We are very excited to be in partnership with Keysborough Park Primary School in World

 Vision's KIDS HOPE AUS mentoring program. As trained mentors we go to the school for one hour a week to be a faithful friend, listener, encourager and supporter to the child with whom we have been prayerfully matched. We also offer support and encouragement to the wider school community and we're looking forward to developing our relationship with staff, parents and children at the school. If you would like to know more about the program, what it means to be a mentor, who is suitable to be a mentor or you want to be a prayer partner to a mentor,
contact Sue Rogers: Sue.Rogers@worldvision.com.au 

Article from Voices of Hope 2010 

Lighthouse Christian Church Senior Pastors, Richard and Pauline Warner, first heard about the KIDS HOPE AUS. program when they were given an information pack in 2008. Interest and involvement in the program was boosted by a request from Keysborough Primary School.

Although time constraints and many commitments were issues for Pauline and Richard, they realised that KIDS HOPE AUS. had the potential to help the church fulfil its mission of becoming more community related. Pauline remarked that the program gave them an opportunity to do something valuable outside the four walls of the church. Pauline was also deeply aware of the impact a mentor had on Richard who took an interest in him during his adolescence. Richard grew up in an orphanage without the direction, care and attention of loving parents. Without the intervention of a mentor, Richard’s life may well have turned out very differently.

It was easy to see that taking on KIDS HOPE AUS. at Keysborough Primary School provided a potential far bigger than most of the other activities the church was currently involved in. However, issues of time, commitment, concerns over the lack of evangelistic opportunity, not enough people volunteering to mentor, and the possibility of someone spoiling it by doing the wrong thing, all had to be considered carefully. It didn’t take long for the church leadership to decide on a course of action. They quickly realised that the program was doable, required little preparation, and a commitment of only one hour a week. How could they possibly say “no” when a school had invited them into a partnership that would result in lives being transformed!

Like all new partnerships there are expectations and a lot of careful treading while the relationship develops. From the very beginning the school was inclusive and warmly welcomed the mentors. A friendly relationship of trust and respect was quickly established between the mentors and school staff, in particular with Pam, the Student Welfare Officer. Mentors feel part of the school community and enjoy meeting and chatting with staff, not just the teachers of the children they mentor. Parents were happy for their children to have a mentor and agreed readily. One of the things that stood out was the fact that the children were all delightful, ordinary kids that responded enthusiastically to having a mentor and continue to do so whenever their mentor arrives at the school.

The first five mentors began in October 2009 and instantly bonded with their children. When the church initially began recruiting mentors the stories being told to the congregation were from other programs. However, once the Lighthouse program was up and running, mentors could tell their own stories which helped the congregation to feel they were part of it.

The program has grown to 12 mentors from a variety of decades and backgrounds. As the mentors continue to share their experiences with the congregation, the church family experiences pride and is enhanced by what the church community is achieving.

Pastors Richard and Pauline believe that the relationship that has been established between Lighthouse Christian Church and Keysborough Primary School is providing them with a fantastic opportunity to show the local community that they are a church that practises what it preaches. The school experiences first-hand what the church and Christians are really like rather than the often misleading media version. For the church, involvement in the community at this level of commitment is affirming. It reinforces a strong foundation and builds credibility.

Like all the mentors in the program, Richard and Pauline are very busy people who are in high demand. However, they firmly believe that the sacrifice of time to invest in someone’s life is well worth it. Opportunities like this are unique and don’t come every day. As a church community they had been praying about such an opportunity, so to say “no” because of time or some other concern was not an option. It was an opportunity to be salt and light and they took it.

“The strength of program,” says Richard, “is that World Vision has a strong and credible name, it’s well organised, the KIDS HOPE AUS. team are a good support, and anyone who has a heart can do it. “The program’s success lies in the fact that it has a genuine and caring heart for children and people. The integrity and credibility of the mentors is important, the training is excellent and the boundaries are clear. Church leaders who mentor become passionate which in turn motivates the congregation to also get involved.”

The vision that Richard and Pauline have for their program is that more people in the church will become involved as prayer partners and mentors and that the relationship with the school will continue to grow, not only with KIDS HOPE AUS. mentoring, but in other areas where they can be of service.

As a final point, Pastors Richard and Pauline stress that for any church leaders who are approached to partner with a school in KIDS HOPE AUS., “there is no choice. This is possibly the most outstanding opportunity to be salt and light in the community – ‘no’ is simply not an option”.

The following story is an example of what you can experience as a mentor.

FAIRY GOD MOTHER Written by a Kids Hope Australia Mentor

Jessica said to her Mentor, "Hey, you remember when I was a little girl in prep?"  "Yes, that was just last year." Jessica then said, "Well I used to think you were my Fairy God Mother, but now I just think you're God's Mother." The Mentor couldn't help laughing and crying at the same time.