From the Director's Desk...

Miracle on 18th Ave.

Like most working women, I usually hit the grocery store late at night on my way home from work.  Last week was no exception. As I parked my car and grabbed the nearest cart, I suddenly heard, "Miss Donna".  I turned to see a woman headed toward me at top speed with arms open for a hug.  "I just had to stop you and tell you about my boys now!" she said excitedly. She reminded me that her sons were part of the PASS After-School Tutorial Program at Childs Park UMC many years ago.  Both of her sons are now in college, with one about to graduate this year and another next year.  Her pride at their accomplishments was evident. She glowed as she talked about them.  Indeed, she should be proud!   Her sons, African Americans, survived a neighborhood filled with crime and many temptations. But with her guidance and under her constant watchful eye, they had set goals for themselves and had worked toward those dreams.

I commented as to how proud she must be as a parent of the Henderson boys. She said, "It is because of that wonderful program you had on 18^th Avenue!  Thank You! Thank You!"  I glowed with pride for all the United Methodist Churches that had made that program possible day in and day out, year in and year out, until 2003.  Our PASS motto was," We help them succeed in school so they can succeed in life." 

Over the years, I have run into other parents and youth from that elementary program and listened to their stories and their achievements.  Some were able to rise above the problems of the community, broken families, and less-than-desirable educational mentoring.  Others simply could not; far too much damage had been done too early in their lives. 

I know that the PASS Program was successful because of the work of friends of UMCM and local churches who invested consistently in the lives of children in the broader community. (It didn't matter whether the kids were in their back yard or someone else's. They were children in need and our friends were there through thick and thin to make a sustained investment in young lives.)