August, 2004 — As the new
school year began at Jonsson Community School, a new
program providing academic and enrichment activities
for our students began at Cliff Temple Baptist Church.
This program is filling a tremendous need for many
working families at JEJCS who were looking for a safe
and nurturing environment where their children would
be cared for and stimulated until the parents return
from work.
Our neighbor across Beckley Avenue spent the better
part of a year preparing for this after school program
which is currently serving 37 of our students. Dr.
Glen Schmucker, senior pastor at Cliff Temple, recently
shared his enthusiasm about the impact this program
is having on the church and its members, many of whom
are working as volunteers.
“I cannot tell you what a difference these
37 little children have made in our lives, in my life,
in just these two or three short weeks! I cannot believe
that I actually thought that we were doing this after
school program for them! In fact, they have already
given us what may well prove to be the new blood that
literally saves our church’s life.
“For one thing, just their physical presence
is such a gift. I was walking through the hallway
yesterday and I could hear noise. These hallways
were once all but lifeless during the week. But there
is more.
“In the faces of these little children I have
seen so much character. They are so alive. I personally
witnessed one of the little girls chase down one of
our elderly gentlemen who volunteered a couple of
hours to tutor one day. She grabbed him as he was
leaving and said, ‘Thank you.’ I could
tell it stopped him cold in his tracks—that
he had done something that meant so much to her.
“Speaking of life in the building, we do have
a few paid staff, but every day there are scores of
volunteers walking through our building. Some aren’t
even from our church. One severely disabled wheelchair-bound
young lady rides the bus from across town every day
to help. The energy of our people is being redirected
in hopeful ways. Much like your golf tournament, this
is by and large a lay-driven program. And that’s
why it is so successful already.
“I am so glad God gave us the precious gift
of these children. They have brought the beautiful
music of noise into our buildings. They have given
some of our folks a place to feel the dignity of sharing
themselves. They have shown me the face of God in
their faces. And grace has gone to work on me in whole
new ways.”