BY Amelia Snyder

Project Transformation was busy this summer. On any one day at any one church, five interns and about 40 kids with 15 volunteer helpers got down to day camp activities that included crafts, singing, games, bible studies, computer work, field trips, and more things that are too numerous to mention.

All this multiplied by three was going on at three United Methodist Cooperative Urban Parishes in Oklahoma City: Britton Road, Hillcrest and Ridgecrest.

But that is only what has happened. That can’t describe how the program affects lives both in children and in the program facilitators.

The project, started as an outreach to kids in the inner city, takes on more issues than just helping kids out with something to do during the day. The kids need love, attention, kindness, peace, and patience. Basically the true spirit of Jesus Christ shown to them through others.

Britton intern Matt Schmit said, “I think that it is just recognizing that these kids are having to grow up way too fast and that the main thing about this program is to let them have fun and just be a kid and not have to worry about the harder aspects of life for a little while.”

In some cases, this program is the first experience with church they have ever had.

Hillcrest intern James Lambert said, “We have just seen a bunch of really great kids that need love and we’re there to give it to them. Some of them don’t have anyone else to tell them about God and Jesus. They don’t have the Bible background like we did from Sunday school and they don’t know these stories that we’re teaching them. This is our chance to build that foundation and teach them all the old stories.”

Hillcrest intern Callie Shepard said, “I was talking with these two girls and their grandpas were dying and I told them ‘It’ll be okay because they’ll be with Jesus.’ They looked at me kind of funny at first and I thought that I was the first one to ever tell them that.”

Once the kids are able to relax and take in what is shown to them, they can get the message pretty well.

“During Bible study at some points I’m amazed at the kids ability to take the gospel message and apply it to their lives. I love that they can take this affirming, safe experience and take the message to be applicable to their own lives. It’s awesome,” Britton intern Carl Gladstone said.

Sometimes, it’s awesome to see that God can be more of a healer than just a teacher.

“I was most proud of our oldest kid. Most afternoons he would get really hyper and run all over the church. It’s frustrating because you’re like ‘come on; you’re the oldest one here. Act like it.’ We did some stuff with him and spent some time with him and also put him into certain leadership roles that now he is stepping up and taking that leadership role and being very responsible and mature,” Schmit said.

“We’ve got some girls that are aware when a game is too young for them, so they might just sit there with their arms folded, but recently they have been preparing a dance for family fun night and it’s great to see them taking the initiative to produce this whole thing and they’re working with each other and getting other people involved and working on dance moves. It’s just really great to see them take this creative step in the middle of their tough lives,” Gladstone said.

Hillcrest intern Treva Summers said, “Even some of the kids that seem to have more problems have come up to me excited about their new library cards and how many books they’ve read. They care now and that’s good.”

Lambert said, “It’s been fun to see some of the kids that have learned lately to deal with their emotions. All of us have been learning about kids feelings and their moods, and how to cheer them up. It’s fun to see the progress some of the guys are making instead of crying when you think they would have. We do give them the attention that they need but we encourage them to be a little tougher and how to have fun with each other.”

In a project like this where the Christian message interacts not only with the kids but also with the facilitators, it’s no wonder what great spiritual insight can be in store for the interns and the patrons of the churches involved in this effort.

“I think it’s amazing that we teach them but at the same time we learn so much about ourselves. We just don’t realize it sometimes,” Britton intern Lauren Anderson said.

Hillcrest intern Keith Hayes said, “Galatians chapter 6 verse 7 says ‘God is not mocked. What you reap is what you sow.’ This verse just reminds me that I used to be just like these kids so I can’t get too aggravated or mad, and realize that someone had to deal with me so I have to deal with this, and what worked for me usually works for them.”

Ridgecrest intern Scott Beach said, “There are some kids that will literally do anything for attention because they are so attention starved. I know why they are doing it and I just feel so bad for them. I feel if I can just contribute anything, I’ll be happy. I’m just learning that all of these kids are good kids, some in need of more love than others.”

During the summer, the kids did a lot in their host churches. For example at Ridgecrest, the kids worked and practiced on songs to sing for a Sunday morning church service. At Britton, the kids worked on activities for a family fun night at the church.

Volunteers were an integral part of this ministry. Members of the churches and also invited volunteers from other churches organized the behind the scenes support by doing anything from transportation and cooking meals, to reading with the kids.

“This program has been a lot of hard work but it has been worthwhile,” said Lynn Beam, member and volunteer at Ridgecrest. “I now appreciate things in my life a whole lot more.”

Even young volunteers helped in the program. Twelve-year-old Hannah Campbell helped with reading to the kids and in the kitchen at breakfast and lunch for Ridgecrest. “I just like helping out. It’s great,” she said.

But the benefits of this program might not be seen just yet, as was pointed out by van driver volunteer Harry Hawley, a retired man who is a member at Ridgecrest. “There are going to be benefits of this program in the overall community that we might not even see. God calls souls to Christ. God calls us to plant seeds. We just have to do it. This program is a gardening program, and we have to nurture the seeds.”

The program will continue next summer hopefully with five more interns and one more church. Volunteers will be needed to continue the program, as well as more financial assistance for next summer.

“If a church or a group of churches could sponsor the costs of an intern, that would help,” suggests Pat McGarity, Project Transformation program director. The cost of an intern is around $2,500, for their rooming costs and their living stipend.

For more information or to donate to next summer’s project, call McGarity at 405.752.0688 or patnleroy@yahoo.com.

back to main page...