|
Liv
|
|
MOUNT VERNON — For
one year, eight young women will live and work together in a home in Mount
Vernon while learning life skills and receiving training in personal
development, job skills, finances and healthy interpersonal relationships. There
is no cost to the women beyond their contribution toward the home utilities once
they have employment. There is also no cost to the taxpayers. It will be funded
by private donations and sponsors. While this scenario sounds like a premise for
a reality television show, it’s actually a ministry called OASIS Discipleship
House.
OASIS is an acronym for Opportunities for Achieving Spiritual and Individual
Success. Currently under the umbrella of the Mulberry Street United Methodist
Church, the ministry is striving for total independence and will eventually be
its own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
The ministry is seeking “at risk” women between the ages of 18 and 25 who
are in need of the opportunity to turn their lives around. They must be able to
commit to one year in the house with no children, jobs or spouses. At-risk
individuals are those who may have been or have the potential to be in trouble
with the law, are often unable to hold a job and make overall poor life
decisions.
Experts in social services fields often agree that most at risk adults are
void of basic life skills, usually as a result of family situations or a lack
thereof. These young adults are lacking in skills as basic as balancing a
checkbook, filling out a job application, proper hygiene or cooking.
“The plan is to give them tools from a faith-based program to help them
become successful, contributing members of society,” said Eli Dorman, pastor
of outreach services at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church. Why the
emphasis on faith?
“The faith element is essential in helping to make necessary changes. Just
like the physical and mental life components, faith in God is essential to
making people whole,” explained Dorman. “And God has the power to change
lives.”
The idea for the Discipleship House stemmed from a program called the Wagon
Ministry also overseen by Dorman.
The Wagon Ministry serves pop and snacks to the young people who gather at
Public Square on Saturday nights. On any given night there are 50 to 100 young
people gathered, mainly because they have no where else to go. According to
Dorman, they come from all over the county. Reasons for them being there might
be a lack of education, poverty, broken homes or abuse. Many label themselves
losers or throwaways.
“They often are looking for someone they can trust. We invite them back to
the church or just hang out with them and talk. We try to build relationships
and share our faith,” said Dorman. From the Wagon Ministry, Dorman saw a need
to provide a more intense experience for some of the young women.
According to Christina Wolf, house life coordinator, “they need a
breakthrough and a chance to start again. They’re not going to get it on
Saturday night get togethers.” Wolf is volunteering a year of her life to
serve in this ministry position while finishing her degree in education at Mount
Vernon Nazarene University. She has also been involved in the Wagon Ministry.
The Disciple house has its own governing board of directors who will carry
out the mission and oversee the resident selection process and eviction, if
necessary. On a day-to-day basis, the household will be run by the women
themselves under the supervision of two house life coordinators. Cooking,
cleaning, laundry and even conflict will be handled through group consensus.
“This reinforces their ownership in the house and the program,” said
Wolf. A key ingredient for the success of each participant will be personal
accountability. Each woman will develop a life plan and be expected to work that
plan including finding a job and participating in the household. Residents will
also attend regular one-on-one and group counseling sessions.
The residence is owned by the Mulberry Street UMC and was the former Wise
residence on Sugar Street. The house is undergoing renovation with needs for
electrical and plumbing services and building supplies.
The board will being taking applications for house members toward the end of
summer with plans for actual start up in early 2005. For more information
contact Dorman at 393-2576.
