Kidtrek: a Christ-Centered Plan for Resiliency

KidTrek: A Christ-Centered Plan for Resiliency

By Joseph Parker

Being from a European descent, most of the kids I worked with during my years in Skid Row mistakenly assumed I was born with a “silver spoon” in my mouth.

Truth be told, I had a nomadic childhood with thirteen moves by my 13th birthday -- all over Southern California and a brief time in Northern Oregon. This included living in the inner city, rural communities and eventually a stint in the suburbs for a time before going onto college.

Born to parents who met while living and working in a migrant labor camp as part of President Johnson’s newly formed VISTA Volunteer Program (now known as Americorps) in the mid 1960’s, I began my life surrounded by troubled boys living in several inner cities.

Over a ten year period my Dad developed his skills in directing and fund-raising for the Boys’ Clubs of America, located in some of the worst communities of Southern California. Poverty, crime and gangs overran these towns, providing many opportunities for Dad to bring harrowing stories home for Mom and the kids. These days laid the foundation for KidTrek.

One boy was extremely angry, often being violent and getting into fights. He had a scar that ran diagonally across his face caused when his mother’s boyfriend threw him out of a car in a drug-induced rage, slashing his face against asphalt pavement. But this same rage-filled boy became peaceful, helpful and protective when my Mom and I visited the Boys’ Club.Less than a year old, I was entrusted into this boy’s arms. I’m told he became a different teenager, taking on the role of being my protector and guardian.

Years later my Dad ran into this boy, now a man, working as a parole officer in Oxnard. He told my Dad, “You know, I made it. I am an adult with a good job and in good standing with my community, and it is because of you. I would not be here today if it were not for you.”

As I continued to grow, my father did all he could, at community-organization wages, to provide for his family; one of his biggest successes being the example he gave me in what work ethic meant through his determination to put food on the table, a roof over our head, and providing an overarching sense of safety and security. But even more important, he modeled for me the importance of helping others.

Coming out of the 60’s generation that wanted to make an impact on their world, my Dad had a strong desire to help children in need, but he would soon discover the programs he was working for were not doing enough. Being secular in nature they were missing the most important ingredient in teaching children resiliency: Jesus. If we give the children the world, but they lose their soul, what have we truly done for them (Luke 9:25)?

In order to provide the basic necessities in life (by now my Dad was serving with foreign missions with meager salaries) for their own family my Mom needed to work from time to time, and even then we still needed assistance from my grandparents and friends from church.

No matter how many times we moved, or where we lived, my parents were determined to have their children connected to the local Church, understanding it is the individual’s who make up the Body of Christ who would best assist them in raising their children in God’s ways and in God’s Word. The local Church became a safe-haven for me.

As Dad continued developing his skills and passion for being a funds developer (on a national scale), Mom took up the torch of being an advocate for children. God had been teaching her and using her in a variety of ways since their years with VISTA, The Boys Clubs of America and the many different churches where we worshiped. However, it would be her experiences over the next 25 years as a Children’s Pastor and Director of a large inner city ministry where God would layout the tangible foundation for KidTrek with the development of training curriculum, program curriculum and her tenaciousness to challenge others to walk through life with kids.

This meant my sisters and I were left alone for short stretches of time after school through our teen years to make decisions on our own. Through all of this, my sisters and I stretched our parent’s faith in God and their ability to believe they were good parents. Now adults, all three of us are not only living productive lives, but walking with Christ as our Lord.

What made the boy (at the beginning of this article) resilient? What made my sisters and me resilient? What makes any of us resilient? Why do a few kids in the worst situations fight on to succeed, while others grow up in the best situations and do not succeed?

Forty years from the day this story first began in Texas, I am now taking up the torch to carry the Vision forward; one that I have literally lived from my birth. Also I want to pass the torch to others challengingthem to walk through life with at-risk kids.

From a young age I was shown how God would provide. Though in my teen years I often feigned my own faith in God and His ability to take care of us, it did not change the reality that God DID provide. And, eventually, I came to not only understand, but to believe that God loves me and cares for my every need.

You and I can provide the means to show children living in the inner city, rural and suburban communities who are at-risk for becoming part of the cyclical system of poverty, destitution and hopelessness, that God will provide for them (see Deuteronomy 14:29, 15:11; Psalms 82:3; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Matthew 25:34-46; James 1:27). That by the time these children are adults they can truly say with conviction, “Thus far God has been with us…” (1 Samuel 7) believing He will continue to take care of them just as He has been up to that point.

Can this be done? How are kids shown, reminded, developed into adults with the ability to BELIEVE God is taking care of them?

As a child, in every place we moved, God put someone in my life who influenced me in a positive way, reminding me and developing in me the understanding that God loved me.No matter where I was, caring people made a commitment to me, creating in me the resiliency to fight on and to not give up on this life.

Though life was hard, God was tangibly with me through His Church; God placed significant people in my life each place we lived, beginning with Father Louie in my childhood, the caring adults at First Baptist Church in Bakersfield, the close-knit relationships formed and developed at Powell Valley Covenant Church in Gresham, Oregon, Todd Temple in Junior High when we moved back to Southern California, Gene Binder in High School, Bob and Sharon Hilts through college, and eventually Mike Coppersmith and Kurt Johnson my early years out of college.

Connecting children to the Body of Christ is critical! Children and their families must be connected to a body of believers who loveand support them in the worst of situations, walking through life with them as they develop into adults. It was vital to my ability to be resilient through my development as an adult, having a dramatic impact on my life.

Who better to do this than the Church?

Who will the children growing up in our inner cities have where they will one day look back on their life and say, “Thank you God for taking care of me and providing for me by putting in my life.”?

KidTrek is committed to sending missionaries into the inner cities of America to do just that. Inner city families living in poverty and hopelessness need to be introduced to God in a way that communicates not only compassion and sympathy, but a long term,eternal commitment.

Conflicted families must know they are not alone, that God cares and His Church will respond to their need.Think of your children and how the Church has supported them through Sunday School, Youth Groups, Missions Trips, Discipleship and Spiritual Intervention.

KidTrek’s Secondary Nurturers will provide this not only to the families, but to the local church they will serve, training them how to reach their community for the cause of Christ.

References

Barna, G. (2003).Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions.Ventura, CA: Regal Books.

Benard, B. (1991). Fostering Resiliency in Kids: Protective Factors in the Family, School and Community. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. (1992). Mentoring Programs for Urban Youth: Handle with Care. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. (2004). Resiliency: What We Have Learned. San Francisco, Calif: WestEd.

Benard, B. (1997). Turning it Around for all Youth: From Risk to Resilience. New York: ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education.

Benard, B. (2004). Turning the Corner: From Risk to Resilience. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. and Marshall, K. (2001). Protective Factors for Individuals, Families, and Schools: National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health Findings. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. and Marshall, K. (2001). Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentoring: The Power of Developmental Relationships. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. and Marshall, K. (2001). Adventure Education: Making a Lasting Difference.Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Benard, B. and Marshall, K. (1997). A Framework for Practice: Tapping Innate Resilience.Minneapolis, MN: Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Benson, P. C., Williams, D., Eklin, C., and Schuller, D. (1990). Effective Christian Education: A National Study of Protestant Congregations.Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Black, S. (2005). Learning Behind Bars: Youthful offenders who lose their freedom shouldn’t lose their chance for a good education. National School Boards Association.

Brendtro, L. K. and Larson, S. J. (2006).The Resilience Revolution.Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

Bridgeland, J. M., DiIulio, J. J., and Morison, K. B. (2006). The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Drop Outs. Washington, D. C.: Civic Enterprises, LLC.

Bunge, M. (2001).The Child in Christian Thought.Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Carter, R. (1998). Promoting Positive and Healthy Behaviors in Children. Atlanta: The CarterCenter.

Clouse, B. (1993).Teaching for Moral Growth. U.S.A.: Victor Books.

Coles, R. (1990).The Spiritual Life of Children.Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Collins, M and Tamarkin, M (1990).Marva Collins Way.New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Council of ChiefStateSchool Officers (2000). Extended Learning Initiatives: Opportunities and Implementation Challenges. Washington, D. C.: CCSO’s Publications.

Elkind, D. (1981).The Hurried Child. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

Fletcher, A. J. (2004). Building Exemplary After School Programs: Creating a System that Supports Staff Development. Sacramento, Calif.: Center for Collaborative Solutions.

Fletcher, A. J. (2005). A Regional Approach to Securing Local Funding for California’s After School Programs: Ten Steps to Success.Sacramento, Calif.: Center for Collaborative Solutions.

Fletcher, A. J. and Piha, S. (2005). A Guide to Developing Exemplary Practices in After School Programs. San Francisco, Calif.: Center for Collaborative Solutions, Community Network for Youth Development, and the Foundation Consortium for California’s Children and Youth.

Gambone, M. A. and Connell, J. P. (2004). The Community Action Framework for Youth Development. The Prevention Researcher.

Levine, M. (2002).A Mind at a Time.New York:Simon and Schuster.

Lockman Foundation, The (1999). New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Macallair, D. (2002). Aftercare as Afterthought: Re-entry and the California Youth Authority. San Francisco, Calif.: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice.

Marshall, K. (2001). Bridging the Resilience Gap: Research to Practice. Minneapolis, MN: NationalResilienceResourceCenter.

Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary Magic: Resilience Processes in Development. American Psychological Association.

Masten. A, (1997). Resilience in Children at-Risk. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Matula, L. (2005). They’re Watching You: The Importance of Role Modeling. Houston, TX: MindOH!

Melaville, A., Berg, A., and Blank, M. J. (2006). Community-Based Learning: Engaging Students for Success and Citizenship. Washington, D. C.: Coalition for Community Schools.

Miles, G. M. and Wright, J.J. (eds.) (2003). Celebrating Children: Equipping People Working with Children and Young People Living in Difficult Circumstances Around the World. Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Paternoster Press.

National Institute on Out-of-School Time for the Corporation for National Service (2000). Making an Impact on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley, MA: National Institute on Out-of-School Time at WellesleyCollegeCenter for Research on Women.

Peterson, D. B. and Hicks M. D. (1996). Leader as Coach: Startegies for Coaching and Developing Others. Minneapolis, MN: Personnel Decisions International.

Piha, S. and Adams, A. (2001). Youth Development Guide: Engaging young people in after school programming. San Francisco, Calif.: Community Network for Youth Development (CNYD).

Rainer, T. S. (2006). The Bridger Generation.Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Ratcliff, D. (2004).Children’s Spirituality.Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

Rhodes, J. and DuBois, D. (2004). National Research Agenda for Youth Mentoring. Alexandria, VA: MENTOR: National Mentoring Partnership.

Roehlkepartain, E. C.(2003). Building Assets, Strengthening Faith: An Intergenerational Survey for Congregations.Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Benson, P. L. (1993). Youth in Protestant Churches.Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Mannes, M., Scales, P. C., Lewis, S., Bolstrom, B. (2004). Building Strong Families 2004: A Study of African American and Latino/Latina Parents in the United States. YMCA of the USA and Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Scales, P. C. (1995). Youth Development in Congregations.Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, J. L., Gallo, C. and Rude, S. P. (2002). Building Strong Families: Highlights from a Preliminary Survey from YMCA of the USA and Search Institute on What Parents Need to Succeed. YMCA of the USA and Search Institute.

Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., and Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2001). Grading Grown Ups: American Adults Report on their Real Relationships with Kids. Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran Brotherhood and Search Institute.

Seligman, M. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Paperback ed., New York: Vintage Books.

Tyre, P. (2006). The Boy Crisis: At Every Level of Education, They’re Falling Behind. What to do? Newsweek, Inc.

Werner, E. E. and R. S. Smith (1992). Overcoming the Odds. New York: CornellUniversity Press.

Werner, E. E. and R. S. Smith (1998). Vulnerable but Invincible: A Longitudinal Study of Resilient Children and Youth. paperback ed., New York: Adams, Bannister, Cox.

Werner, E. E. and R. S. Smith (2001). Journeys from Childhood to Midlife: Risk, Resilience, and Recovery.New York: CornellUniversity Press.

Wolin, S. J. and Wolin, S. (1993). The Resilient Self: How Survivors of Troubled Families Rise Above Adversity. Paperback ed., New York: Villard Books.

Websites/Articles:

Achieve Boston’s Competency Framework

Kellam, S. (1999). Understanding Youth Development: An Interview with Karen Pittman. Connect for Kids

Pittman, K. (2006). An Unexpected Gift.

Gibbs, J. Rather Than “Fixing Kids”-Transform the Environment.

Search Institute

40 Developmental Assets for Early Childhood (ages 3-5), (2005)

40 Developmental Assets for Middle Childhood (grades 4-6),(2003).

40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents (ages 12-18), (2006).

Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute

P.O Box 7295 Long Beach, CA 90807 (213) 220-2661