BLESSED BE EDUCATORS Under the Fiscal Sponsorship of W.H.I.P. Ministries Pastor Denise A. Samuel, Executive Director Dr. Mary Ann Hvizdos, Program Director

Our History A National Faith-Based Organization Sponsored Pittsburgh program from March 2013 to Sept. 2015 2 Activities April: Congregation level “National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer” May: Congregation level “Celebration of Teachers” in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week Membership: 33 churches across 8 denominations Funding cuts Pittsburgh program suspended Sept. 1, 2015

Dr. Mary Ann Hvizdos, Program Director New Beginnings Advisory Group Dr. Roseland Bainum Dr. Keely Baronak Ms. Carol Emerson Ms. Lee Ann Needham Pastor Denise Samuel Pastor James Samuel Pastor W. Joseph Stump Ms. Judy Stump Dr. Mary Ann Hvizdos, Program Director

Mission: To provide educators with spiritual support & recognition by sponsoring faith-based programs What do we do? Who do we serve? How do we do it? We offer encouragement & gratitude. Your church family values your ministry with children Educators, all levels, current & retired; anyone who volunteers with children Sponsor spiritual, faith-based programs; educators come together as community or gather at the congregational level

Please tell your pastor or church leader about BBE New Beginnings Blessed Be Educators Membership open to any congregation in Southwest PA Year 2 Recruitment, 22 member congregations which represent 12 denominations & 2 non-denominational churches Please tell your pastor or church leader about BBE

Current BBE Member Churches Berkley Hills Lutheran Church Beulah Park United Methodist, McKeesport Bible Center C.O.G.I.C., Homewood Christian Church of Wilkinsburg Christy Park United Methodist, McKeesport Christian Fellowship Center C.O.G.I.C., North Side Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal, Homewood Destiny of Faith Church, Northside Lincoln Place Church of the Nazarene, Lincoln Place Mulberry Community Church, Wilkinsburg New Vision Christian Tabernacle, Donora Saint Charles Lwanga, East End Saint James, Wilkinsburg Saint Paul Cathedral, Oakland Saint Stephen Episcopal, Wilkinsburg Sixth Presbyterian, Squirrel Hill Sound the Alarm Ministries, Aliquippa WHIP Ministries, Lincoln Place

Blessed Be Educators Year 3 Pastors/Leaders Choose for their Congregations Prayer Walk for Schools Educator Forum Educator Prayer Breakfast In honor of U.N. World Teachers Day National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer for Abused Children Educator Recognitions In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Month Virtual Storage Room Volunteers in Schools Aug-Sept Sept 29 Youth Mental Health First Aid Ms. Lori Sachs To be held at Carlow University Oct 20 Living Life with Gratitude & Positivity Ms. Rosemarie Perla To be held at St. John Fisher Hall March 2 Effective Discipline Techniques Dr. Keely Baronak April Last Sunday of Mid-May thru Mid-June On-going Congregational Level Educators gather as community Congregational Level Coordinated by Program Director

Photos from 2018 Recognitions Bethany Baptist, Homewood Lincoln Place Church of the Nazarene

Photos from 2018 Recognitions Christian Church of Wilkinsburg Emmanuel Reformed UCC Church, Export (first church from Westmoreland County)

Dr. Randy Hoedeman, Recently Retired ED, Pgh Pastoral Institute Photos from Inaugural Educator Forum, Sept. 25, 2017 Sponsored by Carlow University’s Dept. of Education Dr. Randy Hoedeman, Recently Retired ED, Pgh Pastoral Institute 43 Participants

Photos from Second Annual Prayer Breakfast, Oct. 21, 2017 Dr. Keely Baronak, Chair Carlow University Dept. of Education 63 Participants Praying Together before Blessing of Educators

Virtual Storage Room Saint Charles Lwanga Christmas Distribution 2017 Pittsburgh Mifflin K-8 Christmas Distribution 2017 Saint Charles Lwanga Christmas Distribution 2017

W.H.I.P. Ministries & Lincoln Place Church of Nazarene at Pgh Mifflin Volunteers in Schools End of Year Picnic Teacher Luncheon W.H.I.P. Ministries & Lincoln Place Church of Nazarene at Pgh Mifflin

Two Opportunities to Become Involved in BBE Join as a congregation or organization Complete membership form Make an annual donation if your congregation is able ---------- Join as an individual if you do not have a church family Individual membership, $10 annually Benefits: 1) Admission to 1 program, 2) Prayer requests, 3) Access to Virtual Storage Room give-aways for your classroom, 4)Participate in spring educator recognition at any BBE member congregation