CBF Louisiana recently hired Jenny Hodge as their new Together for Hope Missionary. The following blog comes from their monthly newsletter and describes the work Jenny will be doing with Together for Hope and how we can support her.
CBF-LA glady announces that Jenny Hodge will become the new Together for Hope missionary based in Lake Providence. After careful and prayerful deliberation, the Missionary Search committee has selected a gifted Social Worker and Minister to coordinate the Together for Hope Work in Louisiana.
Jenny is a recent MSW graduate from Baylor and soon to be MDiv graduate from Truett Seminary. For the past year and a half, she has served the Waco Regional Baptist Association, first as an intern and then as the paid Hunger Ministry Coordinator, a position she created.
In that capacity, she assisted congregations in developing effective and holistic community hunger ministries. She also collaborated and worked with non-profit and faith-based organizations at the national, state, and local level on food insecurity issues and solutions.
Her work led to the creation of a “How to Manual” on ways congregations can engage in comprehensive hunger ministry and is posted at the Waco Association website.
Her research project, focused on rural food insecurity, is titled an “Ethnography of a Rural, Ecumenical Food Pantry.” Her research, work for the Association, and related ministries led to presentations at the CBF General Assembly in Fort Worth in June and to the National Association of Christian Social Workers in October.
Jenny has been active in community gardening and by training and passion has a deep interest in community development. She integrates seamlessly her faith and work.
CBF-LA is excited that Together for Hope in Louisiana will continue in such able hands after the foundational work that Stephanie Vance will complete after 3 years in December. Jenny begins her ministry with CBF-LA in January. Stephanie will continue to be a resource to our work in East Carroll and Tensas Parish in her new capacity as CBF National Together for Hope Interim Manager.
What can you do to support this new chapter of our work?
Pray for Jenny as she makes this transition to a new community, for our partner Parishes and for individuals and churches to step up to support in a big way this important ministry.
Give of your time, talent, resources:
- Your end-of-year tax deductible contributions are greatly needed to sustain this work.
You can give here. - In-kind donations needed include: washer, dryer, microwave, refrigerator (all in
good working order please), large dining room table and chairs, bunk beds. Lots of
smaller items too. Complete list is here. - Plan a visit to help with our final punch list of items to update the house. Kyle will
be going this week and the first week of January, would love some help. See the
updated punch list of house repairs/updates needed here. - Plan a mission trip this Spring and invite Jenny to come speak in your church.
My husband and I recently inherited his families property in Lake Providence. He is retired Marine and I am currently employed. I travel for work often so the one week out of the month we spend in LP we work on remodeling the modest 3 bedroom home on the family property. I have a Masters in Education and I also am a psychologist. I am in the beginning stages of developing a no profit organization to assist the youth of Lake Providence realize their dreams. Anyone interested in assisting or just sharing ideas can contact me ceciliajones64@aol.com