This is Jeff Clark with his Kids Hope Child, Jasson Stennis. Jeff and his wife Tiffany have been married for three and a half years and they have an eleven month old son named Joshua. They have been attending College Wesleyan Church for four years. Jeff is the Associate Head Coach for the men’s basketball team at Indiana Wesleyan University. Jeff began mentoring Jasson about three months ago. Jasson is a 4th grader who needs one on one time with someone who believes in him, encourages him and is a trustworthy friend. Jeff has been that someone in Jasson’s life. One Friday morning Jeff drove to Frances Slocum to visit Jasson for their mentoring hour but when he arrived, learned that Jasson was absent. Jeff drove back to work on the campus of IWU but later got a call from Jasson who was in the school office for discipline issues. Jasson told Jeff he wasn’t having a good day and asked if he could come and have lunch with him. Jeff made a second trip to Frances Slocum that day to have lunch with Jasson and Jasson was a different boy. Jeff is making a huge difference in Jasson’s life because he cares. We interviewed Jeff about why he got involved with Kids Hope and this is what he shared with us.

A- I got involved with Kids Hope after going through a study in our small group and becoming convicted that I had become the classic church-going Christian who saw needs in the church but made excuses about not getting involved. Kids Hope was a practical way that I could come alongside the ministry of College Wesleyan to help out in our community.

Q- What had God taught you?

A-God has taught me that even though he loves us all the same, not every child gets the love and attention at home that I had growing up. These children need people in their lives to love, encourage and support them.

Q- What brings you joy in being a Kids Hope mentor?

A- It is really rewarding to see how happy my mentee gets when I encourage him and show support to him. When I show up, it is almost as if his reaction to me shows that he gets very little love and attention at other points during the week.

Q- What would you say to others who are thinking about getting involved with Kids Hope?

A- If you have felt the tug in your heart to become a Kids Hope mentor, take the step of faith and get involved. I felt this tug for over a year but always made the excuse that I did not have enough time in my schedule. It's been such a positive experience for me that I can't imagine not spending this hour each week with my mentee.

VOLUNTEER AS A MENTOR

College Church is partnered with Frances Slocum Elementary at 2909 South Torrence Street in Marion, Indiana, just 8 blocks from our church.  We currently have 40 mentors going into the school every week to meet one on one with students in grades K-4th.  The mentoring hour is broken into three critical pieces; academic time, play time, and personal investment.  The opportunity is vast.  The need is great.  The idea is simple.  One child.  One hour.  One church.  One school.  You could be the one that helps develop a positive child at Frances Slocum. 

CONTACT

vicki.conrad@collegewes.com or amy.alcock@collegewes.com to get involved.