"Frances! Frances! Help!"*

How strange, I thought. Who's calling for help in the middle of the day? 

I ran outside and found an elderly gentleman slumped over on the concrete. Trying to stay as calm as possible, I asked if he was OK. He told me he didn't have the energy to stand up on his own and asked if I could help. I reached down, wrapped my arms around his body, and tried to lift him. Nothing. The dead weight was too much for me to handle. 

I looked around frantically for help. Every so often a car would drive by. Silent buildings stood staring down all around us. I was frustrated and angry that no one stopped to help - until I realized that no one could see what was happening. We were too far away for anyone to see our situation. I desperately wanted to help this man - to lift him up, to move him out of the blazing sun so he could get his energy back - but there was nothing I could do on my own.

---

Too many of our Houston-area children experience this each and every day. Personal and external challenges weigh them down. Those closest to them want to help but don't know how. Families are calling out for help, but no one is listening. How frustrating and disempowering!

Over the past year and a half, we've discovered that people want to help, but they're often too far removed to know how. Calvary Community Church's Pastor Jeff McGee often says that "we can't be salt and light without proximity".


If Adeeb hadn't committed to mentoring Andres, Andres would likely have been suspended for disruptive in-class behavior. Instead, Andres is now Chairman of the Pro Unitas Youth Council, representing and advocating for youth in his Kashmere Gardens community. Andres' passion for his fellow students is obvious. Many of his friends don't have mentors, and he sees how that lack of structure causes problems in their lives. Many of his friends only have single moms - and he sees that as much as moms want to help, they can't teach their sons how to be men. He also sees how many adults in his community never learned how to be adults themselves. They want to help their children but don't know how! That's where Adeeb comes in.

No one ever believed in Andres the way Adeeb does. When Andres does something average, Adeeb says he can do better. When Andres does something good, Adeeb praises him and his confidence soars. When Andres complains about his family, Adeeb doesn't judge but encourages him to see things from their perspective. Adeeb even brings Andres along to his company's board meetings to open up his eyes at an early age to professional life.

Also because of Adeeb, Andres had the opportunity to go to his church summer camp that he otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford, to work in a research lab at Rice University, and to travel to DC to visit colleges and historical monuments thanks to a grant Adeeb received.

After graduating in 2016, Andres hopes to attend Texas A&M with a track scholarship while double-majoring in electrical engineering and kinesiology - what a difference from the sleeping-in-class, apathetic student he used to be!

---

Like Andres' story, my story ended well. I called a nearby friend who drove over immediately to help. He knew how to position himself for maximum leverage - and with our efforts combined, we were able to lift the fallen man and bring him to safety. 

Can you imagine how different Houston would be if we joined forces with our neighbors to lift up children in need? If we got close enough to see the situation - and then actually took the time to help?
 
Ready to help? Click here to find a school near you. Email us with questions or check out our website for more details.   
 

*Name changed to protect privacy.

How You Can Help! 
by Samantha Jo Berry


"The church can best serve local schools with human resources. Tutors, coaches, etc. I don't know how feasible this is but I know that so many of my students don't have the relational structure they SHOULD have outside of class." 

- Darrell Williams, sophomore English, Alief Elsik HS

 

 


 

Often we focus on what our schools are lacking rather than what our students are lacking. At the beginning of my teaching career, I was plagued with the question of "how do I get what I need to educate these children?" It didn't take long to realize I was absolutely equipped with the very thing every single one of my students needed - love.

 

Every day in teaching is an adventure and a journey. The adventure comes when trying to find a balance in your classroom amidst the different personalities sitting in uncomfortable plastic chairs. The journey is what happens after finding the balance and then channeling your energy into meeting each student's individual needs.

 

The truth is - no teacher or principal or counselor can meet every student's needs. We have students from emotionally and physically abusive homes. Students who have been abandoned. Students who are raising siblings. Students from what appear to be happy homes but are far from ideal. Try as we may, we cannot fully be present for every student.

 

As we prepare our hearts and minds for the upcoming school year and maybe even grieve a little at the thought of no more mid-morning swims or no-alarm mornings, there are children counting the days until they can return to the one place someone hugs them and encourages them. School is a safe haven for so many young souls.

 

As a teacher, I long to see every child reach their full intellectual potential. As a Christian, I long more for every child to know they are special, valued, and have purpose.

 

This is where the Church comes in and fills a void that teachers often don't have the time or resources to fill. Most schools offer mentorship programs where volunteers can come in and spend time with a student. Whether it be one lunchtime a week of playing cards or sitting in the stands of a basketball game, simply showing up speaks volumes to children who have lived a lifetime of neglect.

 

An ear to listen, a voice to encourage, and a heart of love are really the three things our schools need most. As you pray for an area to serve in the upcoming school year, press in to see if God could best use you as an advocate and volunteer. The joy that comes from impacting a child's life will in turn change our own lives.

 

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.


---

Samantha is a Spotlight Award winning journalism teacher in CyFair ISD who loves Jesus, flat shoes, and supporting teachers and students! Follow her on Twitter @samanthamazing!

 


 


  Calendar

 

Click on each event for more details.

 

Aug 13 Ambassadors of Compassion. Invite volunteers to learn how to talk with middle and high school students.

 

Aug 22 Raising Highly Capable Kids. Learn how to equip parents to help their children succeed. 

 

Sept 17-18 Kids Hope Director Training. Discover how to start a Kids Hope mentoring program at your local elementary school.

 

Oct 19 Read Across the Globe. Help set a world record by reading to children. (Great launch point for new and existing church-school partnerships!)

 

Oct 20 Points of Light Faith Day. Learn more about volunteering and how faith communities can serve our city more effectively. 

 

 

We're grateful for the 30 church leaders who joined us for our 7/30 Equipping Session to learn about starting partnerships with their local schools. Would you pray for these leaders as they discern next steps, and praise God with us for their commitment to loving their neighbors? For more information on our next Equipping Session, email [email protected].

 


Book Icon  Inspiration

 

 

"I've become convinced that our public schools are among the best places to love, serve, and make a difference. Every need that exists in the overall community exists in our schools: hunger, homelessness, family struggles, trafficking, abuse. It's all there. And what better time to deal with these major issues than before they take hold, build habits and lifestyles, and run our society deeper into trouble. Rather than waiting for addiction, violence, or family struggles to take over the life of a twenty-something, what if someone began helping and mentoring them in first grade?

 

"Think of this: Every neighborhood in our country has a school. It's a ready-made place to love and serve. Imagine if every single public school in our country had at least one church that raised its hand (so to speak) and said, 'That one is ours.' Not in the possessive or controlling sense, but rather in the humble role of a servant...

 

"In Portland, we have a dream that eventually every public school in the Portland-Vancouver area would have at least one church partner."

 

- Kevin Palau, Unlikely 

 

 

This is our dream for Houston also - that every single one of the 1470 schools in Greater Houston would have at least one church partner! Will you partner with your local school? We can help!

 


 Your Story
 
How is your church kicking off the school year? Hosting a backpack drive or a back-to-school appreciation luncheon? Helping as a bus buddy or hallway monitor? Serving through a local nonprofit's student programs?
 
In next month's e-mail, we'll be sharing stories about how Houston-area churches are serving students. 
 
Would you share your story with us? Let's show Houston that churches really are loving our city!
 
Email Marilyn or fill out this survey with details about your partnership.
 
 
Our Staff  Our Staff

PETER FORBES

Executive Chairman

MICHAEL KRAXBERGER
Operations Manager

MARILYN LEE
Communications Manager


Special thanks to volunteer Kellie Fawcett who helped us on some Communications projects this summer. Best of luck in your final year at Baylor!

Loving Houston Website  LOVINGHOUSTON.NET   Twitter TWITTER.COM/LOVINGHOUSTON    Facebook  FACEBOOK.COM/LOVINGHOUSTON