You are making an impact!
I have been a part of Wright’s Chapel for a little over two years now and I am often amazed at the impact the church has in this community. There are ministries in the church that we all know about that are making an impact. Things like Christmas in April, firewood ministry, homeless ministry, children and youth after school program, Mildred’s kids, and on and on. But there are also things that go on weekly that make a huge impact that many don’t see. One of those things is the church’s partnership with the Caroline High School job coaching program. This program is set up in the high school to help special needs students to learn job skills. They work all over the county at different businesses. Every Tuesday and Thursday mornings they come to Wright’s Chapel. They do odd jobs around the church including taking out the trash, cleaning the chalkboard, vacuuming, and many other things. But the actual work they do is not the most impressive part. We as a staff and other people who are here on those days are able to welcome them and show God’s love to them. We are able to help them have a wonderful job experience.
They are not the only ones that benefit from this partnership. Not only do they help us with jobs around the church (and they do lots of things that are helpful). They also show God’s love to us. They help us to learn how to interact with people who have special needs. Twice a week they come in and bring joy to our work place. On Thursday afternoons Charles and I go to the high school for lunch to see some of our students and we always see a few of the students in the job coaching program. They are always so happy to see us, which is nice because some of own youth kids are embarrassed when we show up at school!
This church is fulfilling its mission of making disciples and transforming the world in big ways like going to Haiti. But also in welcoming a special needs student every week and helping them learn skills that will help them the rest of their lives. I hope they are also learning that the church is a safe place full of people who will love them. It’s also helpful they clean the chalkboard wall, because I really don’t enjoy doing that!
