By Desiree Williams
After six weeks of collecting a Lenten offering, Zionsville United Methodist Church donated $32,500 May 8 to help the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition in its mission to reduce violence in the state’s capital.
“It was absolutely amazing, the connection that our church made with this effort,” said Sue Forry, lead of the Ten Point Ministry Team at ZUMC. “You’re almost awestruck to see that people in the suburbs would be willing to step up to help the inner city in that way. It was so exciting to see this money become available to help the inner city.”
Ten Point Coalition formed in 1999 when a group of pastors from Indianapolis came together to create outreach patrol groups to walk through neighborhoods and connect with people on the street to find out how to help. Forry said outreach workers encourage kids to stay in school, use discussion to quell violence and give out cards for businesses that collaborate with Ten Point to provide jobs.
Forry heard about Ten Point three years ago and felt God calling her to join. ZUMC became a Ten Point church in 2015. As a member church, ZUMC works to fundraise and support Ten Point’s efforts every year.
“It’s an important cause for several reasons,” said the Rev. Glenn Howell, senior pastor at ZUMC. “First of all, churches are asked to be in the business of building peace. That kind of violence, that kind of conflict and that kind of death is not the will of God. Secondly, we’re involved because it’s a really difficult problem.”
Each Lenten season, ZUMC donates the combined offering to a single cause or organization. Howell chose Ten Point as the focus this year. He said the church raised $10,000 on Easter Sunday alone.
“It’s a privilege to be able to help people,” Howell said. “I wanted to thank (Ten Point) for giving us the opportunity to give in our life.”
ZUMC hopes the check will allow Ten Point to reach its goal of expanding to another neighborhood.
For more, visit indytenpoint.com.