1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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