Presented by: Melissa Horr Greater Boston Chinese Community Services Program Coordinator TechMission Member Boston Education Collaborative (BEC) Network Affiliate

The Boston Education Collaborative is a ministry of the Emmanuel Gospel Center. The Cat & The Toaster is a book about the Theology that the EGC utilizes.

 It all started as a neighborhood mission… preaching to thousands at the Boston Common in the 1920s - 30s  In 1964, Doug and Judy Hall (authors of The Cat and Toaster) came to Boston and while serving the EGC they learned something special: An indigenous local church ministering to people in their own community provides a far more effective approach to urban ministry than a neighborhood mission.  As the Halls gradually became aware of developing, vibrant churches all over Boston, the EGC changed its strategy from primarily direct, one-on-one ministry to strengthening and supporting the work of urban churches.

 Strategically engages churches, schools, colleges, & educators to motivate & support underserved urban youth in gaining the skills they need to become successful, responsible individuals who have a positive impact on the city and future generations of students.  Seeks to support churches as they serve the youth in their communities through strengthening their existing programs, starting new initiatives, evaluating the short- and long- term impact of the programs, & hosting networking, learning & reflection sessions.

 Creating a Unified Vision  Identifying the Needs  Responding to the Needs  Making an Impact

 Churches, schools, and nonprofits are seeking to motivate and support underserved urban students in their communities to gain the skills they need to become successful, responsible individuals who have a positive impact on the city and future generations of students.

 A current understanding of urban education and the ways they can engage in the process of empowering urban students through education  Support around resources, curriculum, and training  Mental & physical space to evaluate and reflect on their programs  Opportunities to network with other churches and Christian nonprofits that also have educational programs.

 Meeting the educational needs of urban students: › Builds upon educational research & needs assessments › Provides resources › Develops programs › Builds partnerships  Supports urban churches: › Strengthening existing programs › Starting new initiatives › Evaluating the short- and long-term impact of their programs › Coordinating learning groups › Organizing trainings

PAST  Helped launch church- based Higher Education Resource Centers to serve college-bound, urban students (‘99)  Created New City Scholars Program in partnership w/ Gordon College to encourage urban student enrollment (‘03)  Helped Greater Boston Vineyard start an ongoing, two-year, college readiness program (‘07) PRESENT  Conducting research through a survey w/ leaders from over 50 Christian organizations & youth focus groups to understand how they are already serving their students & to assess the needs for further support (‘09-10)  Convening & supporting a growing network of Christian leaders for reflection, learning, prayer, peer support, & coordinated action (‘09-10)

 Living Systems Ministry Introduction Living Systems Ministry Introduction  People make toasters (man-made item) and only God makes cats (living system).  We can’t fix a sick cat with the tools we may use to fix our broken toaster.  We can not fix living systems the same way we can fix man- made items. That would be a mistake.  The BEC attempts to challenge churches and Christian nonprofits (living systems) to value the reflection and learning process with other churches (living systems) which can help us avoid those mistakes in ministry. Iron sharpens iron; plus, it’s a blessing to support and encourage each other through sharing and prayer.

 Supportive Spiritual/Social Network › Prayer Partners › Share Stories  Leverage Resources › Share Curriculum Ideas › Share Effective Practices › Professional Development › Volunteer Opportunities › Partnership Opportunities

 BEC Reflection & Learning: › August 27 th : 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. › Reviewing Last Year to Look Forward to a New Year › Time to share praises from the past year, share stories about the children and youth, reflect & evaluate the ministries, & spend time praying for one another as we look forward to starting a new school year.  BEC Working Retreat › September 9-11 th : 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. › Training around different topics & having time to plan for the new school year. Planning for the new school year CAN be fun! Especially if you do it with other people. :) › More details to come about how the three days will work. The retreat will actually be just two days, but Thursday & Saturday will be repeats so that people who have to work during the day can have the option of coming on a weekend.

 Ruth Wong › Director, BEC › › Emmanuel Gospel Center  2 San Juan Street  Boston, MA › x194 ›  Melissa Horr › Program Coordinator, GBCCS › › *Contact Ruth to receive BEC s (announcements) and to join the BEC Google Group (provides members access to files and the ability to dialogue with each other).