, those who are seeking employees can forward their requirements to the committee who will then try to make the match.
Additionally, businessmen or professionals can register with the committee to indicate the goods and services they offer so that fellow Christians can bless them by utilising their services. He also proposed the creation of a website or database directory where church members could access to find the goods and services.
"In this way, we are blessing one another and supporting the Christian community," he said.
For another church in Petaling Jaya, keen ears are the main approach it is employing to help any needy brethren during this economic downturn. "The main thing we are doing is to get our cell and zone leaders to pay attention to any needs in their cell groups so that we can help one another through this time," says its spokesman.
The church has a strategic plan - the pastoral care of its members in cell groups would first be directly met by the cell leaders, then zone leaders and finally the zone pastors. The care includes prayer, counseling, referrals, visitation and practical help for one another, including financial, spiritual, social and emotional assistance.
In the meantime, the leadership is exploring strategies such as getting the experts - human resource professionals, financial planners and counsellors - together to discuss ways to help the needy with job placement, debt restructuring or financial planning.
But helping the needy must go beyond the church, the spokesman maintains. The church also helps suffering non-believers referred by church members. "Our foodbank and financial assistance are given (to these needy ones) through referrals."
Meanwhile, retrenched workers can look to various marketplace initiatives which have been established to help match the jobless with suitable jobs. An example is the Selangor state retrenchment task force, an initiative by the state government, which organises career and resumé clinics where retrenched workers can register themselves and obtain aid or advice.
Recently, the force was expanded to include assisting unemployed graduates. At the clinics, individuals can also obtain information on retraining programmes which are available under the Human Resources Ministry. |
