In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.”  (Matt. 5:13)  That passage is at the heart of a new summer project that Pastor Steve Wohlfeil has introduced to our neighborhood.

 “S.A.L.T.” stands for “Serving And Learning Together.”  For four weeks, we have been working with 13 youth from the congregations and neighborhoods of All Nations Pentecostal House of Prayer, Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Zion Lutheran Church.  What a blessing it has been for me, for the youth, for our congregations, and for the neighborhood.

Youth ages 12-18 were asked to apply for the program by filling out a job application, complete with past experience and references in order to prepare them for the real world of work.  We work from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, Tues., Wed., and Thursday of each week, and the youth are given a stipend.  Everyone is expected to be on time.  If one is late, he/she is docked accordingly, and he/she receives a warning.  It’s a “three strikes you’re out” situation.  If a youth continues to be late, he/she is fired.  Unfortunately, we had 2 such individuals this summer, but it is a way to teach the responsibility that comes with having a job and how important it is to be on time.

On Thursdays, each youth can receive up to one third of the week’s stipend in cash.  The young people are required to bank the remainder in order to foster an attitude of saving as they interest on whatever they bank.  They are encouraged to save as much as they can in order to get the best return on their efforts.  At the end of this week, we will celebrate our time together and will also distribute the full stipends. 

 This is a great program by which everyone benefits.  Work is done.  Skills are learned.  Respect and responsibility are fostered.  Relationships are built.  The neighborhood is improved, and there is a lot of fun in the process.  We are grateful that our council agreed to sponsor this summer’s program, and thank all who have helped in any way to make it a success.  As we look ahead, we can see this program expanding and needing additional funding.  So, if you feel so moved, we would welcome any gift of support you may be willing to give, be it money, supplies, or time.  You, too, are the salt of the earth and can be so through your assistance with S.A.L.T.