Mon, Oct 06 2008
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Published April 25, 2008 04:22 pm - First United Methodist Church has been reaching out to Highland Elementary students for the past eight years through its Kids Hope ministry. Kids’ Hope celebrates eight years of ministry with Highland students By GINA KINSLOW Glasgow Daily Times GLASGOW — First United Methodist Church has been reaching out to Highland Elementary students for the past eight years through its Kids Hope ministry.
Church members not only serve as mentors for students, but they also serve as prayer partners. “The idea came about eight years ago when our minister wanted to do an outreach ministry. He heard about it on the radio, a program called ‘Focus on the Family,’” said Marianna Irving, who oversees the ministry. The pastor of the church at that time contacted a church in Michigan where the ministry originated for more information and decided it was something he could bring to First United Methodist. “It was a fit,” Irving said. “We felt it was just what the church needed and wanted.” Kids Hope is a national program that can be found in 27 states, with over 7,000 children involved. The program can also be found in Australia. Seven churches in Kentucky participate in the program, but according to Irving, First United Methodist has the largest participation with over 175 volunteers. Children involved with Kids Hope are referred by their teachers. “It can be for several different reasons. It may be a child who just needs a friend. A lot of our children have single parents. If we provide a positive, Christian role model, and within that framework we work on academics, focusing on reading. We feel if they can learn to read that is the key,” she said. Church members who serve as mentors work with children in grades K-5 for one hour a week. The program is not necessarily designed to go be-yond the fifth grade, but Irving said the church saw a need for older children to continue receiving the same mentoring, prayer and support that the younger children receive. “So, we continued with Beyond Kids Hope on an indirect basis,” she said, working with children in grades 6-12. “When they started going from fifth to the sixth grade, we can’t quit them. We just can’t say, ‘OK, we’re finished.’ We know the pivotal years are those junior high years, so we work with them on an indirect basis.” While mentors work with the students on schoolwork, other church members who serves as prayer partners pray for both the mentors and the students. Rachael Harms was involved in the program as a young student and continues to meet with her mentor even though she is now in high school. “My mentor is a huge blessing. She’s always been there even though I’m out of the smaller kids, she still comes to see me and we do things,” Harms said. “If it weren’t for her, I don’t think we would really be where we are right now.” 
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