A Fresh Take on Ministry

Posted on 08 February 2010

By Julia Martin

In the midst of conducting research on the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the nonprofit sector, I had the privilege of interviewing the inspirational Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee, III, Chairman and CEO of Fresh Ministries, during his visit to the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University.

Fresh Ministries is a multi-faith humanitarian organization.  It began as a local FBO in Jacksonville, Florida and grew into an international nonprofit known as Be the Change International.  Fresh Ministries employs and aids people of all faiths, and works to meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

JM: What provoked the transition from being a domestic nonprofit to working internationally?

RL: The international work was a natural outgrowth of our domestic work.  We’ve been doing Millennium Development Goal work since before the UN called it the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).  We understand real change as holistic, and within a defined geographic area.  Usually it’s centered on children and education: raising a generation of children who have an equal chance to live healthy, happy, and productive lives.  But in order to do that they need a good education, which requires suitable schools and a stable environment.  Parents need realistic work opportunities, reliable health systems, safety in their communities, and strong family values.  For the core city neighborhoods, such as in Jacksonville, FL, this had been our focus.  Just by word of mouth and sharing practice models in Florida, things began to take shape.  Then, when President G.W. Bush started PEPFAR we were asked to get involved internationally.  We were doing some other things internationally already, but not on the MDG side.  So, we began with health-related issues, and just grew from there.

JM: What were some of the new challenges you faced in the transition from domestic to international?

RL: We realized we needed to pay attention to the context in which we were working.  Sure, you can say poverty’s poverty and you’re trying to eliminate poverty, but each people have a unique set of circumstances.  The challenge is listening, ascertaining what the problems are in that area, and redefining how you address them.  For example, in some cases gender equality is a key issue.  One MDG project we’ve started begins by building a school.  The parents know that school provides the most opportunity for their children, and will do whatever they can for them.  Our deal is if their children attend our school, parents must treat their sons and daughters equally; parents cannot pull their daughters out of school after so many years.  This is just one example; you have to pay attention to any obstacles impeding the program.  But the big challenge is simply understanding the people and combining your resources to form viable solutions.

JM: Could you explain the Fresh Ministries’ emphasis on its multi-faith quality, given its Episcopalian origins?

RL: I’m an Episcopalian priest and there are other Episcopalians that are involved in the organization.  In addition, we’ve partnered with the Anglican Communion because of its infrastructure, which is a great resource.  Some of us are affiliated with the Church, but we are very intentional about living in a multi-faith community.  We use that to springboard to a higher level, and embrace all people whoever they are.  To some people God looks like one thing, and to others another – and we respect that.  What we all have in common is a passion to help others.

JM: How is faith reflected in the Fresh Ministries community?

RL: Well, for example, we have staff of all faiths.  Within each of these faiths, we have people ranging from low key practitioners to the outspoken, who’ve just learned to respect and love each other, regardless of faith.  The common passion is helping people, and it plays out in different ways.  On Wednesdays, we get together and have services to reflect people’s spiritualities.  Sometimes it’s Episcopalian, Jewish, Quaker, or the like.  Other times it’s nondenominational or incorporates multiple faiths.

JM: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for Fresh Ministries over the next five to ten years?

RL: The mainline faith-groups are having different conflicts.  In the Anglican Communion, people are getting caught up in issues like human sexuality.  You see a lot of people, particularly young people, who aren’t going to Church to hear more arguments.  These are the people who really care about what’s going on in the world.  They seem to appreciate and understand the interconnected nature of our global community, and they’re willing to go serve in a clinic or outreach program in Haiti or Africa in a heartbeat.  What we’re trying to do is figure out how to take advantage of this global mood to get involved, making use of our resources.  In the past we’ve worked with the President of the United States, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and major institutions.  So, the questions are, how do you triage what needs to be done, and how do you build up and ramp up the next generation to take this on?  We’re a brave band of aging preachers really, who’ve done a lot of things.  But the challenge is finding and enabling interested young people to be the people they were created to be with their own ideas and genius.  Enabling them, growing the organization, creating sustainable and efficacious partnerships, and keeping focus on what we’re already doing are our key priorities.  We’re trying to figure out how to line up all the assets and resources we have to identify and meet the challenges that are out there, and bring in young people to be the wave of tomorrow.

JM: As the founding CEO of Fresh Ministries, and in light of the economic crisis, what are you most concerned about and what are you proudest of?

RL: Given the economic crisis, a lot of nonprofits around the world are suffering.  My feeling has always been that if you’re doing the job well, there are resources out there because the job still needs to be done.  If we find ways to partner with other people for resources, and keep our focus on what we’re doing, then we will get the job done.  What I’m really proud of is that we’ve been able to do a lot of good things and help a lot of people.  It’s really gratifying when you see a family turn the key in the door of a new home, or hear about somebody who’s just gotten a job through a hospitality institute, and how it’s changed their lives.  They thank you, although you know it’s them that did it and you’re very proud of them.  Those are very gratifying moments.  I think what I’m most proud of, though, are the people who work with us.  We have a really passionate group of people who are dedicated to our mission.  My biggest concern is figuring out how to transition this into the future.  How do we find more people, and get their creativity and genius in doing all of this?  How do you promote that kind of thinking and passion?

JM: Given the recent crisis in Haiti, how has Fresh Ministries responded to the new challenges and what advice might you give to other NGOs present or on the way?

RL: Our international outreach NGO, Be The Change International, has been working for the past year to implement our youth HIV/AIDS prevention education curriculum in the 254 Haitian schools supported by the Episcopal Church, serving more than 80,000 children of all faiths.   Our five year strategic plan for Haiti included founding an in-country NGO, Be The Change Haiti, that would be managed by Haitian nationals and directly partner and support other in-country NGOs working toward the MDGs in Haiti.  The tragic earthquake mandated immediate expansion of our original strategic plan to include both emergency relief and long term rebuilding efforts. We have launched Be The Change Haiti, and are now fully engaged in partnerships and outreach programs to meet Haiti’s immediate needs and long-range challenges.   Only through partnering with other like-minded in-country NGOs, the Haitian government, and the Haitian people, can we truly realize a self-sustaining Haiti. The complexities of the Haitian culture and the high level of need make it impossible for one entity to make substantial change on its own. We must all work together to empower the people of Haiti with the life skills, job skills, education, entrepreneurial programs and microloans, and numerous other support programs the Haitian people need to rebuild their own country. We feel there is a huge difference between enabling aid and empowering assistance. It is the old “give a man a fish and feed him for a day — teach a man to fish and feed him for life” philosophy.  It is the responsibility of all NGOs to cooperate with one another in an effort to empower, not enable, the people of Haiti. The future of Haiti depends on it.

Julia Martin is a second year student in the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program at the Harvard Divinity School.