by PeggySue Wells

 

The sullen boy presented himself at the church library. His tear-stained face reflected the civil war that had occurred earlier between him and his mother. “Now get in there and meet your mentor,” his mother instructed.

An hour later, the same boy, smiling broadly rejoined his mother for the trip home. Waving good-by to his new mentor, he cheerily informed, “I’ll be back next week.”

Throw open the doors. Get extra chairs. Put on the coffee. Tweener Ministries developed a unique way for church libraries to bridge the distance between the church and the community. Tweener Time Mentoring pairs seniors with eight to twelve-year-olds to promote literacy in the young generation.

“Twenty-five to 50 percent of kids are dropping behind in reading,” reported Dr. Marvin G. Baker, president of Tweener Ministries. “The church is often viewed as takers, taking people’s time and money. Mentoring children in reading is a way for the church to give back to the community in a big way.”

At 81, Baker has a passion for the upcoming generation. “Would you keep a kid out of detention or prison? A large number in both are illiterate. Our goal is to increase literacy so the next generation of leaders knows how to read, and know Biblical principles. Biblical literacy is not an option,” stated Baker. “It is a necessity.”

Boys dominate the field as reluctant readers, often feeling that reading is sissy. As a result, most publishers target the current reading audience which is predominantly female. So the cycle continues. “Fifteen to 20 percent of our population is functionally illiterate,” Baker cited. “Everyone in that category is seriously handicapped. A poor reader is his having his own Jerico Road experience and he’s looking for a Good Samaritan. Mentoring children in their reading, the church is seen as a service, the inn on the Jerico Road for troubled kids.”

Ideal for Church Libraries

The program is simple. Tweener Ministries provides the materials and training. The church provides the space. The church library is ideal. Volunteers meet weekly with children. To encourage reluctant readers, they begin their time together by reading a fast-paced, action-packed book. The mentor and young reader talk about the story and engage in related activities designed to reinforce the day’s lesson. “The program is self-contained curriculum,” Baker said. “All a volunteer and a student need to do is just show up.”

Materials include books and study guides with comprehension and discussion questions, word search and crossword puzzles, vocabulary word match, and a fun cryptogram for each chapter. This complete package offer mentors the tools that they need to make a significant difference in the life of a young person.

Stressing vocabulary as the building blocks of literature, the discovery time that follows reading is geared to bring a strong element of fun to the reading and discussion process. “When children are having fun, they are learning,” Baker stated. Students and mentors begin by reading through a thought-provoking Max Anderson high adventure tale and bridge to Mark’s Story, the book of Mark written as if a grandfather is telling the story to his grandchildren.

Presently the fastest growing population, seniors are a natural for this project. Tweener Time Mentoring is an opportunity for the older generation to mentor a young person and impact their community for generations to come. “What a marvelous concept, bringing children and seniors together, each blessing the other,” endorsed Bill Myers, co-creator of Focus on the Family’s McGee and Me and author of the award-winning tweener book series, My Life As …”

Building Relationships

Tweener Ministries patterned their mentoring concept after Christ’s example. Jesus mentored his disciples. “You can make the difference between success and failure for children in your community,” Baker assured.

Based out of Warsaw, Indiana, Tweener Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit organization created for the sole purpose of promoting literacy among tweeners through three programs. Tweener Time Mentoring: Operation Hope engages adults in mentoring tweeners in reading. Teens for Tweens Competition encourages writing by inviting teenagers to write a chapter book for eight to twelve-year-olds. Tweener Ministry Book Distribution places free books with high moral values in the hands of those who struggle to read. Books have gone to Child Evangelism, Big Brother, Big Sister, orphanages, and prisons.

Tweener Ministries Mentoring Program launched in January, 2007. “Things are happening I never envisioned,” Baker stated. “One mother told her child’s mentor, ‘I don’t know what you are doing for my child, but I certainly appreciate it. My child can’t wait to get here.’” A student whose behavior resulted in being expelled from school was paired with a mentor. Today that student enjoys the relationship with his mentor and bolstered confidence through improved reading skills.

Twelve kids were paired with as many seniors at the first church to participate in the program in Napanee, Indiana. “In just twelve weeks these kids are different kids, they are changing,” the youth director described. “The kids read only one chapter each session, but now they are reading faster, finishing the books quicker, and the extra activities.”

When a mother who did not attend the church asked that her child be included, the program became an outreach to the community. Today, there is a waiting list of students.

“It’s an intergenerational experience,” Baker said. “What it’s doing for the seniors is they are becoming energized, they have purpose and they are needed. For some kids, these seniors are the first adults who have listened to them read. From the young people’s point of view, their mentors are no longer just old people. They are friends. A retired dentist became ‘Doc’ to the kids, the men are called by their first name, and the kids added a respectful ‘Miss’ in front of the women’s first names.”  

Baker’s professional career centered on promoting literacy for children and youth. Teaching in elementary, junior, and senior high schools, and in colleges and universities, his life long passion has been encouraging students to channel their creativity through writing. His undergraduate majors in English and speech, his doctoral research in Motivation for the Release of Creativity through Creative Writing, and post-doctoral study in the facilitation of instruction prepared him for the work he does today.

As students become proficient readers and enjoy the adventures they discover between the covers of books, they turn their attention to the books lining the shelves of the church library. Again, the church becomes a bridge to the community, a welcoming place where families come for refreshment and resources.

“If we who profess the name of Christ believe we are to make a difference, we can’t say we don’t have time,” Baker concluded. “In as much as we do it for the least of these, we do it for Christ.”

Writer and speaker, PeggySue Wells is the author of several titles including What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Say and What To Do When You Don’t Want To Go To Church.

 

 

How can a church library bring Tweener Time Mentoring to your community?

• Establish a prayer group who will commit to pray for this outreach
• Contact Tweener Ministries at
  701 E. Main St., Warsaw, IN 46580
  1-888-741-4386
  info@tweenerministries.org
• Recruit volunteers at your church
• Promote the program through posters, church bulletins, newspaper ads, articles, and word of mouth
• Stock the library shelves with a selection of books of interest to tweener readers