E-Vangel Newsletter August 5, 2013 Christ United Methodist Ministry Center “Christ in the Heart of San Diego” 3295 Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205 ChristSD Pastorgraphs: “Gambling Recovery Ministries” Last week, I met the Rev. Janet Jacobs, Director of Gambling Recovery Ministries, an ecumenical ministry begun by Indiana United Methodists. Janet is a recently retired-from-the-pulpit Methodist pastor who continues serving by bringing healing resources to the broken lives of addicted gamblers and their loved ones. She and her husband, Ron, divide their time between their homes in Southern Indiana and San Diego. Their daughter is an immigration attorney who lives just a few blocks from Christ Ministry Center! In another one of those “It must be a God thing” event that doesn’t surprise me anymore, Janet, Ron and I believe the Holy Spirit brought us together. I am thrilled to let you know we are working out the details for Christ Ministry Center to become the West Coast headquarters for GRM. We will set up a resource center for addicted gamblers, their loved ones, and professional counselors. This ministry aligns perfectly with our mission to minister (among others) to those in prison, (the captivity of compulsive gambling). Visit grmumc.org for more details about GRM. My Story about Gambling: Way back in 1987, as a pastor in Biloxi, Mississippi, I managed to get embroiled in a year-long battle with the gambling industry. I lost. Mississippi, perennially the poorest state, began warming up to the idea that legalizing gambling might be the way out of poverty. But with solid opposition from upstate Baptists, Gulf Coast officials came up with a clever plan that is a perfect illustration of how habits morph into parasites, and eventually, but inevitably, take over completely. The original justification in 1987 was that if the Europa Star, a Panamanian registered casino boat, was allowed to dock in Biloxi, it would pick up tourists but not open up the casino until it was three miles offshore. After a few hours of off-shore gambling, they would close up the casino before returning to the shoreline. So, technically, there was no gambling on Mississippi soil. After preaching a sermon against legalizing gambling, the local TV station and newspaper contacted me for comments from the anti-gambling position. Before long, I was the “anti-gambling spokesman”. I appeared on WLOX’s “In Depth” public affairs program (a local version of “Meet the Press”), and in the aftermath was called some colorful names, most of which I cannot print here. But you can probably guess; most along the line of being another narrow-minded preacher who didn’t want sweet little old grandmothers to play bingo. Don’t get me wrong. I do not think playing bingo, dropping a few quarters in a slot machine or buying lottery tickets makes a person a sinner. I’ve done it, but with the will to stop when my very limited recreation budget for this form of entertainment is expended. I told a local casino when I get the next urge to gamble, I’ll just drive up to their front door and throw my $20 out the window, saving both the casino and me the time – because I know they will get it all anyway! That’s been several years ago, and I haven’t had “the urge”. I still have my $20. What I do believe is gambling has a history of attracting criminals and people with addictive personalities, preying upon the poor, ruining marriages and families, and destroying careers, not to mention driving local mom-and-pop enterprises out of business. Of course you could predict the progression. After allowing off-shore gambling trips, the ships were permitted to dock and conduct gambling along the beach, still technically “off shore”. Next, because hurricanes presented a problem for the moored casinos, they were allowed to be land based. Then, heck, Mississippi has a bunch more water along the Mississippi River, so they placed casinos all the way from Tunica (just south of Memphis) to Natchez. And don’t forget the Native-American opportunities. Bottom line: Mississippi is now the third most popular gambling destination in America (behind Las Vegas and New Jersey). But the state government is now totally dependent on tax revenues from the gaming industry. Most of the public schools, promised to benefit greatly from the gaming taxes, are among the poorest performers in the nation. AND MISSISSIPPI IS STILL THE POOREST STATE IN THE NATION! What happened in Mississippi is not unusual. It has been repeated in almost every other state. They bought into the idea that gambling was good for tourism and the economy, and now find themselves with poorer citizens, schools, and unable to operate without the revenues the casinos bring in. Sure, the local hotels and tourism industry love it. But there is a darker side that gets swept under the rug. I had a friend who operated a restaurant in Waveland, MS. I ate there at least once a week. When gambling spread from Biloxi to Hancock County, he was so excited. “Just think, Bill,” he said, “all those folks coming over from New Orleans to gamble in Bay St. Louis will have to drive right by my restaurant.” And they did. They ate at the buffets at the casinos. He even lost his local regular customers. Six months after the first casino opened in Hancock County, my friend closed the doors to his restaurant. GRM helps pick up the pieces of broken lives by extending “life-saving outreach, in Christ’s love, to persons directly and indirectly impacted by the devastation of disordered gambling, and to spread the good news of hope, help, recovery and renewal”. Bless you, all, Bill Jenkins From the Quote Garden: “…if the Mississippi coast shows the economic potential of gambling to produce jobs and tax revenue, it also shows the risks, both in businesses displaced and lives ruined. Already, social service agencies and courts are seeing marriages destroyed or residents sinking into debt because of problem gambling.” ~ Peter Applebome, The New York Times, (January 10, 1994) Ministry Center Staff Dr. William L. Jenkins, Director and Pastor Emeritus David Stump, Laity Pastor (English Language Congregation) Jonathan Reyes, Laity Pastor (Hispanic Congregation) Jean Elise Durandisse, Laity Pastor (Haitian Congregation) Jeannetta Kramer, Office Manager Minister Ray Lemons, Custodian Jonathan Reyes, Facilities Assistant Worship Center (United Methodist Services in Red) In the Sanctuary • Exodus Church (10:15 AM), Pastor Donald Owens • Bethel Seventh Day Adventists (Saturday 9:00 AM) Rev. Dr. Edwin Mendoza In the Chapel • Christ Church (11:15 AM), David Stump, Lay Minister • Abundant Harvest Church of Faith (1:00 PM) Rev. Delores "Pastor Dee" Korokous (Bible Study Wed. 5:00) • Haitian Methodist Ministry (5:00 PM French-Creole) Jean Elise Durandisse, Lay Minister In the Lower Level • Be Encouraged Ministries (11:00 AM) Rev. Tilli Tilford • Mision Metodista Unidos en Cristo (4:00 PM) Jonathan Reyes, Lay Minister In the Social Hall • New Jerusalem Church (12:30 PM) Pastor Connie Cervantes Ministry Center • 12 Step Support Groups • Angel Care (Worldwide Child Sponsorship) Rev. Dr. Ted Grosser • Coming Home to Stay (Prisoner Rehab Ministry) • Dress for Success (Suits to Self-Sufficiency) Sylvia McKinney • (NEW) Gambling Recovery Ministries (Problem Gambling Recovery) Rev. Janet Jacobs • Fount of Blessings (Helping those in need find streams of mercy) Dr. Bill Jenkins • Jubilee Economic Ministries (JEM) (Economic Justice) Rev. Lee Van Ham • Waters of Jordan Enrichment Center (WOJEC-Outreach to abused, underserved women & children) Rev. Dee Korokous • Welcome Home Ministries (a faith-based support system for women in transition from incarceration to productive citizenship) Donna Cleveland, M.H.S. Related Ministries • Adams Avenue Crossing (Urban Missionaries) Rev. T. C. Porter • Balm of Gilead (Spiritual healing prayer ministry) • Crossroads Christian Ministry (Food distribution) Rev. Bob and Linda Di Giorgio • Communion Offering for Russian Orphans • Haitian Ministry & Louange a Dieu (Gospel Music Group) – Rev. Dr. Bill Jenkins, Director • My Brother’s Keeper (Clothes and Personal Care Closet) E-Vangel Newsletter is a weekly update for members and friends of the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center of San Diego, CA and related ministries. If you do not wish to receive this electronic publication, please send an email to parson@ChristSD and request to be removed from the list.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:41:06 +0000