Falling Through the Cracks

These are photos of some of the kids who come to our ministry for various activities. Some only come to eat, others come and pay little to no attention to what's actually going on, and some come and are all ears listening and learning about Jesus.

Since we've been having Good News Club in the elementary school this year our ministry has been opened to even more students hearing about Jesus. This has also given us the opportunity to see our kids in a different environment, to get to know how things are really going in school beyond what they are willing to tell us at the church or out on the street.

So I've (this is Joni speaking) started to wonder why it is that every child that brings me a report card to show off has at least 1 "F"? I mean, shouldn't there be at least one child that can show me a report card where they are passing everything? It seems that even with the after school tutoring, the Boys and Girls Club, Whiz Kids, and our SAY Yes tutoring - that kids are still constantly falling through the cracks.

A young man who has come to our ministry since it's beginning (we'll call him "N") sat down next to me at club yesterday and said he had left his report card in the auditorium. I found it and brought it to him only to see that he has straight F's. This year is beyond saving for him at this point, there is no way possible for him to pass this grade. So he's feeling pretty hopeless.

N is probably the sweetest, most tenderhearted kid I know, but he's falling through the cracks every where he goes. Including Cincinnati Urban Promise. He's hyperactive, he's defiant at times, he's has difficulty paying attention, and his parents are not actively involved in his life or the life of his siblings. He needs help. If he continues down his current path he won't even have the kind of life skills it requires to survive life on the streets. He'll end up a victim of violence or in prison.

You see, there are a lot of groups doing a lot of wonderful things in the city. But each of these groups has the same problem: lack of Christ-like volunteers. There is only so much that one program can do if they don't have enough workers. When you have tons of kids in need of help, and only a handful of people to help those kids - you end up with a huge number of children who just get left out.

In Northside, we have a set of kids who are at every free meal offered. The same kids, the same days, every week. They are thin from lack of nutrition, they are rowdy, and they have difficultly trusting and building relationships with adults. At this point, who can blame them. Every where they go they only see the same 5-7 adults. So, don't you think they start to think that maybe there is no one else that cares?

In a neighborhood that does its best to offer Jesus and care to the children in this neighborhood, the facts are plain. We don't have enough help. We have to do something to help kids like "N" who have become hopeless, who have given up even trying because they don't have anyone to guide them.

There is no way that a small handful of adults can build the kind of deep relationships necessary to disciple, tutor, and mentor these children.

So here's what we're asking.

For starters:

• 4 adult volunteers for our Wednesday meal and discipleship program
• 4 adult volunteers to start and teach a Pre-school/Kindergarten class during our Wednesday program
• 10 adult volunteers to mentor students, coming to spend time with them at least once a week.

You don't have to live in Northside to do these things. You don't have to give up a huge amount of time to do these things. You don't even have to be currently involved in our ministry. You just have to volunteer. You just have to be willing to give of yourself to help a child get to know Jesus and have a chance at success.

If you're interested please use our contact us page to let us know!