Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 15—The Georgia Bulletin, August 2, 1984
Christian Employment Cooperative
(Continued from page 1)
them to perfect resumes and interview techniques.
A Methodist who is active in the Full Gospel
Businessmen’s Fellowship - an ecumenical Charismatic
group of men - Bridges decided recently that he wanted
to go into full-time Christian work. He quickly found that
the Methodist Church, concerned about unemployment
among its members, wanted someone to study and address
the problem of unemployment. Bridges began that task,
and in the process, ran across the fledging Christian
Employment Cooperative.
Since their goals and objectives were the same, the
Methodist Church “lent me to the CEC,” said Bridges,
enabling him to tty and raise funds for the CEC. In 1984,
with about half the necessary funds in hand, from
foundations the CEC began its first year of full operation.
Leon Bridges
In the first six months, Bridges has been able to place
66 people in jobs through the Cooperative, a figure which
he regards realistically, but also with hope.
Given the tremendous number of unemployed, “placing
66 people is no outstanding number,” he said, “but to
those 66 people that is a big number.”
The group has been diverse, he said, including families
where both the husband and wife are out of work and job
hunting and single-parent households where a woman is
looking for work. Some are in need of job training to
bring up their skills to a higher level and others are
difficult to place because they are highly skilled and
competing for fewer, highly-priced jobs. Bridges said
about 80 percent of the jobs which he receives and a
similar percentage of applicants are seeking entry-level,
semi-skilled jobs.
He will interview each person before sending them on
job interviews and, if appropriate, try to help with
resumes, interview techniques and other skills that might
land a job. He also has access to other programs which can
provide job training. He works closely with Central
Atlanta Churches, a downtown ecumenical alliance which
provides a one-week preparation program for entry level
jobs.
Compared with two or three years ago, unemployment
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is down, Bridges said, “but we’re still talking about over
eight million people in this country” who are out of work.
“It’s still a tremendous problem in this area and there
are still many people unemployed and hurting
The CEC has drawn the attention of many
denominations, whose individual churches may have been
trying to cope with the crisis of unemployment through
partial efforts. One Roswell church two years ago was
carrying the mortgage payments of 40 to 50 of its families
during the recession, he said.
Over the last six months, Bridges has found that it’s
essential to have a “hands-on” approach every day to
sustain the job search and keep up with necessary
interviews.
So far the denominations primarily taking part in the
Cooperative are Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans,
Presbyterians and Episcopalians. Bridges has worked in
cooperation with the Job Network at St. Jude’s parish in
Sandy Springs, a thriving group which provides support
and practical help to the unemployed. “I take up where
they leave off,” said Bridges, since St. Jude’s does not
attempt to find jobs but to be of ongoing support to the
unemployed and their families. However, there is no
parish that has joined the'Cooperative as a member yet.
A training session in August will be the next
opportunity for new churches to join. Two types of
involvement are possible.
The first - a representative church - would involve the
commitment of a few people who are willing to explain
the work of the Christian Employment Cooperative in
their parish and make employment application forms
available to people who are out of work. They would also
be contact people in the parish for possible employers.
The second - a satellite office - goes a step further and
involves more time as the church or parish sets up a small
office where job seekers can come at set hours and days to
fill out employment forms, get help with resumes and
meet someone who will listen to their situation and
provide simple counsel. No fees are charged either to
those looking for work or to employers and the service is
open to anyone, whether or not they belong to the
particular church.
“We ask the satellite churches to support people who
come through their offices if they need food, clothes,
MARTA cards” or other material help, Bridges said. “I
also give them a list of resources” in the city if more help
is needed.
“In any event all churches can share the spiritual
dimension with people,” he said.
One of the board members of the CEC, Frank Duffy,
was a founder of the St. Jude’s Job Network and saw in
that parish how pulpit announcements and parish support
mushroomed the growth of the group. Similar support for
the CEC could bring in job prospects for those out of
work, he said, and the board is actively working to involve
more churches and the wider business community in its
endeavor. There is also a need for more financial support
for the CEC, he said.
But while it is a business problem, unemployment is
primarily a concern of the Christian and the church, those
involved in the CEC said.
“It’s economic, but it’s a spiritual crisis you’re going
through,” said Frank Duffy, who has been making that
transition himself in recent years as he left corporate
employment and began his own company.
“The business community is not equipped to talk about
it,” he said. “The church can and the church can do
something about it.”
(Those interested in the CEC or in attending the August
training session, may contact Leon Bridges at 622-2235.)
CLASSIFIEDS
HILTON HEAD/SEA PINES:
2 br., 2 ba. Deluxe Ocean
Front villa. W/D, PooL Golf
Available. Free Tennis. Sleeps
Six. Reasonable.
404-252-0829; 458-0354.
LIVE-IN HOMEMAKER
NEEDED FOR HAND
ICAPPED MAN. CONTACT
SISTER TERESA 881-6571.
FOR SALE: Cone 10 electric
kiln. 22W' x 18” inside, with
Dawson Kiln Sitter. $250
Firm. 972-0405.
POTTERY BY LINDA:
Handmade stoneware pottery,
a complimentary gift with
each initial order. To receive
mail-order brochure send 25c
to: Pottery By Linda; P. O.
Bux 1193; Snellville, Ga.
30278.
Experienced Hairdresser
Needed Immediately! Image
Makers. 981-7820. Ask for
Kathy.
WESTVIEW MAUSOLEUM: 3
Crypts. Owner Transferred.
Must Sacrifice. Location 0332,
AA-BB-CC. Make Reasonable
Offer. AfteT 5:00 p.m.,
289-2874; 875-966 7.
MARY KAY COSMETICS.
For Free Facial Call Pat
971-1334.
COMPUTER FOR SALE: My
name is Mickey Williams and I
am in the process of leaving
my present career to join the
Priesthood. Althoug I hate to
part with it, I own an IBM
Personal Computer that needs
to be sold before school starts
this Fall. I am looking for a
parish or small business that
could benefit from buying it
or taking over my loan
payments. I have a strong
background in accounting and
data processing and will install
the hardware, train the
operators and provide any
custom programming
necessary to make the system
fit your needs. If you are
interested or would like more
information, call me at
634-2176 anytime.
ORGANIST NEEDED: For
large metropolitan church.
Flexible schedule. Attractive
Salary. Phone % 8-1184.
NON-RUST AUTO TAG:
“PRAY THE ROSARY.” $3
proceeds Leper Colonies. If
our Blessed Mother has ever
granted you a favor, help us
get her “travelling billboards”
on every car possible. Our
Blessed Mother will not be
out-done in generosity; and
know this ... THE ROSARY
HAS THE POWER TO
DEFUSE THE NUCLEAR
BOMB . . . Mary Joseph;
Rosary Crusade; 1144 Liberty
Street; Jacksonville, FL
32206.
TESTING/COUNSELING for
all school problems. Study
skills workshop and SAT
preparation beginning in
August. Register Now.
Tutoring in all subjects. Eileen
M. Higgins, M.S. Special
Education. 998-7255.
HELP WANTED: Catholic
Social Services, Inc. is seeking
an individual with an
accounting degree and/or 5
years experience for a
part-time accounting position.
Hours are flexible and salary is
dependent on experience. If
interested please send a
resume to: Catholic Social
Services, Inc.; ATTN: Loretta
Kazmier; 680 W. Peachtree St.
NW; Atlanta, GA 30308.
CLOCK REPAIR: Specializing
in Grandfather and antique
wall and mantle clocks. House
Calls. 457-1627.
ESCAPE VACATION to the
North Georgia Mountains.
Private secluded home site
with immediate access to Lake
Nottely. Also convenient to
many recreation areas such as:
Vogel State Park, Brasstown
Bald, Appalachian Trail, Lake
Winfield Scott, and many
others. Daily and weekly rates
(2 br, sleeping loft, V/i ba).
Reservations now being
accepted. Bill & Gwen Webb
(404) 9734951.
HOME MANAGER WANTED
for personal care home at
Immaculate Heart of Mary
parish for 15 elderly residents
who need 24-hour supervision.
Send resume to Catholic
Social Services, 680 W.
Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta
30308/ Attn. Sr. Teresa
Termini.
DENTAL ASSISTANT
WANTED: Experience
Preferred. Emory Area. Send
Resume: Barbara Reighard,
DDS; 1526 Clifton Road;
Atlanta, GA 30329. Call after
6 p.m.636-6261.
CRESCENT BEACH - 2
bedroom 2 Vi baths,
townhouse, beautifully
decorated and very well
equipped. Washer and Dryer
pool and ocean view. $350.
per wk. Several families from
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unit 491-6354.
NEEDED: Christian Home
For My Cat Part Siamese,
smoky-gray, female, 6Vi years
old, spayed, declawed, shots.
Free. Call 881-9732 9 a.m. -
4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday
or 243-8607 weekends.
DESTIN AREA -BEACH
FRONT ON THE WHITEST
SAND AND BLUEST WATER
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Completely Furnished. Sleeps
Eight 394-0100. 394-5657.
■ t-REGNANT? ” To discuss
abortion alternatives call
BIRTHRIGHT 233-1171.
Service is free and
confidential.
ALL ATLANTA CARPET &
UPHOLSTRY CLEANING:
Living room, dining area, hall
$39.95. Entire House $115.
Sofa or 2 chairs $39.95.
2334902.
CRISIS PREGNANCY/ADOP
TION SERVICES: Available
through Catholic Social
Services. Call 881-8987 for-
help with medical care, living
arrangements, discussion of
options. Service FREE and
CONFIDENTIAL.
CUSTOM MADE
LAMPSHADES. 433-9434.
FOR SALE: Complete
Professional Darkroom.
Omega Color Enlarger,
Developing Equipment,
Lenses, Print Washer, Dry
Mount Press, etc. Call Chris
Knott 881-6708, 8:30 a.m. -
4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
HILTON HEAD: 2 br., 2 ba.,
W/D. 300 yds. from ocean.
Pool, free Har-Tni tennis
courts/indoor racquetbalL
Sleeps Six. 993-5754. Call
after 6:00 p.m.
ST. AUGUSTINE .BEACH:
Luxurious Condos On Ocean.
2 br., 2 ba., lighted tennis
courts, gigantic pool, cable
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904471-2535 for reservations.
AMELIA ISLAND, FLA:
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ba., Condo. Balcony, Pool,
Tennis, Golf and Fishing Pier.
Sleeps 7. Call 636-5688.
HILTON HEAD: 2 br., 2 ba.,
pool, tennis, racketball. Near
Beach. $400-$450/week.
939-26 55.
ADD To Home Value:
WINDOWS, Replacement,
Storm. GREENHOUSE
WINDOWS, VINYL SIDING,
PORCH ENCLOSURES. Call
Charles Quinn 925-0280.
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY and
MARRIAGE PSYCHO
THERAPY. Dr. Linda Klaitz,
Ed.D., Karen Nash A.C.S.W.
8613 Roswell Road.
587-1035.
UPHOLSTERY Re-finishing
and made to order cushions.
Call 344-2201 or627-9287.
TV MASS FOR SHUT-INS.
Send for a free monthly
missalette and follow the Mass,
on television every Sunday at
10:00 a.m. on Atlanta’sWVEU
-- Channel 69 on the UHF band.
Write: TV MASS; BOX 54424;
Atlanta, Ga. 30308