Huckabee invites churches to ‘adopt’ welfare families

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)--Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has announced the formation of a private, nonprofit foundation through which congregations across the state can help the needy move from welfare to work.

Outlining plans for an Arkansas Faith and Families Foundation to a gathering of more than 150 religious leaders, Huckabee said the new initiative will seek to encourage “every single congregation in Arkansas to participate in assisting welfare families in the transition from dependency to self-sufficiency.”

“The main focus,” he added, “ is to encourage churches, synagogues, faith groups from all over this state to adopt a welfare family -- it’s as simple as that.” He said congregations that choose to participate in the voluntary program “will become a point of contact, a point of networking, an informational resource” for families in need, providing such services as mentoring, budget planning, nutritional advice, job-search training, tutoring, child care and transportation.

Acknowledging government’s “inability to deal with the chronic problem of people who have become dependent upon programs created by the government to help them,” he said the “real answer” to such problems is in the “faith sector.”

“We’ve been placed here with a responsibility not only to do for ourselves, but to do for others,” Huckabee told the religious leaders at Governor’s Mansion. “The highest expression of faith is to serve others in an unselfish way.”

Arkansas Baptist State Convention President Greg Kirksey was among those present for Huckabee’s Feb. 25 announcement. “I’m excited that we’re looking at a possible partnership,” Kirksey said. “I believe we can do more together than we can separately.”

Huckabee said if each of the state’s 7,000 congregations would “adopt one welfare family,” the program could impact most families in the state currently receiving welfare assistance.

“Government will always operate in the sterile environment in which government is required to operate,” Huckabee said. “You can do something that government can’t do -- you can put your arms around people and you can tell them you love them.”

Alluding to concerns about church-state entanglement, Huckabee said, “This foundation is in no way going to impede your capacity to minister in the manner in which you wish to. You will be able to carry your message as clearly and as directly as you wish. The unique thing is that you’re going to be able to help them not only have bread for tomorrow, but to have the bread of life that will last them for eternity.”