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The LinC
CityLinC
News and Views from CityLinC of Battle Creek, Michigan - Winter 2009
Special Issue
A wise man once said that “Mentoring
is the heart of God.” We couldn’t agree
more. In fact, we’re devoting this entire
issue to the theme of Mentoring. It’s
one way to celebrate the opening of the
Mentor House, CityLinC’s new resource
center for the entire community.
Meet Me at the Mentor House!
Find out how CityLinC is expanding
to serve the growing needs of
children, adults and families in our
area. The story starts on page 2
Help a Local Child Succeed
Volunteers are needed for a brand
new mentoring program at Ann J.
Kellogg and Prarieview Elementary
schools. Find out more on page 3
“My Name is Becky”
Learn about mentoring teen mothers
in this real-life story. See page 4
Take the Mentoring Quiz!
Find out if you’re mentor material by
taking this short quiz. See page 5
How Jesus Mentored
A youth pastor talks about the need
for discipleship and prayer. Page 7
“Your Eyes Didn’t Condemn Me”
The story of a single Latina mother
struggling to raise her kids. Page 7
Also Featured in this Issue:
Mentoring at CityLinC...................6
The Mighty Men Institute..............6
Service Learning at CityLinC..........6
Burt: “My Greatest Mentor”...........7
The Mentor House
How to Have a Real Christmas
Snow is falling. Lights are glowing.
“Then you must be real!” said Rabbit.
Santa is making his list and checking
The Skin Horse just smiled.
it twice. But
At CityLinC, we
even with all
think Christmas
the mistletoe
is about the real
and eggnog,
Jesus – the Word
something’s
became flesh. He
missing from this
lived with us, and
picture. What
we gazed upon
is it? How can
him, full of grace
we have a real
and truth. (John
Christmas this
1:14). He came
year?
to show us how
It’s simple,
it’s done.
really. Just listen
Here’s how
to the Velvetine
his best friend
“When you’re real, you don’t mind being hurt,” said the
Rabbit and his
described it:
Skin Horse. “Once you’re real, you can’t be ugly, except
friend, the Skin
“From the very
to people who don’t understand.”
Horse. Both are
first day, we were
toy characters from the 1922 children’s
there, taking it all in – we heard it with our
book by Margery Williams.
own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified
it with our own hands. The Word of Life
One day, the Velvetine Rabbit asked
appeared right before our eyes; we saw it
Skin Horse: “What is real?”
happen! The Father made him real to us.”
Skin Horse replied: “Real isn’t how
(I John 1:1-2 from The Message, a new
you’re made, it’s what happens to you.
contemporary translation of the Bible).
When a child loves you for a long time –
This year, do you want to have a real
not just to play with, but really loves you
Christmas? Take time to stop, look and
– then you become real.”
listen. Hear the sounds of Christmas.
“Does it hurt?” asked Rabbit.
Gaze upon the beautiful sights. Reach out
“Sometimes,” said Skin Horse, “but
to those around you. And, most of all, take
when you are real you don’t mind being
time to experience the real Jesus in your
hurt. That’s why it doesn’t happen to
daily life.
people who break easy. Once you are real,
you can’t be ugly, except to people who
Blessings,
don’t understand.”
Dale Boyer, Executive Director
Mentor House Challenge................8
CityLinC Contacts..........................8
Illustration by William Nicholson from “The Velveteen Rabbit or How
Toys Become Real” by Margery Williams.
A Very Special Invitation
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 1- 7 p.m.
for the Grand Opening of our new Mentor House at 66 Calhoun
St. in the heart of Battle Creek. Come as you are. All are welcome!
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CityLinC
Meet Me at the Mentor House!
The Mentor House
What is the CityLinC Mentor House?
The Mentor House is a new community
resource designed to promote the vital role of
mentoring in our area. Located in the heart
of Battle Creek, the Mentor House provides
much-needed meeting space, counseling
rooms, office facilities and other resources to support a wide variety of
programs and services. CityLinC owns and operates the Mentor House,
but it’s also available for use by other groups involved in mentoring.
Where is the Mentor House?
The Mentor House is located at 66 Calhoun Street, next door to
the existing CityLinC building and kitty-corner from the Charitable
Union. The building itself was formerly a home that stood empty for
many months. CityLinC volunteers and staff renovated the inside of
the building in autumn 2009. Exterior renovations are ongoing and
should be completed by summer 2010. Free parking is available behind
the Mentor House and also on Calhoun Street.
What’s the purpose of the CityLinC Mentor House?
At CityLinC, we believe that mentoring is one of the most powerful
ways to help people in need. Government programs and support
services can be helpful, but sometimes a personal
relationship with a friendly mentor is the key
to making lasting progress.
As our staff can readily attest, we’ve seen many cases
of personal transformation at CityLinC that started
with sound, compassionate mentoring. (See the other
stories in this special issue for examples.) By providing
a safe and welcoming place for mentoring in a central
location, the Mentor House fills a key need in our area
and will be used for many mentoring purposes.
Why do we need a place like the Mentor House?
First of all, CityLinC has grown significantly in the last two years, both
by introducing new programs and by connecting with partner groups
around the area. We simply don’t have the room we need.
More importantly, over the last five years we’ve seen rapid growth in
the field of mentoring for a wide range of people in need. Today,
mentoring is recognized as a proven, cost-effective way to address many
problems and challenges that local residents are struggling with.
Photo Gallery: (Bottom) One of several meeting rooms at the new
Mentor House. (Center) Comfortable seating and natural sunlight are
popular features in this group meeting room. (Above left) A “Bobcat”
operator prepares the ground for a resurfaced parking lot. (Top) A view
of the Mentor House on Calhoun St.. Exterior renovations are ongoing.
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Mentoring addresses one of the basic
human needs – relationship. As the old
proverb says: “Two are better than one and
a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.”
Mentors aren’t there to “tell someone what
to do.” Rather, a mentor serves as a willing
listener, a trusted sounding board and good
source of practical advice, drawing on the
mentor’s past experience and training.
Who can use the Mentor House?
The Mentor House will be used both by
CityLinC and our non-profit partners in
the community. Some mentoring takes
place in groups. At other times, mentoring
is best handled on a person-to-person basis.
Here are some examples of the types of
people that Mentor House will serve:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Single mothers
At-risk teenagers
Individuals and families coming
for professional counseling
Clergy groups and ministerial alliances
High school and college students
People re-entering society
Senior citizens in need, and more
Some programs, such as our Foster Care
& Adoption Center and administrative
offices, will remain in the existing
CityLinC building next door.
What facilities are available in the
Mentor House?
The Mentor House offers both large
meeting rooms and smaller rooms for
individualized discussions. The décor is
warm and inviting. Chairs, tables and
related meeting equipment are already in
place. A small kitchen and two bathrooms
are also available. Certain rooms are
reserved for office space and personal
counseling.
How can my group take advantage of
the Mentor House?
To use the Mentor House, please start by
developing a working relationship with
CityLinC. Tell us who you are, what your
organization does (if applicable) and how
you’re involved in mentoring today.
To take that first step, please contact
Marlene Lawson at (269) 969-9181.
When did Mentor House open?
The CityLinC Mentor House formally
opens in December 2009. We invite you
to join us on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1-7 p.m.
for the Grand Opening of our new Mentor
House at 66 Calhoun St. All are welcome!
To learn more about the Mentor House,
or to set up a tour, please call our office at
(269) 969-9181. You can also learn more
about us online at www.CityLinC.org.
Can You Help?
The Mentor House is a wonderful
new resource for our entire area. At
CityLinC, we’ve made a commitment
to pay for the Mentor House in full
by December 2010. To help us meet
that goal, please use the enclosed
envelope to make a contribution
today. Just write “Mentor House” on
the memo line. We are deeply grateful
for your help!
Help a Child Succeed in School: Become a Mentor!
Big Brothers Big Sisters, HandsOn
Battle Creek, Junior Achievement and
the Educators’ Task Force are partnering
to provide mentors for 4th grade students
at Ann J. Kellogg and Prairieview
Elementary schools.
Mentors will be paired with a student who
has similar interests (as much as possible).
To achieve our goal of having 50 mentors
in each school, we still need lots of new
mentors to sign up. You’ll find flexible
schedules and plenty of support.
The new mentoring program will begin
in mid-November and will require about one hour per week
of your time. Be a mentor and help make Battle Creek
a better place for all of us to live, especially for the child you
are mentoring. For more information contact Jim Edgerton,
[email protected], or Jim Pearl, [email protected].
Becoming a mentor is easy! We will help you in many ways
throughout your mentoring period. It’s also fun! Studies show that children
who are matched with a mentor are more likely to succeed in school, stay
out of trouble and make better life choices.
Educators’ Task Force
CityLinC
Connecting people.
Helping families.
Mentoring Teen Moms: “My Name is Becky”
Three Real Life Stories of Encouragement and Hope
Dear CityLinC Supporter:
Because of the confidential nature
of our work, so many of our stories must
go untold. That’s why we asked Becky,
a friend from another state to tell us her
story about mentoring teen moms. It is
very much like the stories we could share
with you. Thank you for your faithful
support of what God is doing through
CityLinC Ministries!
My name is Becky. I work with teen
moms and their children. I visit their
homes and help them with child
development. When I see a family in
need, I connect them to programs that
can help.
Here are three stories about my
work that I recently shared with
Dale Boyer, Executive Director of
CityLinC. I know that CityLinC does
the same kind of work every day. You
are so blessed to have an organization
like CityLinC in your community!
Story #1: Tummy Time
Mentoring teen moms is both a privilege and a challenge.
The three stories on this page will give you an appreciation
of the work involved in this important ministry.
The youngest couple I have worked
with was a 14-year-old mom and a
13-year-old dad. They loved their little
girl. The school allowed Grandma and me
to bring the baby to school once in a while.
But, the only place the school had for me
to work with them was in the lobby.
One day I showed her how to lay the
baby on her tummy so the baby could have
“tummy time.” I put the baby on a blanket
on the hall floor with her feet up against
the wall, and told that mother to watch
and see what her baby would do.
Just then, the students started changing
classes and many stopped by to see what
was going on. The baby pushed with her
feet on the wall and she moved forward.
The teen mom and dad started crying and
the rest of the kids acted like the baby just
accomplished something really great!
I guess she really did!
Story #2: Baby in the Bathtub
Another teen mom and I were talking one
day. She told me that she was leaving the
baby alone in the tub when people came
by to see her. I told her that this was not
safe and that the baby could drown. “Never
leave her alone in the water no matter how
much water is in the tub,” I told her.
The young woman asked me, “Well, what
do I do?” I told her to get a towel and wrap
the baby in it, then take the child with her!
She started to cry and asked, “Does that
mean I am a bad mother?”
I said, “No, you are a loving young
mother that is learning how to take care of
her baby!”
Story #3: A Baby I Couldn’t Help
I knew a 17-year-old mom who lived with
her teenage boyfriend and his mom. When
the baby was born, I realized that the baby
could not track objects with her eyes.
At the next visit, I suggested that she
meet with a nurse. The young woman
agreed, but then the grandmother said:
“No you will not!”
Well, over the next few months the
baby wasn’t improving. She couldn’t even
roll over, but the young mother would let
the grandma talk her out of help. I prayed
for the key to the grandma’s heart.
Finally, at six months, I took a chart
with me to show the young mother
everything the baby should be doing.
The young mom said again, “I want my
baby to be examined.” The grandma got
right in my face, stuck her finger under
my nose, and said, “I told you no! She is
perfect just the way she is.”
With all the love and kindness in my
voice, I said, “You are right, she is perfect
just the way she is, but there are a few areas
that she needs help with so she can grow
up to be all that she can be!”
The young mom started to cry and
said, “You’re right, she needs more help
than I can give her. I want that nurse
to come.” The grandma stormed out of
the room. The next week, the nurse came
to see what the baby needed.
The last time I saw her, the little girl
was two years old. Her needs were great,
but she was a beautiful little girl.
She had to have glasses because she was
almost blind. She received a leg brace and
she started crawling and pulling herself up
to things. She had never talked before, but
now she would smile and say “Momma!”
She couldn’t hear well, so she had to have
hearing aids. It took love, prayer and
dedication to see this through to the end.
On my last visit, the grandma came
up to me and said: “Thank you, Becky,
for not giving up on the little one and
me. I was afraid to say yes, but because
of your love for her, you came back time
and time again. Now I have a happy,
perfect granddaughter.” I will carry the
grandmother’s words in my heart forever!
Thank you for all you do at CityLinC.
– Becky
Youth Guidance
Foster Care & Adoption Center
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Is Mentoring for You? Try this Simple Quiz!
Americorps and 4-H are working together to encourage positive relationships between
youth and adults, an effort that started five years ago and continues today. The method
they use is called “planned mentoring,” which provides structure and objectives
to the mentoring process.
Here in Calhoun County, 4-H and Americorps are looking for new mentors to work
with local youth. One of them could even be you! The time commitment is just 2 hours
per week for one year and schedules are very flexible. Take this short quiz to find out if
you might be a good mentor. If you score 10 or higher, you’re probably well-suited to
mentoring. To learn more or to volunteer, please call Gwinette Hill at (269) 788-0508.
True or False Questions:
1. Young people with mentors often do better in school.
True
False
2. Mentoring can help build self-esteem and confidence in young people.
True
False
3. Mentoring is expensive and time-consuming to do.
True
False
4. Mentored youth develop stronger social skills.
True
False
5. High-risk behavior often decreases in mentored youth.
True
False
6. Mentoring is one of the best ways to invest in the future
of our community. All it takes is time and caring.
True
False
Personality and Character Questions:
7. Do you enjoy working with young people?
Yes
No
8. Do you believe that young people often have untapped potential?
Yes
No
9. Are you willing to adhere to your time commitment to mentoring (2 hours per week)?
Yes
No
10.Are you naturally self-confident, patient and persistent?
Yes
No
11. Are you a good listener and communicator in your personal interactions?
Yes
No
12. Are you aware of your own biases, but able to work with a wide variety of people?
Yes
No
13. Do you believe in serving your community?
Yes
No
14. Do you believe that mentors can help steer young people in the right direction?
Yes
No
True / False Answers: Questions 1-6 are all “True,” except question 3, which is false.
Scoring Scale for Questions 7-14: If you answered “Yes” to at least 6 questions, you’re
likely qualified to become mentor. To learn more, call Gwinette Hill at (269) 788-0508.
4-H Youth
Development
Mentoring at CityLinC Today: Some Recent Examples
Youth Public Engagement Internships
Mentoring with
Partnership Groups
My name is Jerome Bailey. I heard about the Youth Public Engagement
Internship program through Megan Russell at HandsOn Battle Creek. I have been
doing volunteer work there for two years, sorting and filing papers, passing out
fliers, and conducting video interviews at the Festival of Arts.
I was amazed to discover that CityLinC is many
different places in one. They have all sorts of
ministries all in one place. They care for you and they
want to make you happy. Since I have been here at
CityLinC it has been a blast. Everyone is so friendly
and helpful around here, it’s amazing. I love it here.
You can talk to people around here about anything
and it won’t leave this building unless you want it to.
Last summer I volunteered with the Stuff-A-Bus
School Supplies Campaign, collecting and sorting
donations, and stuffing backpacks for kids. I really wanted to return this fall and
get involved in some of the other activities at CityLinC. I have received so much
valuable help here. I know that I’ll be able to use this experience in the future.
Service Learning
Students from KCC
CityLinC partnered with KCC this semester to provide students with Service
Learning opportunities in the non-profit arena. Five KCC students completed an
eight-week Service Learning internship
at CityLinC. Amy Steele and Nita Hinton
worked with Sunni Munoz in CityLinC’s
Women’s Resource Center.
Adam Booth and Trevor Eason conducted
community strategic planning surveys
for CityLinC’s Released Prisoner program.
Brad Becker installed wire for a telephone
and computer network in the new CityLinC
Mentor House.
My name is Tony Pino. I am a Cottage Coordinator at Starr Commonwealth.
I teach a life skills class to the boys that are in my “cottage.” The guys in our
cottage are all court assigned
from various places in the State of
Michigan – Detroit, Grand Rapids,
Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo,
and Battle Creek! Most of these boys
have dads, uncles, and brothers that
are in prison, so you can imagine the
importance of good adult role models
in their lives.
During their 6-9 month stay at Starr,
the boys learn life skills like home
maintenance, cooking, laundry, budgeting, and writing job applications and
resumes. They also participate in sessions designed to heal racism. Included in
the curriculum are community service projects where the guys can give back.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, our group came to CityLinC and helped remove a fence
between the CityLinC office and their new building, the Mentor House. The boys
were excited to be able to help with a project that they knew would benefit other
young people and adults who needed mentoring in their lives.
At Starr Commonwealth, we have a core value: “There is no such thing as a bad
child.” I am pleased to be part of an organization that provides life changing
mentoring to at-risk young people who need it most.
The Mighty Men
Training Institute
In the spring of 2009, I attended a Small Business Symposium at KCC,
where I met Charles Rose, who referred me to the mentoring program at CityLinC.
Then I visited CityLinC looking for a mentor to help me in my business. Dale Boyer
referred me to the Mighty Men Training Institute, where he said I would receive
coaching in personal disciplines that would help me
be a success.
Service Learning Students volunteer time at a community organization and
participate in projects that meet community needs. Service Learning combines
classroom learning with real-life applications, develops civic responsibility through
active community involvement, provides each student with valuable experience
in their chosen field of study, and allows working professionals to develop
relationships with potential employees. Service Learning is providing valuable
work experience for our community’s young adults.
CityLinC Women’s
Resource Center
Youth Guidance Foster
Care and Adoption
Second Wind Mentors
and Re-Entry Groups
Pathways Counseling
Center at CityLinC
CityLinC Ministry
Network Meetings
Pregnancy Help Center
and Follow-Up Services
At CityLinC I soon discovered an amazing key to
success, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and all the other things will be added
unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).
Michael Small, Al Balko, and my buddies at Mighty
Men have helped me condition myself – body, soul,
and spirit. Together as a team, we share encouragement, accountability, and fellowship in a step-bystep walk of consistency towards Jesus Christ. Yes, the goals are high, but that’s
why we measure our progress day-by-day. I recommend Mighty Men Training
Institute because we put first things first, and lift each other up to serve others.
To learn more about mentoring at CityLinC, call us at (269) 969-9181
or visit us online at www.CityLinC.org. Volunteers are always needed!
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What Does Mentoring Mean to You? 3 Personal Views
How Jesus Mentored
by P.J. Kitchen, CityLinC Ministry Network
A Teenager Named Burt
by Joe Noto, CityLinC Counselor
A mentor is defined as “a wise or trusted person.” I’ve
had many mentors in my life, including a very special
young man named Burt. At the time, I was 13 and Burt
was 16. We had just moved into a new neighborhood
and I was eager to meet some new friends. When I met
Burt I saw that he was a tall, strong young man and
I thought he’d be a great person to play football with.
The next summer Burt had an accident. He had
been swimming at his family’s cottage near Holland and
a terrible diving accident left him a quadriplegic. He
couldn’t move anything from the waist down; he could
move his arms but not his hands or fingers.
I had no idea what to say to Burt when I saw him
for the first time after his accident. Would he be angry?
Would he be angry at God for this accident? What I
found was a young man that was thankful to God that
he was alive.
In the months and years that followed I watched
him learn to put on his own clothes, learn how to drive
a van, graduate from college and become a commercial
artist, marry a special education teacher, survive surgeries
that doctors thought he could not survive and through
all
of this he became one of the strongest Christian I have
ever met.
Burt would always talk of the sovereignty of God
that is His supreme power over all of the earth. The
doctors said that Burt would only live 6 months after his
accident. He went to be with God at age 62. I learned
from Burt that God has a plan for each one of us. When
events in our life make us feel hopeless we can always
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life
by what we give.” ~ Winston Churchill
Jesus used a phrase for mentoring – “making disciples”. His last words
before he left earth were that his followers were to “go into all the world
and make disciples.” In other words, what he did with them, they were
to do with others. As believers, we are all commanded to do this very
thing. We are to build trusting relationships with others in order to
teach and counsel them to be like Jesus.
At the youth pastor network, I bring ministry principles I have
learned through study, personal experience, and most of all, from other
leaders. Then, we mentor each other to become better ministers of
youth. Let me give you one example.
Recently, I talked about how to teach students to pray. Most of the
time in the church, we teach a series on prayer and think we have taught
our students to pray. But how did Jesus do it? He prayed a lot - both
by himself and around his disciples. Eventually, they asked him to teach
them to pray. It was then that he mentored them on how to pray.
I remember how I learned to pray. It was mostly by praying regularly with believers. I learned what things to pray for, how to pray for
them, and mostly, to not give up when the answers don’t come quickly. Now
“Your Eyes Didn’t Condemn Me”
by Dale Boyer, CityLinC Executive Director
She came to our house for our regular Sunday night mentoring group
– a young, single Hispanic mother struggling to raise a family of three
small children.
Her name was Felicia, which means “happiness.” We listened to her
stories and offered encouragement and support.
Because of my vocation, it is
often hard for me to talk less and
listen more. After a year and a half of
meetings, Felicia amazed me with these
simple words:
“At first, I was afraid to come here,
because I knew who you were. My
background is so different than yours.
In my culture, having babies without
being married is just the way things
happen. I didn’t realize how unwise those choices were. But now I know.
And there is nothing I can do about it.”
What Felicia said next really blew me away. “But you didn’t
condemn me – your eyes didn’t condemn me!”
Since that powerful moment, I have asked God to help me accept
those I mentor as being His work of art in progress – each a priceless gem
in His eyes!
Felicia went on to organize a Christmas Party for the Prairieview
neighborhood, with grant money provided by the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation. A few months later, I was privileged to marry Felicia to
Freddy. Today, they live in Chicago, where both are involved in their
church and various ministry activities.
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Join the Mentor House Campaign!
CityLinC
The Mentor House
The Mentor House is a wonderful new resource
for our entire community. At CityLinC, we’ve made
a commitment to pay for the Mentor House in full
by December 2010. But we need your help.
We invite you to make a tax-deductible donation
to the CityLinC Mentor House. Just use the enclosed
envelope to make a contribution today. You may also
donate online at www.CityLinC.org. Memorial and
honorary gifts are also welcome. Thank you!
The CityLinC Board of Directors celebrated the opening of the Mentor House by holding
their November 2009 meeting there. More than 15 different groups and organizations are
planning to use the new facility, which is located at 66 Calhoun St. in Battle Creek, MI.
Now with Video! Visit Our Website Today
If you haven’t visited our new
website, you’re missing out! You’ll
find more than 20 pages of up-todate information, news and helpful
online tools, plus a photo gallery
and now online videos.
Who is CityLinC?
Our Vision
CityLinC is a non-profit, faith-based
organization in Battle Creek, Michigan.
We offer a variety of compassionate services
for children, teenagers and families in the
greater Calhoun County area. All people
are welcome here regardless of background
or belief. Our services include:
Focus on Children and Youth who are
high-risk; Fortify Families who need
additional resources; Free Individuals
to experience their God-given potential;
Facilitate Community where separation
exists; Foster Faith where there is no hope.
Youth Guidance Foster Care
& Adoption
Pathways Counseling Center
Women’s Resource Center
Second Wind Mentors
The Mentor House
Community Connection
Ministry Network
To learn more about our programs and
services, visit www.CityLinC.org.
To learn more about CityLinC, please visit
us online at www.CityLinC.org or call us at
(269) 969-9181. Our office is located at 70
Calhoun St. in the heart of Battle Creek,
MI. A map is available on our website.
Like to get involved? Volunteers and
donations are always needed and very
much appreciated. Just call our office at
(269) 969-9181 to learn more about the
opportunities available now.
Open House!
We invite you to join us on Tuesday,
Dec. 15, at any time from 1- 7 p.m.
for the Grand Opening of our new
Mentor House at 66 Calhoun St.
in the heart of Battle Creek.
Come as you are.
Refreshments will be served.
All are welcome!
CityLinC
Connecting people.
Helping families.
CityLinC Ministries
70 Calhoun St.
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Phone: (269) 969-9181
Fax: (269) 969-9465
Website: www.CityLinC.org
CityLinC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group.
Your donations are tax deductible.