Most churches hold Good Friday services with people going to the churches. This Good Friday service literally went to the people... those most at risk.
At 1 p.m. on April 9, a tour bus, decorated with ads enticing people to Delaware gambling casinos, pulled out of the parking lot at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church on Sherwood Hall Lane. It was loaded with an ecumenical mix of passengers.
They weren't on their way to any casinos. But they were on their way to observe, learn about and, hopefully, have an impact on a different type of gambling. One where the stakes can't get any higher — life itself.
This rolling "The Way of the Cross" service was sponsored by Ventures In Community, a 25-year-old coalition of churches. It was designed to remind those on board "how we continue to crucify Christ," according to the Reverend Keary Kincannon, pastor, Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church. He was joined in this effort by the Reverend Robert Criswell, pastor, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.
Over an hour and a half time span, the bus wove its way to a series of nine stops along the Route 1 corridor. At each they were greeted by a representative of an organization or public service who's mission it is to deal with and attempt to alleviate hardships of the less fortunate caught in a web of self and social destruction.
In addition to the visits, the service included sharing scripture, singing to the guitar playing of Kincannon, saying prayers based on particular scripture citations, and having moments of individual meditation. The subjects of criminal justice, under and unemployment, youth at risk and gangs, children at risk, homelessness, hunger, lack of affordable housing, healthcare, and mental health were addressed.
ITS FIRST STOP was the Mount Vernon Government Center where Magistrate Mattie Palmore explained the problems associated with public drunkenness. "A lot of people are homeless and they drink to deal with their problems. It's particularly noticeable in the winter," she explained.
"When arrested they are given a choice of going to the drunk tank or to jail. Interestingly, most choose jail because it gives them a warm place to stay," she said. Palmore also manages Good Shepherd Housing's Homeless Transition Program.
Next, the tour wound its way to United Community Ministries Employment Center. There the passengers heard from Adrian Vaughn, director, Work Force Development. "We have seen 683 individual so far this year," she said. "Our hope was to find each of them employment or training."
The center not only provides employment services but also education in use of computers and job skills development. It is located at UCM's "Back Porch," the organization's multi-purpose store.
The itinerary then transitioned to "Children at Risk." This brought the mobile church service to the Sacramento Neighborhood Center, 8792E Sacramento Drive. There, L.T. Carson, SNC coordinator, outlined some of the programs available "to provide a safe place for youth after school."
She noted, "There are plenty of children in the community at risk and many more are in transition. We are experiencing an increase in Hispanic challenges. Many of these families are dependent on their children because the adults can't speak English."
SNC offers many community activities, according to Carson. "But the children need love. That's something many are not getting and makes them vulnerable. We need your help to accomplish our mission," she said.
ONE OF THE MOST graphic examples of rolling the dice on the future was presented by MPO Greg Kottemann, crime prevention officer, Fairfax County Police, Mount Vernon District Station. For that, the bus stopped behind the Mount Vernon Antique Center where a wall had just been repainted to cover up a gang trademark.
"This wall was filled with gang graffiti for the past two or three weeks. We have urged all businesses to paint over this as soon as they discover it. It they don't it will just spread like a cancer," he emphasized.
"Gang activity is on the rise. We've seen a virtual explosion in Northern Virginia. We're not sure why. It could be a for many reasons," Kottemann said.
"Kids as young as elementary school are getting recruited. You need to touch them early on in their lives. Once a kid gets into a gang and gets into middle or high school the chances of changing them is nearly impossible," he said.
"Gang members have a live-for-today attitude. They don't care about anything or anyone but the gang. It's a false sense of family. And it is very dangerous. The recent killing at the Days Inn might be gang related. We are looking into that," Kottemann revealed.
He acknowledged the police department has established a 10 member gang team. "It operates throughout the county" and is dedicated to eradicating gang violence and gang influence, according to Kottemann.
As for homelessness, Pam Mitchell pointed out that in 2004, on any given night Fairfax County has almost 2,000 homeless. Statistically, 42 percent are single individuals, 36 percent are children and 22 percent are parents of those children.
THESE NUMBERS do not account for families and individuals at risk of homelessness or doubled up with others in crowded apartments, according to authorities. Family shelters only accommodate 35 families. Most have 55 to 65 families on the waiting list at all times.
One of the biggest threats to a stable society, according to many government specialists, is the frustration of "the working poor." Sixty five percent of homeless families have employment but can not afford housing. The average rent for an efficiency apartment in Fairfax County in 2003 was $840. A two bedroom rented for $1,222.
Bob Trimble from the Missions Committee at Heritage Presbyterian Church distributed data on affordable housing. It showed the number of units declining in Fairfax County from a high of 12,000 in 1998 to a low of 2,000 in 2003.
Kincannon noted, "Rising Hope serves over 2,000 unduplicated individuals each year. The majority of those served are for hunger needs. Every month Rising Hope serves more than 500 people in the community that are in need."
The final tour stop, facing the hard realities of 21st century poverty and despair, dealt with the problems of mental illness. There, participants learned that "88 percent of single homeless adults suffer from some form of serious mental illness. Many are also chronic substance abusers or both."