T

he Fellowship Fund is a benevolence ministry to anyone on the Eastern Shore and even beyond. It is intended to help people of all faiths, colors and national origin, not just members of Cape Charles Baptist Church, who find themselves in some financial difficulty and need a helping hand to get out of their trouble. Examples would be any type of bills such as electric, gas, food, clothing needs, or rent that cannot be paid because of some adverse situation, such as job loss, excessive medical bills, etc.

The purpose is not to completely solve the problems by writing a check, but to minister to the people involved in such a way that they will see the love of Christ from Cape Charles Baptist Church, and to get them on the path of a solution to the cause of the problem. Another purpose is to counsel these individuals about past behavior that may be leading to financial problems in their lives.

Normally a request is made to the pastor, then he will notify the Deacon in charge of the Fellowship Fund (currently John Blackburn). At this point an investigation will normally be conducted to ensure the validity of the problem and the request. In this review process, contact will normally be made with the requesting person's home church (if there is one) to see what has been done by them and to see if this is a recurrent problem. We feel that we must be good stewards of the money in this fund and that it does not become a welfare program for people who continue to do the same things that got them into the problem in the first place. Once a legitimate need is established the amount of the help needed will be verified by the person or entity to whom the money is owed.

Payments from the Fellowship Fund will not be made directly to the person making the request but to the creditor to whom the money is owed.