Megan Jafari, Staff Writer
Chief Executive Officer of The Refuge Terry Johns spoke in a Lee University Benevolence class on Monday, Mar. 23. Johns came to campus to share his personal experience on and thoughts about acts of service with Lee students.
The Refuge is a 501(c) nonprofit community organizing and development agency that is an affiliate of the Refuge network, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in Feb. 2010, The Refuge focuses specifically on the East Cleveland community, assisting people in challenging circumstances with job hunting, education and many other life-enhancement tools. Moreover, the Refuge identifies any and all resources available for the people who find themselves in difficult economic or social situations, in order to move them from need to sustainability.
Other services they offer at the Refuge are literacy classes, CPR certification, clean up and distributing Christmas and school supplies within the community.
"Everything we do leads to the empowerment of others," Johns said. "We don't empower them. We work with them to help them find their own empowerment."
In the Benevolence class, Johns gave a presentation summarizing the organization's work, emphasizing the great need that Cleveland has for service.
Taking a look at poverty rate lines in Bradley County... The percent of people living in poverty with a high school diploma is 19percent while the percent of those with a college degree is only 3.5 percent. [The Refuge] sees the value of education [in the Cleveland community]."
In order to achieve their goal of empowering those in need, The Refuge partners with the Blythe Family Support Center as well as work with numerous volunteers every month. It offers ample ways for volunteers to get involved with their efforts, such as tutoring in art and reading, cleaning up trash, cutting the grass and mulching playgrounds.
During his lecture, Johns spoke about a project that the Refuge is currently working on. They are funding Liberian refugees so that they are fed, clothed and have the money to eventually return home. He believes that fundraising for these refugees is a great way for students to get involved in the act of benevolence.
According to the Refuge's website, the organization is founded in the Lord, and all directors and staff use two specific scriptures as points of reference to their mission: Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25: 31-46.
"At the Refuge, one of our core values is integrity. Another one is dignity," Johns said. "Dignity is really important because dignity not only has to do with the way we conduct ourselves, but it has to do with the way we treat those whom we serve."
Many Lee University students have done work for this organization in the past and believe in the mission they are striving toward.
Megan Ash, a Lee University student that has worked with the Refuge during college said 'The Refuge is an awesome organization that knows exactly how to encourage and motivate people that have trouble pushing themselves. Every city needs a Refuge.'
