From the Pastor’s Screen – September, 2018

Pastor Deb Davis

We have two new programs making use of our basement – following requests that were made to Council and were approved.

The first is STEPS: Faye Borcherding directs this school-year program that serves students from school districts throughout northeast Indiana to work on job training skills. The program is an offshoot of CHOICE and is funded by AWS Foundation, Steuben County Community Foundation and private donations.

The students’ major project is homemade cupcakes – learning to make them, market them and sell them.

They have also offered to prepare food for funeral dinners, Sunday coffee hour and fundraisers as needed. And if you are in Cahoots on any Tuesday, you will also see these students preparing and serving lunch to patrons.

They are in our building the entire school day – with some students coming in the morning and some in the afternoon.

The second program is CONNECT: Directed by Kathy Armstrong, this is a year-round program for young people who are involved in the juvenile justice system and is a part of a continuum of care for such youth. During the school year they will meet from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and in the summer from 11a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

The program emphasizes the 40 Development Assets in all aspects of programming. Assets is a strengths-based approach to working with youth, which maintains that ALL youth, when given the proper combination of opportunities, supports, positive roles, and relationships, have the opportunity to contribute, embrace new responsibilities, develop self-esteem, and demonstrate their value to the community … the same Assets that have guided Cahoots programming from its inception.

So if you are in the building and see the kids, “just say hi!” and let them know you are glad they are here.

Blessings,