Church steps up to help members during shutdown
Clear Lake United Methodist sets aside $150,000 for assistance
While the federal government partially shut down for more than a month, the members of Clear Lake United Methodist Church stepped up.
The church did what sanctuaries have done for centuries, provide shelter, in this case, during stormy financial times triggered by the 35-day shutdown.
“This is a safety net,” senior pastor Rev. Charles Anderson said.
The church has earmarked up to $150,000 of its reserves for members
who were impacted. Each household may request a grant of up to $1,500 by showing proof of costs incurred during the furlough period.
“It’s a significant part of our reserves,” Anderson said. “But we wanted to make a significant statement. We’re here for you.”
He said that as the government shutdown continued, he could see the effects in his congregation.
“It became more and more defined by the faces and people we were interacting with at church,” he said. “We saw it up close and personal.”
Since NASA is a major employer in Clear Lake, a number of congregants were affected by the shutdown, Anderson said. He added that while 3,000 NASA civil servants worked without pay, more than 10,000 in the area were hit by the furlough.
Anderson explained that there are tiers of individuals affected — from high-level professionals to custodial or mechanical workers.
“Those third-tier jobs tend to have a lower salary,” he said. “And a $1,500 grant could be the difference between not making it and making it.”
A number of government contractors will not get back pay, he added.
“In the meantime, bills and mortgages don’t stop,” Anderson said.
Anderson proposed the idea to the church’s leadership council.
“I simply felt like we cannot ask people to give sacrificially to the church if the church wasn’t prepared to give to them,” he said. “Sacrifice means giving up something you love for something you love more. We’re giving up our financial security for something we love more — the people in our church.”
After the leadership council voted unanimously to support the project, and an e-blast went out to all church members.
Kanika Douglas serves on the leadership council. “I thought it was an amazing idea,” she said. “It’s awesome that the church wants to get involved and help support the members. It really touched my heart.”
Her husband has served in the Coast Guard for the past 15 years, and she knows firsthand what the furlough can mean to a family. “He’s not getting paid with the shutdown,” Douglas said in January. “We didn’t think it was going to last for so long. He’s still going to work, and we still have to pay for day care. I know how this affects our family — in ways you wouldn’t expect.”
Even when church members brought her family a meal, it made a difference, she added.
“These little things that people do help in a time like this,” Douglas said. “When the entire church is involved, it can be an even greater blessing. I thank God that Clear Lake United Methodist took this on and became a resource for people in need. Hopefully, it will motivate other churches to do the same.”
Grant requests are screened by the church’s business office. Households impacted by the government furlough may apply online at clearlakemethodist.org/ relief or email finance@clearlakemethodist.org for information.