Princeton CRC continues to partner with Brookwood Elementary School through the KIDS HOPE USA program to mentor at-risk students.  We are beginning our 8th year and are excited to see the program grow.  KIDS HOPE USA takes one church, one child, and one hour a week to transform the lives of three people:  a child, a mentor, and a prayer partner.  KHUSA gives churches the framework to recruit, screen, train, match, and supervise their own members to develop one-to-one relationship with at-risk children at a local public elementary school.  KHUSA reaches out to elementary school children during the critical years when values are formed, self-esteem is developed, and basic academic skills must be acquired.  KHUSA mentors commit to a weekly one-hour meeting where they build a life-changing relationship, which addresses the child’s social, emotional, and academic needs.  Churches also provide one prayer partner for each tutor-child relationship.  Nothing this important should be attempted without prayer.

The impact of KHUSA has already been proven to be an awesome vehicle for Christ to show His love to His children through servants of the church.  We are in our 8th year and are currently mentoring 12 students at Brookwood.  We have 12 mentors, 12 prayer partners, and 3 substitute mentors for this year.  We also have social events planned such as a Fall Tour at a local farm in October, a Christmas Party in December, a Valentine Pizza Party in February, and an Easter Event in April.  During the summer we will have an end of the year event in June and a pool party in July.  The program is so successful that we are mentoring multiple siblings in the same family because the parents request that all their children have a KHUSA mentor.  One teacher wrote, “My student loved the KHUSA program and his mentor.  They went above and beyond our expectations.  I can’t thank you enough for pouring into his life this year.  It has really made a significant difference in his life to have such consistent loving attention and relationship with his mentor.  He would have gladly stayed after school every night!  He would beg to stay after school!”

Princeton church looks forward to continuing the relationships we have built over the last 7 years.  This program has had a wonderful impact on Princeton church, Brookwood School, and the families we work with through the program.  We hope and pray that with God’s guidance this program continues to grow and prosper.