The pedestal of the statue of liberty bears the words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,…” The words are still pregnant with meaning today. Many came to the United States under the crippling weight of slavery. Now, 155 years after the abolishment of that evil institution, the African American is still looking for complete freedom and equality. The leadership of CK Family Services vows to use our God-given abilities and responsibilities to promote the well-being of our African American and minority employees. We pray for the day when health and prosperity are the status quo for all people and taken for granted just as the air we breathe. The poignant words “I cannot breathe” from George Floyd resonate within us and we will not forget.
The events of the last few weeks ripple through our personal and professional communities like searing contractions, hopefully bringing about the birth of a new and glorious day of total equality. We are committed to the light of this new dawn and want to help bring it about for not only our employees but for all minorities. We desire that our employees know that CK Family Services leadership will listen attentively, take serious and critical inward personal inventories, and then follow up with positive actions toward equality and social justice.
We recognize that “Black Lives Matter,” and believe the truth of the words stand independently. We take it as God’s truth and feel no compulsion to modify the statement, and so marginalize its power. We will personally claim the definition of love found in I Corinthians 13 and aspire to demonstrate such love and require the same in all situations.
While our nation is experiencing a racial revolution, we will remember the words of our mission statement: “People united through God to enhance the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of at-risk children and families.” We will serve and minister to our community, inside and out, without deference to gender, creed, belief, or race.
During the last two decades, we have found a way to carry on in good times and bad. Now, in these historical moments that we pray will bring sweeping social reform, we will continue to meet the needs of the community with absolute commitment and dedication to the lofty Biblical principals of faith, hope, and love.
We affirm that the employees of CK Family Services are free to express themselves according to their individual convictions, recognizing that we will often disagree but will be guided by the highest standard of the lord to “love one another.” In all things, we will seek the “peace that passes all understanding” that only the Lord provides.
We have heard the cry. We are awake. We echo the prayer of Jesus, “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We will seek to do God’s will and seek justice and equality for all.
~ CK Family Services