“You’re training to become a house?”
Ok, let’s get that joke out of the way. When I’ve asked people if they knew anything about the nationwide CASA program, I often get asked about being a house. I’m always up for a good laugh.
However, the status of many children in our nation, and specifically in Summit County is no laughing matter.
I’m about half way through an intensive training to engage in CASA volunteer work. I’ll take this opportunity to thank our church’s elders for the approval to spend some extra time this month to explore this potential area of service to our community. If you know a bit about CASA work, you can find a bit more about my motivation below.
If you’re curious about CASA work, a quick set of answers:
- Q: What is a CASA? A: It stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. When Children’s Services opens a case regarding a child, parents have their representation. The county Children Services has theirs as well. A CASA volunteer advocates for the interests of the child.
- Q: What do CASAs do? A: They investigate. They get to know people involved in the case. They talk to family, medical, educational, and support personnel. They file court reports, attend court hearings, and visit each child in their caseload at a minimum of once per month during the case. All of this effort goes to the end of making the recommendation to the court of what represents the child’s best interests.
- If you want a bit more from the local CASA organization training me, click here.
- This video on Facebook from the Ohio CASA organization gives about a four minute view.
Do you have theological reasons for doing this? Why not just give kids the Gospel?
- I’m glad you asked 🙂 I do believe the primary need of any human, regardless of age, is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ – His death, burial, and resurrection. We cannot find salvation until we turn from sin and trust Christ’s death for us as enough for payment for our sin. We cannot find the hope of eternal life without trusting the resurrection of Jesus. One God. One truth. One way. Jesus.
- That said, I think focusing on the Gospel like it somehow opposes social justice, advocacy, or meeting physical needs is a tragic (I do not use that word lightly) misrepresentation of God and justice. CASA work (as with church programming, child evangelism efforts, mentoring, tutoring, homeless ministry, etc.) reflects the light of Jesus Christ in us through faith in Him.
- One of many examples: James 2:14-17: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
- Jesus calls His followers to love God AND neighbor. Put bluntly, to pursue a relationship with God without the consideration of others is a sham. Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- Fulfillment in following Jesus will never be found in comfort, but instead sacrifice: Luke 9:23: And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Why would I pursue comfort when needs abound and action can make such a difference for the glory of God? Do a few hours of comfort a month really mean more than making a meaningful difference? Not for me.
Why would you do this with your time?
- Believe it or not, people in our class get this question in a disbelieving way. Sure we may wish it paid something, but let me share my heartbeat for doing this. If you know me, you won’t experience any surprise that I have a heartbeat behind what I do :).
- Many people lament the condition of our society. Many gripe about “the poor”, like that blanket term actually consistently describes something. Many give a flabbergasted look when confronted with the thought of a sexually or physically abused child. We can’t come to grips with a child neglected, parents absorbed by addiction or selfishness. Well right. I agree. But WHAT CAN YOU AND I DO? Does it ever all feel so overwhelming that making a difference seems as mind-boggling of a concept as counting the national debt dollar by dollar?
- What if I said you could actually do something? Yes, for real. And have a real chance at making a difference?
- I honestly believe serving as a CASA and other forms of child support can make a difference. Check out statistics like these to see the types of change a CASA volunteer can effect. Check out this Harvard study that shows the difference one committed adult can make in a child’s life. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, pages three and five will give you the gist (see I did you a favor there).
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I appreciate your prayers that God will use me to impact lives through love, attention, and advocacy.
Think. If not advocacy, what can you do to make an impact for the vulnerable in your community?
Act. Pray. Instead of succumbing to “overwhelmed”, find one area that lines up with your passions and get involved! Don’t substitute faith pursuits for advocacy or meeting needs. Don’t substitute physical support for church involvement. It’s both/and, not either/or!