| Kid's Hope |
| KIDS HOPE Gives Congregation New Life Glimpses of Missional Faithfulness Across Our State by Linda Brinson, lay person of First Baptist Church, Madison When a Kid’s Hope USA volunteer from First Baptist Church of Madison walks down the hall at Dillard Elementary School, children tug at his sleeve and try to hug him. The volunteer returns the friendly greetings, but he heads on to the classroom where he’s going to see his special child. When he walks in, that little girl’s eyes light up. She knew he’d be there; he comes at least once every week, just to help her. First, Madison had seen its congregation age and dwindle. Many of those who grew up in the once-lively youth programs moved away and raised families elsewhere. By the time the Rev. Dr. Charles (Chuck) McGathy retired from the U.S. Navy and took the job of pastor in the summer of 2006, the youth group had only a few members, and no young children attended regularly. Knowing that a vibrant children’s ministry was essential for the long-term health of the church, McGathy prayed that God would help him find a way to revitalize the church’s programs. When he attended the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Washington, D.C., in June 2007, his prayer was answered. He learned about KIDS HOPE USA, a national organization founded in 1993 to help churches give hope to at-risk children in public elementary schools. One church partners with one school. Church members participate as mentors, substitute mentors, prayer partners and director. Each mentor agrees to develop a relationship with one child, meeting with him or her at least one hour a week. Mentors tutor the children, show interest in them, eat lunch with them -- whatever the child needs. Their mission is through deeds and example. Some might have thought Dr. McGathy to be overly ambitious in trying to start a KIDS HOPE program at a small church in a small town. Most participating churches have larger congregations than First Madison and more than one minister on staff. There were, however, many reasons to move ahead. The children’s needs were obvious. In Madison, as in other communities, many children live in poverty. Many have only one parent in the home. The high-school graduation rate is troubling. First Baptist’s needs -- to revive its congregation through missions and to get children more involved in the church – were obvious, too. When Rev. McGathy challenged the congregation, the response was heartening. Seven people stepped forward to be the first mentors -- nearly 10 percent of the church’s average Sunday attendance at that time. Even more participated this past school year. Some are bringing the children to Bible school this summer. When school starts in the fall, 12 or 13 KIDS HOPE mentors will be back at Dillard School. The effort has helped to bring some new members -- and more children -- to church. Through KIDS HOPE and a variety of other efforts, the church has gotten out the word that it cares about children of all races and backgrounds. KIDS HOPE has been great for the mentors, too. Almost all of them say they suspect that it does them more good than it does the children. They feel blessed to have found a way to make a difference in the life of a child. The school’s teachers and administrators are grateful, and are on the lookout for more children who could benefit from a mentor. And the children offer success stories, large and small. Take Makita, for example. She lives with her grandparents. When she was in second grade, Makita felt that no one cared about her. She would barely speak, and her schoolwork suffered. After Mr. R. from First Baptist, a retired school principal, became her KIDS HOPE pal, things began to turn around. At the end of third grade, she passed all her state tests. She basked in the attention from Mr. R. and from the other children whenever he visited. She talks so much now that it’s almost a problem, but the teacher doesn’t mind. Makita is a happy, confident little girl. This church has found that helping children in need in its community has blessed individual church members, and that this missional effort has given the congregation new energy and purpose. Visit www.cbfnc.org to read other Missional stories or to find the CBF booklet Glimpses of Missional Faithfulness. Learn about KIDS HOPE at www.kidshopeusa.org. |
| Our own Linda Brinson wrote the following article for the state CBF paper. This article gives an excellent description of what this outreach ministry is all about. Dawn McGathy is our Kids Hope director and she would love to talk with you in detail about this exciting ministry opportunity. |