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January 2007 |
In celebration of mentors
KIDS HOPE USA: A no-brainer
17 Hoosier United Methodist congregations participate in KIDS HOPE USA. |
Since 2003, KIDS HOPE USA, a premier faith-based mentoring program working exclusively through local churches, has grown and affected the lives of many at-risk children in elementary schools of Indiana. With an increase of 103 percent from 2003 to today, KIDS HOPE USA in Indiana is serving nearly 800 children. KIDS HOPE USA offers one caring adult to nurture one child who so desperately needs a loving friend to model "Jesus in the skin" and to build a relationship focused on the child's academic, emotional and social needs.
There are more than 70 churches within Indiana partnering with elementary schools to implement KIDS HOPE USA. Currently, 17 of those churches or 24 percent are United Methodist congregations.
This program is well-defined and offers training, materials and support for directors and mentors. Mentors are trained to abide by the principles and laws concerning the separation of church and state, to follow the host school's protocol and to be a faithful constant in a child's life. Praying for the child, the school, the mentor and the mentoring hour, is a behind-the-scene prayer partner. Those heartfelt prayers are seen as the power behind the mentoring hour.
Churches adopting this children's ministry find that it puts a presence in the schools and community affirming the church's mission to "walk the walk" as an active partner with the communities' children and families.
If your church is interested in a thoughtfully designed children's ministry that builds leaders within its membership, provides a venue for active local partnerships and embraces its community's high-needs children, please consider KIDS HOPE USA.
For further information about this award-winning mentoring program, contact Patty Poulson, Northern Indiana State Representative for KIDS HOPE USA at ppoulson@kidshopeusa.org or call 765-348-3656. You also can call the KIDS HOPE USA National Headquarters at 616-546-3580 or visit the group's Web site at www.kidshopeusa.org.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008