ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tuesday, February 7: Frontline I: Training for Those Responding to Requests for Assistance will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.at Cornerstone Church of God, 12813 Kingston Pike 37934. This class is for church staff and volunteers who respond to calls or walk-in visits from people in need in our community. The workshop covers topics such as Verification, 10 Best Practices, When ‘No’ is Appropriate, and Developing a Process to Help and Not Enable. The cost is $25 for individuals or $50 for groups, and is free for churches that support Compassion Coalition. Registration required: contact Gina Whitmore at 251.1591 x2 or gina@compassioncoalition.org.

Thursday, February 21 begins our 4-week class Introduction to Compassion Ministry taught by Grant Standefer. This course will equip you with practical ways to reach hurting people in our city, Tuesday evenings, February 21 through March 13, from 6-8 p.m. The course fee is $30 to cover the cost of the required books and other materials. Location TBA. (Scholarships are available.) Registration required: contact Rebecca at Rebecca@compassioncoalition.org or 251.1591 x1.

Thursday, February 23 will be our Salt & Light Luncheon. The topic is human trafficking and our guests will be Lance Robinson, President and Founder of the Equitas Group: Seeking justice for the vulnerable and oppressed, and Christi Wigle, president of the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Please join us from 11:30 a.m. –1 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 6900 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 37919. We ask a $5 donation for lunch, payable at the door. Please RSVP to Gina at 251.1591 x2 or gina@compassioncoalition.org.

The next Bridges Out of Poverty Training – 2 Hour Overview will be held Tuesday, February 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, 3232 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, 37920. When you work with someone in need, do you wonder why they make certain choices? Do you wish they would experience faster success?  Do you give them “the look” when they just don’t get it? If so, this training overview is for you. The cost is $10 per person to cover materials. Registration required: contact Jessica at 251.1591 x8 or jessica@compassioncoalition.org.

DRIVE AT FIVE

Monday, February 6, Janet Cockrum with Safe Families for Children will be Grant Standefer’s guest on Drive at Five. When crisis strikes, many turn to relatives or a church family for support. But for some parents, there isn’t a safety net. Children are especially at-risk for neglect or abuse as their parents struggle to cope with crushing circumstances and emotions. Safe Families provides the needed safety net. Tune in every Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. on Joy 620 AM for conversations about community transformation.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The YWCA needs volunteers to work in the new volunteer corps to end domestic violence: Enough! Volunteers will answer phones, observe court proceedings, educate the community on the dynamics of domestic violence, and help victims create individualized safety plans. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the online application at www.ywcaknox.com or call 523.6126 between 8 a.m. and 12:00 and ask for Teri. Volunteers must pass a mandatory screening, attend trainings, and volunteer a minimum of 12 hours per month. In 2010, the Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to more than one domestic violence call every 30 minutes, a total of 19,043 calls.

SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Pastor Ernest Washington with The Way Ministry located at 1214 West 5^th Avenue needs donations of coffee pots. He hopes to provide coffee and donuts to the homeless. If you have a coffee pot to donate, or would like to help with this effort, please call Pastor Washington at 206.1540.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

The East Tennessee Technology Access Center continues its 2012 Enrichment Workshop Series for people with disabilities and their families. On Wednesday, February 8 from 12 noon to 1:30, ETTAC will host Brandon Clarke with John Bailey Insurance to discuss issues related to home, life, and vehicles insurance coverage. (Health and long term care insurance and setting up trusts will not be covered at this time.) The workshop is free, but registration is required:  219.0130. Please bring a brown bag lunch; drinks will be provided. The ETTAC Knoxville office is located at 116 Childress Street.

Ministry Security Regional Training Course offered Thursday, March 22 at New Life Deliverance Ministries, 1928 Fairmont Blvd, Knoxville 37917. For more information including fees and registration contact Jerry McConnell at 509.252.8533, or register online: http://www.CPPSsite.com/training/1. This training is designed for churches and teaches how to make church and ministries a safer place.