SageGroup Strategies' Religious Sector Division Announces Major Program to Work With Religious Organizations to Help Troubled Companies and Other Victims of Natural Disasters

Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; and San Francisco, CA -- September 20, 2005. The Religious Sector Division of SageGroup Strategies announces that it has launched a major program to work with religious ministries, churches, and other religious organizations to help troubled companies and other victims of natural disasters.

This strong Natural Disasters Program is aimed at helping all types of victims, including troubled companies, various other organizations, families, persons, and other victims of these disasters. Because of the strong business capabilities, credibilities, resources, relationships, and other SageGroup strengths, as well as the complementary strengths of religious organizations, the SGS Program is especially appropriate for helping troubled companies. And, helping troubled companies also results in helping many others, including the companies' employees, other involvees, suppliers, customers, communities, and others.

Natural disasters can be of various types, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Many churches, ministries, and other religious organizations make wonderful efforts to help victims of these disasters. And, SageGroup wants to work with these organizations in any ways possible to add to these efforts and help the many victims.

While SGS's Religious Sector Division is the main contact entity for its Natural Disasters Program, many other SageGroup entities will also be actively in support wherever they can. SGS is the USA's and world's largest Professional Troubled-Company Specialist firm, with over 600 professionals based in over 60 offices located in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia. More information is on the SGS website www.SageGroupStrategies.com.

Chaplain Alvin McKinley, a Co-Manager of the SGS Religious Sector Division and its Natural Disasters Program, has been a chaplain and/or minister for over 40 years, including currently being the U.S. Air Force/auxiliary Regional Chaplain responsible for the six states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. He is also a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (www.icisf.org). Chaplain has just returned from being part of the Air Force/auxiliary Civil Air Patrol relief efforts in New Orleans. He commented, "While I was greatly saddened by the terrible human tragedies and suffering, I was also greatly impressed by the many churches and other religious organizations that were working so hard to help victims. SageGroup wants to work closely with these religious entities and others in helping the victims of this hurricane and other natural disasters, with SageGroup emphasizing the strengths that it can bring to these terrible situations."

Chaplain McKinley continued, "What I have observed in the clean-up of Katrina (and other natural disasters): All have been deeply bruised by this tragic onslaught. The poor and the wealthy have been hurt by the storm. God's People giving, giving, giving. Churches going all out to minister in God's name. Neighbors going door to door helping one another. Thugs and hoodlums going door to door looking for someone weak to victimize. Ice and water being fought over as police try to keep the peace. People coming from all points of the compass offering relief. These folk are those who have been helped by others when they were hit with storms of life. Our people have an innate desire to lift up the fallen and give them what they need in such a time as this. The churches all over the country doing what God's people do in a crisis, going out in ministry and doing it. FEMA doing a job in getting help, the Salvation Army doing a great job in the community, the Red Cross, four hundred power-company crewmen from everywhere bringing back the power to homes, churches, and businesses. Lines at service stations a block to a mile long, and National Guardsmen patrolling the streets. Police from other states volunteering their time to help local police protect those who cannot help themselves. Doctors, nurses, tech's, and other hospital personnel working tirelessly, even sleeping in the hospital to do the job God called them to do."

Chaplain added, "As a lad, growing up in the Oklahoma Texas Panhandle, I learned a lesson on caring for those who could not care for themselves. Let me explain. We have terrible snow storms on the high plains, and drifts developing from 4 up to 8 feet. Highway 54 would be closed in a matter of a few hours, and travelers would be snow-bound in their cars. Our little community and neighboring ranchers would go to those people and bring them in out of the storm and give them shelter. Sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks. Depending on the strength of the storm. I am so glad that after fifty years we still have such compassion for those caught in a storm."

Chaplain explained further, "My Scottish grandmother taught me a very special parable from the Old Country. The Parable Of the Spoons goes as follows: A Holy Man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." The Lord led the Holy Man to two doors. He opened one of the doors, and the Holy Man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the Holy Man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles, and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The Holy Man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell".....Then, they went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the Holy Man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well-nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The Holy Man said, "I don't understand." ....."It is simple," said the Lord. "It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other,...while the greedy think only of themselves."

Chaplain then emphasized, "In the course of human events we are commanded to "Love the Lord your God with all your soul, mind, body, and spirit and like unto that....LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." When one has fallen upon difficult times and he feels no one cares, God Cares, and His people Care. Let us all work together not only in the clean-up of Katrina but also in any future disaster that comes upon us. God does not show Partiality, nor should we. WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER. When he hurts, we hurt."

Larry Lindsey, another Co-Manager of the SGS Religious Sector Division and its Natural Disasters Program, and with over 35 years of business experience in crisis management, troubled-company turnarounds, corporate growth, financing, and related areas, added, "The successful responding to a natural disaster takes a coordinated effort of many good people and organizations, including religious, non-profit relief, governmental, business, and others. SageGroup wants to do whatever it can, including in the religious, humanitarian, business, and other areas. The SGS Religious Sector Division's Natural Disasters Program is a permanent ongoing important SageGroup priority and commitment."

One or more members of this Program are based at every SageGroup Office nationally and internationally. Religious organizations, troubled companies, and others are invited to contact Chaplain Alvin McKinley and/or Larry Lindsey in strictest confidentiality at SGS's International Coordination Office by phoning (510) 865-2480 or by emailing SGS@SageGroupStrategies.com. Much information is also available by fax or mail.