Community

The Interfaith Council of the High Desert presented a prayer service on May 4th, the National Day of Prayer.

The theme was “Building Community with Tolerance and Compassion thru Prayer.” It was hosted by Victorville United Methodist Church, and included representatives from many different and diverse religions and Faith Groups.

Representatives of Catholic, Hindu and other religions and faiths celebrated National Day of Prayer.

[Photos by Katrina Siverts]

National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress. It is a day where people are asked “to turn to GOD in prayer and meditation.” May other services were held at other churches throughout the area.

MOSAIC’s Emergency Interfaith Network System (EINS) emphasizes “Handling Everyday Emergencies” in the following way:

In order to help activities run smoothly, provide bandwidth to take on more if needed, and allow members to respond to emergencies effectively, there are four core skills to embed in the culture of a World Faith Group (WFGs) /Faith Community (FC). No matter what happens around the WFG / FC, members need to be able to do the following:

1. Provide coordinated emergency assistance immediately;
2. Communicate with each other and the outside world;
3. Provide immediate first aid / CPR if needed; and
4. Find a safe place (evacuate or shelter in place).

In other words, MOSAIC’s EINS approach helps ALL World Faith Groups or Faith Communities learn essential basic skills for handling smaller, day-to-day emergencies. As group’s strengthen in these areas of growth, so will their ability to handle larger emergencies in an organized way.

Therefore, MOSAIC / Fr. James follows-up the MOSAIC EINS essential readiness by means of a recent “Emergency Disaster Preparedness Presentation @ the Regional Council on Aging (RCA), San Bernardino County” Meeting, September 12, 2017, to a filled capacity of the general public and senior citizens / elderly, that was covered by the Senior News. The article stated:

Senior News 10/2017 by Katrina Siverts

Attendees of the September 12 meeting of the Regional Council on Aging (RCA) were educated on emergency preparedness.

Father James of the non-profit organization MOSAIC, Inc. gave a brief overview of the many aspects of being prepared for a disaster or emergency situation.

Included in the presentation were types of disasters, supplies and equipment to buy and store, procedures to follow, and ways to be better prepared.

Also included was information on dealing with others who may be nearby when disaster strikes, including the elderly, physically disabled and mentally challenged individuals. Helping children and pets in an emergency was also discussed.

The half-hour presentation also highlighted communications, and the benefit of becoming trained as a community emergency response worker (CERT), and getting a HAM radio license.

At the end of the program, Shelley Alfieri, talked about CERT and displayed communications equipment for attendees to view.

Father James and Shelley Alfieri talk about emergency preparedness to attendees of the September RCA meeting.

[Photo by Katrina Siverts]

High Desert seniors are invited to attend RCA monthly meetings, which focus on issues related to successful aging, connecting with essential available services, improving quality of life, aging in place, and other related topics. Reps from local senior centers are also encouraged to attend, and carry back the information to their communities.

The October 10 meeting will have information on Medicare choices and supplement plans.

The Victorville Valley RCA meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 9:30am at the Department of Aging and Adult Services located at 17270 Bear Valley Rd., Suite 108 in Victorville. For more information, call 760-955-8091.

I met the Rev. Dr. (Bishop) James Steele almost three years ago, and have worked with him on many of his (and my own) charitable endeavors.

Known more casually as “Father James,” he is an ordained minister/priest in the Orthodox Church Tradition in the Greek Faith, with such notable titles to his credit as missionary, chaplain, HAM radio operator, and CEO of the non-profit MOSAIC.

His character of moral integrity, honesty, credibility, work ethic, and having an excellent relationship and knowledge of all faith denominations/non-denominational and World Faith Groups (WFGs) has been well-established in our local area over the past three years.

Fr. James focuses on empowering individuals, families, caregivers to recreate recovery solutions for those who are under-served, downtrodden, homeless, and are affected with challenging conditions (e.g., debilitating, chronic-disease(s) such as HIV / AIDS, mental illness, and/or any disabilities).

As a Filipino missionary, he has experience working with those with leprosy and established a compassionate World Faith Groups outreach to those less-fortunate than ourselves.

Fr. James also had executive positions in companies such as Office Depot, where he was a problem-solver, including challenging customer service issues and striving for customer satisfaction, with skills in leadership stability, supervision and direction to operational activities of staff, sales and payroll forecasting, financial operations of the store, and enhancing store management team support functions.

As a hockey player he was the unmasked goalie of the California Western Hockey League leading Rebels, is worldly. Because of his penchant for financial success, a non-denominational, self-help program eventually will benefit underprivileged people throughout the globe. He later became a hockey agent for a few professional and NHL players.

Fr. James Steele is honored by the Apple Valley Town Council for his volunteer work in the local region.

In addition, Fr. James was instrumental in patenting inventions of Dr. Wallace Shute for the Parallel Forceps (for a better, safer way for mothers giving birth to their child), and also the Tri-celco instrument. He also made the injection molds for these items.

Through his non-profit, MOSAIC, Fr. James has assisted many businesses and organizations with creating business plans to take them to a higher level of success in their respective industries or fields.

The concept of MOSAIC is to assist All World Faith Groups, Community Faith Agencies & Organizations, Corporations and Industries with a Master Business Plan (MBP).

MOSAIC has successfully created, developed and implemented many MBPs, for the VFW, Veterans SSVF & Medical Services, numerous Faith Denominations such as UMC, and assisted USC KECH School of Medicine in an HIV & AIDS Program, and for Corp’s / Businesses such as Siverts Publishing / MRV News Group, and many others.

Through MOSAIC, Fr. James has worked with government agencies and private charities to help with providing jobs/careers, training, mental health support and adapted residential homes / communities for our veterans and their families in support of the U.S. Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF), a Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers a continuum of services to eligible homeless Veterans and much more.

The Senior News and Desert News Post has published several articles to bring attention to the good work done in our communities by Fr. James.

These include: "Land of the Free’ Veterans Monument Installed by Spring Valley Lake Vets club; USS IOWA Restoration Volunteers Hold Reunion; MRV TEAM conducts Needs Assessment Survey Results outlining areas of public concern; USS IOWA Survey for Health & Wellbeing; Spring Valley Lake Amateur Radio Club; Fiesta Educativa (Autism Parent Education Program); Emergency Preparedness Program given at RCA Meeting; Day of Prayer Celebration by Interfaith Council; Amateur Radio Enthusiasts Enjoy Palm Springs Hamfest; First Annual Banquet Held for Spring Valley Lake Veterans Club; and Bishop James Welcomed to the High Desert.”

Many certificates have been bestowed on Fr. James for his volunteer efforts both locally and nationally, including one from President Trump for “Volunteer of the Year 2018.”

Fr. James will be speaking at the Friday, Feb. 1 meeting of SWIM (Seniors With Inquiring Minds), at 1pm at Redeemer Church, 22434 Nisqualli Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308.

Senator Wilk presents Fr. James Steele with a certificate in recognition of his community volunteer efforts.

[Photo by Katrina Siverts]