Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 1, 2001, edition 1 / Page 20
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Bush unveils religious-based charity plan BY SCOTT LINDLAW The Associated Pkess WASHING ION - President George W. Bush said Monday he will tap U.S. religious institutions lor more charitable work, confronting critics who say using public money for such programs could violate the wall between chtfifch and state. "Compassion is the work of a nation, not just a government," he said. Bush established a White House office that would distribute billions of dollars to religious groups and charities over the next 10 years. The president said such groups grapple daily with "deep needs and real suf fering" in communities, and deserve a chance to compete for taxpayer money for after-school programs, prison ministries and drug treat ment, among other things. "Government will never be replaced by charities and communi ty groups," Bush said. "Yet when we see social needs in America, my administration will look first to faith-based programs ... We will not discriminate against them." The president signed two execu tive orders, one to establish a White House office of religion-based com munity initiatives, and the other instructing five cabinet-level agen cies to create entities to work with religious groups Bush said he issued the second order to clear barriers "that make private groups hesitant to work with government." To build support. Bush will meet throughout the week with leaders of spiritual and charitable groups and he plans to attend' the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Bush chose University of Penn sylvania political science professor John J. Diiulio Jr. to head the office. He tapped former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith to serve on the board of the Corporation for National Service, which will work with the new White House office. Bush said both men will report directly to him. Skeptics say shifting government money to churches, synagogues and mosques so they can expand assis tance programs raises church-state separation questions. Even some churches are wary of government money that might come with strings attached. Diiulio, Goldsmith and other supporters brushed aside such ques tions when they spoke with reporters after Bush's announce ment "It's proven that when there's a faith component to social services, it brings about a greater opportunity and a greater percentage (chance) that that person's going to be changed from the inside out, as opposed to from outside in," said the Rev. Herbert Lusk, who attend ed Monday's meeting. Lusk endorsed Bush at the Republican National Convention. Striking pre-emptively at critics. Bush said religious groups must be President Bush part of the solution to society's ills. "A compassionate society is one which recognizes the great power of faith," Bush said last week. "We in government must not fear faith based programs; we must welcome faith-based programs." Minister sentenced to 60 years for molesting children BY JENNIFER HOLLAND The Associated Press GREENWOOD, S.C.- A minister and former elementary school aide who videotaped him self molesting children pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abus ing almost two dozen children at his church office and in the school and was given 60 years in prison. The Rev. Fernando Garcia admitted to 47 counts: 32 of per forming lewd acts and 15 of var ious degrees of criminal sexual conduct. There were a total of 23 vic tims between the ages of 5 and 13. Circuit Judge Joe Wilson sen tenced the 42-year-old minister to the maximum of 15. or 30 years on each count. Some sen tences were concurrent and some consecutive. The judge read the names of each victim and the counts, then asked Garcia if he committed the acts. "Yes sir, I did," Garcia responded. After his plea, the Baptist minister, who apologized to the community shortly after his arrest last year, stared at the courtroom floor while the moth er of two of the victims, boys ages 10 and 12 at the time, called Garcia "this evil incarnate" and said her family would never be the same. Garcia, who grew up in Mex ico. said that as a boy he was abused by a Roman Catholic priest. "Your kids need special coun seling. 1 don't know what 1 can do to help," he said. "What you are seeing here is the result of somebody who never took the chance to be counseled." Garcia's wife, Leticia, sobbed as she spoke in Spanish on her husband's behalf. "This is a different Fernando than what I used to know," she said through an interpreter. Garcia was recommended strongly from his previous min istry in Carson City, Nev., when he came here in 1998 to work with the Abbeville Baptist Asso ciation. The umbrella group for local churches was looking for a minister to serve the growing Hispanic population in this tex tile town of 20,000 people. He held Sunday night services in Spanish at a local church, per formed counseling and Was kept busy speaking at local Kiwanis and Lions clubs and rotating his visits to area churches. "He could speak English and Spanish. He was gifted in music and preaching," Wallace Hughes, the Baptist association's director of missions, said last summer after Garcia was charged. Some of the children of inves tigators on the case served with Garcia's two teen-age children as ushers at Abbeville Memorial Baptist Church. In Garcia's office at the Bap tist association, police said they found 26 videotapes of him sexu ally abusing children. The encounters took place at Garcia's office and at past End Elemen tary School, where he was a library aide. The tapes came to light after an 8-year-old boy told his moth er in May that he had been molested by Garcia, police said. Garcia was arrested two days later. Police also found a list of 125 names indicating Garcia may have molested more children and young men. some of them in two other states. The 23 Greenwood victims were on the list, with dates and ages, from 5 to 22, next to each name, prosecutor Townes Jones said. He would not discuss details. Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks previously has said there also might be victims in Nevada and Georgia The local school district and church said nothing turned up in their background checks before Garcia was hired and police and prosecutors said Garcia did not have a criminal record. Rev. Isabella Alford to speak at Goler Memorial Spi.c i \i 10 The Chronic i \ Longtime Winston-Salem native Rev. Isabella W. Alford will deliver the morning message at Goler Memorial AME Zion Church on Sunday, Feb. 4. at the 8:30 a.m. worship service.. Alford now resides in Rowland. N.C., where she is the associate pastor at Mount Pleasant AME Church. Rev. Alford She is the wife of Richard Alford Sr., has three children and lived in Winston Salem for more than 25 years. Sunday school from page B7 he will repay those that he cheat ed fourfold. The Law only requires 20 percent. Salvation comes to the publican for he to is a son of Abraham. Jesus states his mission at the end of this story. He comes to seek and to save the lost. I Application: What a blessing! Jesus has transforming power. Look in the mirror, are you the same since meeting the Christ? Very often we witness an event and don't see a thing. The disci ples were like that. Are we? Our search for happiness is nonend ing. Do we realize that it is in Jesus? Like the disciples, we look in the wrong places. Because of that we expect one thing and get another. Jesus comes to save us! His teachings are profound. His miracles are awesome, and His love can only be explained in the spirit. If He does it for us. why not for others? Catch the Spirit of Jesus and share Him with others. You talk about joy and happiness this is ? it. All that the world has to offer can't compare with this. There is no time to look down on others because look where He brought you from. Join the movement to invite others to him! Dr. Walter Kimbrough to speak to Black Methodists for Church Renewal o I SjPiiCIAL IQ XHfc CHBOWKLt Dr. Walter Kimbrough, senior pastor of the 5,000 member Cascade United Methodist Church of Atlanta, Ga? will be the keynote speak er for Western North Carolina Caucus of Black Methodists for Church Renewal Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Winston Salem. Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) was formed in 1969 as a caucus representing the interests of 350,000 African Americans in the United Methodist Church. It functions to assure that the United Methodist Church remains sensitive to the ongo ing needs of African Ameri cans in the predominantly white denomination. BMCR has led in integrating all levels of the United Methodist Church, electing African Americans to the office of bishop, ensuring the inclusion of African-American history in the denominational histo ries and fostering racial under standing in the United Methodist Church. With national offices in Dayton, Ohio, the caucus has jurisdictional and local cau cuses located throughout the United States. In March 2000, Winston-Salem hosted the national annual meeting. For more than 30 years, Kimbrough's ministry has been characterized by evange lism, pastoral care, teaching, preaching and community ser vice. As a pastor, he has led Cascade United Methodist Church from a congregation of less than 100 members to the vibrant congregation that it is today. He has served on many community boards and in a wide variety of denomination al positions. He has received several awards that recognize his commitment to excellence in the church and the commu nity. He is a past national offi cer of Black Methodists for Church Renewal. A native of Atlanta, Ga., Kimbrough earned his under graduate degree from Morris Brown College, his graduate degree from the Interdenomi national Theological Center and was honored with an hon orary doctorate from Morris Brown College. A prolific speaker. Kimbrough is a much sought-after speaker nation wide. The Western North Caroli na Caucus of Black Methodists for Church Renew al is sponsoring this event. Lazelle Free is president; Rev. Donald Jenkins, vice presi dent; Natatie Young, secretary; and JoAnn Carter, treasurer. St. Paul United Methodist Church is at 2400 Dellabrook Road, Winston-Salem. First Assembly Christian School An exciting learning environment where children ... Explore & Create ^ Learn Together Have ,.lDund Fun Character grow ACHIEVE " IN FAITH SERVE OTHERS Discover 3730 University Parkway, Winston-Salem (336) 759-7762 www.facschampions.org First Assembly Christian School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school Pastor & First Lady Samuels "A full service ministry Meeting the Needs of the Peo ple, Spirit, Soul & Body. " Goodwill Bap tist Church 548 Goodwill Rd., Clemmons, NC Arcadia Community 764-3930 Phone 764-3975 Pastor's Office 764-5658 Fax Transportation Available. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church 1201 New Hope Lane ? Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Worship Service Schepi le Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Devotional Service 10:45 a.m. Morning Worship Service 11:15 a.m. Intecessory Prayer (Each Wednesday Night) 6:00 p.m. Bible Study (Each Wednesday Night) 7:00 p.m. "Striving To Make A Difference" Rev. John C. Parks OCjun\aAes' Caravan of K.cd ar * ^ Black Soap & Sheanut Butter From Nigeria African Attars & Carvings ? Italian Sterling Silver Olive Oil Soap From The Middle East Black Seed Products ? Perfume Oil Chewsticks Spiritual T-shirts ? And Much More Cook's Original Flea Market. Isle B ? 4290 Patterson Ave. Winston-Salem, NC ? Sat. 10 am - 5 pm & Sun. 11:30 am ? 5 pm
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 1, 2001, edition 1
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