Thursday, February 27, 2020, was the ninth annual criminal justice advocacy day at the Georgia capitol. A small group from the Church of the Common Ground (CCG) set out to the capitol to do some advocacy. Amongst the group was a parishioner of CCG, Jennifer Monahan, who is known as Jen. As the group walked toward the capitol in the dry, cold air, Jen expressed her concern to the pastor Kim. I could hear Jen saying, “I don’t know what to say. We should have a meeting and go over what weneed to say.”
Inside the capitol, that feeling of nervousness all but disappeared as Jen approached three different representatives to advocate for the poor and those living with mental illness in Atlanta. Jen expressed the value of the programs offered through the O’Hern House where she currently resides. She stated how those programs have changed her life and how she hoped funding will continue so that others like her will continue to benefit from such programs. She challenged each representative with the commanding question, “What are you going to do about it”. Representative Park Cannon reassured Jen that she will do what she can to procure the funding from the government. Representative Cannon also promised that she will make an effort to visit the O’Hern House.
The bible teaches us in Proverbs 31:8-9 to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and… defend the rights of the poor and needy”. Jen was not hesitant in speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. She was not afraid to defend the rights of the poor and needy. Everyone from CCG who was there at the capitol with Jen that day agreed that she was the MVP of the day.
Peace and Blessing,
Kevin
