Friends, Romans, Countrymen, there's something I've got to tell you,
As you may know, in August, I
will begin the next crazy random side adventure in my life as a missionary for a
full year as a volunteer for the Boston Faith and Justice Network in Boston,
Massachusetts. This is organized by the
Young Adult Volunteers program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The program has sites all across the US as
well as a few international placements.
The program in Boston is unique in centering all their mission work on the
theme of food justice. The site
coordinator, Maggie Holmesheoran and the participating churches, individuals,
and organizations are examining the theology of food, and also seeking out more
sustainable ways to supply food to their missions like soup kitchens and food
pantries. For the next year my time will
be split between the Boston Faith and Justice Network (BFAJN) which teaches
people sustainable living practices to be better stewards of the earth and of
their money, and also the Burlington Presbyterian Church to incorporate more
sustainable sources for their soup kitchen and other outreaches. I will help facilitate a partnership between
the church and the BFAJN assisting and teaching members how to live out their
mission and calling in a sustainable way, while learning how to do these things
myself. I will work 32 hours per week
split between these two organizations.
I will also be living in an “intentional community” with
three other volunteers in the same house doing similar mission work. One day a week we will do group activities to
help with our own spiritual growth and to understand what is going on at our
separate placements, and how this movement for sustainable food relates to the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
During this adventure I’d like to ask for your support. Much of the preparatory reading for this
mission emphasizes the importance of becoming partners in Christ’s
mission. Just as I will be “partnering”
with God and the people of Boston, to find my own calling, I welcome you to be
a partner with me and the bigger mission as well. Please consider this mission in general and
for myself in particular in your thoughts and prayers as I travel the better
half of a day away from home to donate my time and energies. I also would invite you to keep in touch with
me during this journey. I will be
keeping updates on this site throughout the year on the work God is doing in Boston, and the work we are doing in Boston and especially the times when God's work and our work line up which is the goal. So in your spare time feel free to visit this site to see how things are going up there and let me know how you are doing.
And to get right down to the heart of the matter, I will be
living on $400 per month with $75 designated for my own food. In order to do this, I’ve been asked to raise
at least $3000 toward the program to support myself for the year, and I’d like
to ask for any financial contributions you’d be willing to give to support this
work for the next year.
If you are able and willing to support me financially in any
amount, please make checks payable to “Presbytery of Boston” with “Alex Haney –
BFJYAV” in the memo line. The letters
stand for Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteers. Please mail donations to:
BFJYAV Program c/o Maggie Holmesheoran
Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church
155 Powder House Blvd.
Somerville, MA 02144
Thank you
very much for your time and please keep in touch. It will be a very busy year and I want to
keep you all in touch throughout my time in Boston, and the work of the Kingdom
of Heaven.
In Peace,
Alex Haney
