Dear Caldwell,
For decades, Caldwell has “nested” non-profit agencies in need of low-cost office space, an expression of our ministry of hospitality that builds community. Hospice of Charlotte got its start here. More recently, the Islamic School of Charlotte, the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, Partners for Out of School Time (POST) and others have called Caldwell home. The work of these agencies has meshed well with Caldwell’s mission and allowed us to help incubate important organizations at key stages in their lives.
Today, we bid farewell to Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL), which came to our campus 2.5 years ago when the Boston-based public education partner opened a Charlotte office. Charlotte Executive Director Jerri Haigler and her team have been wonderful campus partners, but BELL’s needs exceed what we can offer. We thank them and send them our best as they move their office uptown.
In their place, we welcome a new campus partner – Hagar International, which has chosen Charlotte for a new U.S. office. Hagar is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of women and children who have experienced the most severe human rights abuses such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and domestic violence. It works in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, with plans to extend into Myanmar, offering protection, trauma counseling, education and job training for 15,000 clients for the last 20 years. Out of its new Charlotte office, it will increase its US presence, beginning in Charlotte, which is a hub of human trafficking.
Over the last several months, the session has built a relationship with Hagar’s leaders. We welcome Hagar and I hope you will introduce yourself if you see their staff in or around their offices off the Shelby Room. (You can read a longer description of its work below.)
Two other quick notes:
1. Please pray for Rhett Brown and his brother and Rhett’s partner, Carl Brinson, as Rhett’s father, Reggie, enters Hospice care after being paralyzed in a fall. Reggie is clear about this course and Rhett and the family will spend Reggie’s final days in the embrace of God’s peace and love.
2. Please welcome our newest members – Debbie and (daughter) Emily Lord and Greg and David Beard. All are invited to get to know them and other newcomers over lunch after worship this Sunday.
Look for Caldwell This Week on Friday.
In Christ, John
MORE ON HAGAR from Dr. Ray Casey, executive director and CEO
Hagar has an international reputation of consistently taking on the toughest cases, staying focused on the individual, and doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes to restore life in all its fullness. We are named after the biblical character Hagar, meaning “one who flees” or “one who seeks refuge.” The story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, is the story of millions of exploited, trafficked, disabled, and rejected women and children. But, like Hagar in the Bible, God hears their cries. And we do too.
Hagar USA is one of six support offices. Our mission is to educate, advocate, and fundraise for Hagar programs abroad. We have recently relocated our home office at Caldwell Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.
Charlotte, NC is the 2nd largest banking city in the USA with extensive international business reach. It is also ranked #12 on Forbes Best Places for Business and Careers. There are many human trafficking organizations to partner with in North Carolina, but Charlotte, NC does not have any internationally focused nonprofits. There are resources and people invested in international development, but a lack of local organizations focusing on fighting for human rights overseas. We believe Hagar will fill that void and thrive in Charlotte, NC.
We are excited to partner with Caldwell Presbyterian Church. Your church is invested in Charlotte and positioned in the heart of the city, with a strong desire to see justice and mercy in Charlotte and the world. That is Hagar’s hope and we believe that a partnership with Caldwell Presbyterian will be a catalyst in Hagar’s growth as we start our offices in Charlotte, NC.