By Mandy McFarland Editor
NAPPANEE — From humble beginnings, the Family Christian Development Center (FCDC) in Nappanee has extended its influence beyond the boundaries of the Wa-Nee area.
Now, the not-for-proft community organization’s name has spread as far as Washington, D.C. On June 26, FCDC director Joan Andrews had the opportunity to attend the one-day OFBCI “State Strategies” Compassion in Action roundtable discussion at The People’s House.
Representatives from community and faith-based organizations throughout the United States were present.
This is the second time Andrews has received an invitation to attend.

While this year’s event was not at the White House, it did not lessen the excitement or the significance for Andrews.
“One of the findings of the day was that good programs take time,” she said. “When I was asked to serve on the state office, I felt that part of our mission statement was to be an advocate.”
Andrews has served on the advisory board for the Indiana OFBCI for two years. It was also two years ago that she received an invitation to attend the first national OFBCI conference at the White House, where President George W. Bush spoke.
“I was awed to be in the presence of the current President of the United States,” she said.
Both years, Andrews was impressed with the involvement of both of America’s major political parties.
“President Bush, on purpose, involved both Republicans and Democrats,” she said. “This initiative is one that goes far beyond political divisions.”
While Andrews was at this year’s conference, the issue came up concerning a recent Supreme Court case against the OFBCI.
“J.F. Hein came into the meeting really excited because of some news he had just got about the Supreme Court decision about a suit that had been filed against the President, saying the OFBCI was unconstitutional because it brought faith and government together,” she said. “The court decided there was no ground to stand on. They found in favor of the President and the program because it involved all faiths and it served all people without discrimination.”
Hein, according to Andrews, is the department assistant to the President and the director of the White House OFBCI.
This decision, Andrews said, was a highlight of the conference for many.
“There was a lot of excitement among the one-hundred attendees,” she said. “It means the program can continue forward and that the work of local volunteers is (considered) so vital.”
It is difficult for Andrews to hide her enthusiasm for community and for her work.
“With each passing day I find it such an encouragement and such an honor to be representing our Wa-Nee school district churches and community initiatives,” she said. “We just have the greatest community to live in and we just thank God so much for living where we live.”
About OFBCI
The FBCI was started as an effort to support faith-based, not-for-profit organizations. It now exists in 33 states. In 2005, Indiana governor Mitch Daniels created the Indiana OFBCI, which serves as a liaison between the Office of the Governor and faith-based community organizations throughout the state, providing support and ensuring that they have the necessary resources.
The OFBCI works closely with the Indiana Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism (ICCSV) and with the Indiana Faith-Based Advisory Council (IFBAC). The purpose of both of these programs is to strengthen community and faith-based organizations statewide. In addition, the IFBAC oversees the OFBCI and ensures that they have the appropriate resources.
Each state, in turn, has local officials and administrators who oversee individual projects. Much of the effort comes from local volunteers.
Twelve national departments have an OFBCI advising board, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Corporation for National Community Service, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
More information is available at www.in.gov/ofbci.
About FCDC
The Family Christian Development Center was founded in Nappanee in the mid 1990s as an effort to preserve community and family values and to positively impact the Wa-Nee community. It is not-for-profit and non-denominational. FCDC provides a variety of family- and community-oriented programs, including a food pantry, Aim Straight Marriage and Family counseling,  Neighbor 2 Neighbor and a number of others. They also host the annual Toys for Tots Christmas Jubliee.
Further information about FCDC and its programs is available at www.fcdcin.org.