Four Texas churches are hosting a dynamic regional conference for Christian Science youth  and their friends on Saturday, April 21, at Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist, Houston. You don’t need to be a Texan to participate.  All are welcome!

“Making A Difference 2012″ is a spectacular day of “praying, sharing, live music and singing” starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 9:15 p.m.  (Here’s info on conference topics and session details.)

The focus is on how we can all make a difference in the world and how Christian Science makes a difference in our lives. The primary audience is young adults from high school age through 35, however there is a family evening program  that welcomes youth supporters  of any age for a special lecture, dinner, and concert.

Here’s some of what’s planned:

• Learning how Christian Science blesses our lives, relationships and careers, and enables us to make a difference in the world
• Talking with three Christian Science practitioners and youth speakers as they share ideas and answer questions
• Joining discussions on spiritual identity and self-worth
• Mural-painting  with a celebrated singer, songwriter, and muralist from Boston
• Meeting new friends at a Texas barbeque dinner

Everyone must register online to attend.
Register and find out more at www.makingadifference2012.com

The Albert Baker Fund is proud to help support this conference, along with TMC Youth, Adventure Unlimited, Asher House, Cedars Camp, and Discovery Bound.

TMC Youth is now accepting applications for 21 summer internships available in many exciting career areas: publishing, finance, legislation, marketing, media, international planning, archival research, and more.  The internships begin May 21 and run through August 10.

Interns spend three-quarters of their time working for a specific church department, and one-quarter of their time helping TMC Youth. Here’s a complete list of job descriptions.

Interns receive a $200 a week living stipend and a $2250 Albert Baker Fund grant payable to their college or university for the next term.

College students and recent graduates between the ages of 18 and 25, and who are members of The Mother Church, must apply online by Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Decisions will be made by March 1, 2012.

International students holding F-1 or J-1 Visas can also apply.  They do need approval from their colleges/universities.  They also need an Employment Authorization Document from the US Citizenship and Immigration Service covering the period of the internship.  International students who need other work authority are not eligible.

TMC Youth internships are a great opportunity to gain hands-on career experience, receive mentoring in a  field of interest, and contribute fresh ideas to the daily activities of the Christian Science Movement.

For more info go to Time4Thinkers or contact Chris Sheasley, a former intern who’s now on the TMC Youth staff: TMCYouthIntern@christianscience.com, or call 1–617-450‑3700 or1-800–288-7090 ext. 3700 (toll free).

Feel free to leave a reply or share your own gratitude!

Africa’s regional program managers, Lamech Katamba, left, and Huguette Diakabana, right, plan with International Program Manager Lonnie Best-Jarvis in ABF’s Sacramento office.

In November 2011, our regional program managers for East, West, and Central Africa, Lamech Katamba and Huguette Diakabana, were able to spend several weeks working at ABF headquarters along with the Sacramento half of their team: CEO Alan Bashor, International Programs Manager Lonnie Best-Jarvis and Office Administrator Jennifer Day.

“We all talk and email regularly, and at all hours of the day and night,” said Lonnie, “but coming together in one place has been a tremendous asset to our program planning.  We’ve been able to develop written policies and to hear Lamech and Huguette’s recommendations for improving our programs ‘on the ground.’”

How are our two regional program managers working together to build ABF’s grant program in Africa?

“We spent the last year researching the infrastructure in the countries we are in, in order to better understand what is necessary to run our programs in Central, East, and West Africa.  We are planning to continue our research during the next year.

We are also working to establish strong networks in local Christian Science communities, educational institutions, banks, and companies. We believe strong local networks will allow us to run a successful program and have the kind of impact ABF hopes to have in each country.“
~Huguette Diakabana; Regional Program Manager for Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana,  Nigeria, and Republic of the Congo

How would you describe the impact of ABFs programs for Christian Scientists in Africa?

“ABF’s grant program is greatly appreciated. Young people who have benefited from their education get better jobs and become more active church members, including supporting their church financially. They are blessing others; not just other Christian Scientists, but their entire community and country.“
~Lamech Katamba; Regional Program Manager for Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia

The Albert Baker Fund is truly reaching around the world to bless Christian Scientists and our Movement!

As CEO of The Albert Baker Fund (ABF), I am particularly grateful for the generosity and selflessness bestowed on our organization this past year.  Specifically I have been reflecting on the following:

• All the students we are helping who have made their intentions clear to pass the blessings of their education forward to others
• The ABF scholars who are out of school and generously giving their time, financial resources, and prayerful support to their churches, fellow Christian Scientists, and other organizations serving the Cause of Christian Science
• Our many friends around the world who encourage us throughout the year in their roles as donors, volunteers and program partners
• The other organizations we work directly with that are doing so much in their unique ways to nurture the growth of Christian Science

• The evidence that our students acknowledge Christian Science as the foundation of their lives and rely on it daily

As this year comes to an end, each of us at The Albert Baker Fund is so grateful for your interest in our students and our efforts to support them.  If you responded to our recent 2011 Message to our Friends from The Albert Baker Fund, mailed a few weeks ago, I thank you for your continued support.

For all of us, this is a time of great gratitude for the blessing derived from each and every contribution to our organization. If you have comments or suggestions you would like to share, I invite you to contact me directly at Alan@albertbakerfund.org

With warm wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving and holiday season,

Alan Bashor, CEO
The Albert Baker Fund

Yahoo! News reports, ” The plan, to be implemented by executive authority alone, allows some 1.6 million students to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income starting in 2012. It also forgives the balance of student loans after 20 years of payments. Current law allows students to limit loan payments to 15 percent of income, forgiving debt after 25 years of payments, though few students are aware of this option.

In a related move, the US Department of Education, which now administers all federal education loans, is giving borrowers the option of consolidating federal and private loans at reduced rates.”

FACT SHEET: “Help Americans Manage Student Loan Debt” (released by The White House October 25, 2011)

YouTube video explanation “Reducing Your Student Loan Debt” (uploaded by BarackObamadotcom October 26, 2011)

Many in the Christian Science Field know The Albert Baker Fund as the organization that has, since 1964, loaned money to Christian Scientists pursuing higher education.

This continues to be our core mission.  However, today there is more we are doing to support the growth of Christian Scientists as you see from the poster we recently sent to churches around the country.

You might imagine that in the course of our work we come into daily contact with many young people who are just emerging as active, dedicated Christian Scientists.  We feel privileged to support them as they promise to “pay forward” the countless spiritual blessings they receive while in school.

Recently we have asked ourselves, how can we build on this relationship with our students to encourage their desire to unite with their church and make a profound difference in the world they live in?

We are inviting interested Christian Scientists to be a part of our discussion.

Invitation to host a meeting
If you, or members of your church community would like to meet with us to share ideas about how we can better align our work with your desire to support young Christian Scientists, please contact Alan Bashor at 1–800-269‑0388, alan@albertbakerfund.org, or Dave Morse, Outreach Director, at 1–207-542‑6000, david@albertbakerfund.org.