Why Shekinah Is A Good Choice For Charitable Giving

(5/20/2008)

We consider Shekinah Christian Ministries to be an excellent choice for charitable gifts, grants, and planned giving. Our attributes are five-fold:

1) We fight against devastating social issues that affect virtually all Americans at some time in their lives. Adult criminality, juvenile delinquency, and the disenfranchisement of institutionalized elderly citizens all rank among the country’s top-ten social ills. Thus, our work is aimed not at peripheral problems affecting the few, but at profound problems which influence everyone’s quality of life.

2) We have a 30-year record of stability and continuity. Some founders of the ministry remain active as volunteers and/or as financial supporters. This longevity attests to our commitment and our effectiveness.

3) We are volunteer-based. We do not rely on salaried staff to accomplish objectives. Nearly all funds received go to meet "client" needs. Each year, our 200 volunteers work to change the hearts and lives of thousands of incarcerated felons -- male, female and juvenile -- at 25 county, state and federal institutions. Hundreds of lonely elders at 13 Northern Colorado nursing homes receive weekly blessings in the form of music and worship programs, devotionals and one-on-one companionship.

4) We are efficient. Our volunteers not only pick up most of their own expenses, and do all the work, they also provide the lion’s share of donations to the ministry. Some of the volunteers (primarily ex-cons who are working hard to build new lives and careers) lack funds for hotels, meals, transportation, etc., as they travel about to jails and prisons. But they somehow find the means to "get there and back," despite their personal penury.

5) We are effective. Our work is concrete and measurable. We have, over the course of 30 years, learned what works - and we stick with what we know. As one example of provable effectiveness, an associate program, Restoration Houses, has a solid record of converting over 90% of their graduates from lives of crime into family and church-based citizens and taxpayers. The best of society’s expensive, government-paid "halfway houses" achieve just 15-20% success (Colorado and nationally).

In summary, with a total budget of just over $100,000 annually, we are helping to change thousands of lives for the better, with a goal of returning peace to our communities. We could do much more, particularly in our youth programs, but a lack of administrative support frustrates our desires to expand further into juvenile and gang outreach. We have qualified volunteers ready to go to work, but lack sufficient means to coordinate or fund on-going programs.

(See also the accompanying article on Five Godly Reasons to Get Involved.)

How to Help:
Tax Deductible Donations may be sent to Shekinah at:

Shekinah Christian Ministries
2040 Terry St., Suite 106
Longmont, CO 80501
303-682-9593