Churches Loving Schools
Churches Loving Schools (CLS) provides a model for churches to tap into the “heartbeat” of every community-the public schools! By collaborating to “adopt” one or more schools, churches send a powerful message of unity and willingness to serve their community by supporting teachers, staff, students, and their families.
CLS provides churches with ways of impacting outcomes for students by tutoring, mentoring, assisting with after school clubs, supporting teachers and staff-the list is almost endless!
DATA
There is an abundance of data that suggest public schools do not foster equitable outcomes. Students of color, particularly those from economically disadvantaged households, typically score lower in every measure of academic success than their white peers.
While it is not entirely correct to say that corrections officials use 4th grade reading scores to predict future prison space needs, there is data that shows 4th grade literacy rates are predictors of graduation rates which in turn are predictors of criminal behavior. There is also research that shows sentencing for criminal offenses is not equitable for black people.
​
Here are some additional data resources for our local school system:
​
​
HISTORY
Sometime in 2015, Chuck Bomar moved to Portland, Oregon to plant a church. Over a period of several months, his church began a relationship with the city’s school district and church members began volunteering in schools. In 2017 Bomar’s book Serving Local Schools: Bring Christ’s Compassion to the Core of Your Communitywas published. Shortly after, Grace Bible Church in Virginia Beach Virginia began developing relationships in local schools. Greater Williamsburg Movement learned about their initiative and decided to begin serving schools in Williamsburg James City County (WJCC) school district. In late 2019 with New Zion Baptist Church and Williamsburg Community Chapel joined together to adopt James Blair Middle School.
End of year BBQ for teachers and staff of James Blair Middle School
OUTCOMES TO DATE
-
Partnered James Blair Middle School with New Zion Baptist Church and Williamsburg Community Chapel. Since January 2021 individuals have sent cards/notes, snacks were provided from Jan 21-June 21, cookies were provided, flower vases made, pencil holders made, end of year BBQ provided.
-
Initiated relationship with James River Elementary with plans to bring a Literacy and Technology Center to the school to support students who are substantially below grade level in literacy.
-
Since beginning CLS has had approximately 50 volunteers from the two churches who have “adopted every single person who works at James Blair Middle School.
-
CLS hosted an end-of-school-year barbecue for all faculty and staff at James Blair
-
Approximately, 900 cards or notes of encouragement were written to all faculty and staff since the beginning of 2021 to date. These gestures of appreciation have during an unprecedented time of challenge as a result of the COVID pandemic.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
-
Minimum of 1 volunteer dedicated to each school from each of the two involved churches.
-
Volunteers from each church to serve. (Numbers vary by school and programs in place.)
ONE-YEAR GOALS
-
Establish CLS at two additional schools; including Berkeley Middle School
-
Assess needs and implement responsive programs at James Blair and James River schools as WJCC allows
-
Enlist churches to adopt James River Elementary
-
Have a functioning CLS Resources Team to provide training and support to churches wanting to participate in CLS.Have cooperative relationships with other volunteer programs in adopted schools
-
Invite selected individuals to join the CLS Leadership Team
-
Create collaborative, coordinated effort among churches who have previously worked in Berkeley Middle School.
​
FINANCIAL NEEDS
The support provided by churches to schools can range in efforts that require no funding (individuals sending cards/notes) to a substantial cost ($5000 to provide healthy snack to all students on for a 4 month period)
CHALLENGES
-
Churches and schools are in survival/recovery mode from the Covid 19 pandemic which requires significant adjustments in how and when sponsoring churches can be most helpful.
-
Maximize the use of Sign Up Genius to efficiently manage volunteers.
Biblical Conversations
About Race and Ethnicity
B-CARE groups are made up of roughly 50% whites and 50% persons of color who agree to meet weekly for 8 weeks to discuss the book, One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race and Love, by John Perkins. The focus is on relationship building, creating awareness, and allowing for lament, confession and forgiveness.
HISTORY
The first groups met in Sept of 2020 with participants from 3 churches with a total of 29 participants.
A design team was formed to further develop the study and to include more churches.
A second round of groups took place in winter 2021 which represented 8 churches and 26 participants.
Most recently a third round of groups began in the spring of 2022. The leaders for these groups were prepared with a new curriculum. All participants completed a new survey to assess attitudes regarding race and ethnicity. This survey will be given again after the group study is completed to assess outcomes.
OUTCOMES TO DATE
New relationships have been forming.
We have heard from many of the white participants that their eyes and hearts have been opened to the need for racial reconciliation.
Many Black participants have expressed their encouragement for having the groups.
ONE-YEAR GOALS
-
Annual rhythm of fall and spring group launches.
-
Train at least 4-6 more facilitators and increase the church participation from 8 to 16.
-
To develop ambassadors who will help transform our community to bring unity between all races and ethnicities by going back to their churches and sharing what they have learned.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Each group requires two volunteer facilitators for whom we will provide training. Ideally facilitators will have already been a B-CARE participant.
CHALLENGES
Fostering an environment where the participant takes ownership of developing long term relationship with someone of another ethnicity.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
This program is supported by volunteers from GWM churches. The only costs are for the One Blood books.
Going2collegisEZ
Going2collegeisEZ, Inc. has developed and successfully implemented their program using the Naviance educational training platform. Identify students’ prospective career paths at an early stage through assessments, evaluation of potential opportunities, and identification of required college, vocational or technical preparation to achieve career goals.
DATA
As of April 30, 2022 the Educational Attainment in the Williamsburg Public School:
-
15.7 % Less than a HS graduate
-
23.5 % High school graduate
Data Source: Data Source: https://nces.ed.gov/Programs/Edge/ACSDashboard/5104020 Williamsburg City Public School
Here is the Educational Attainment Chart:
HISTORY
In 2020 an introduction to Going2collegeisEZ during a Virginia Cities Movement weekly Saturday call created a vision to prepare a Going2collegeisEZ marketing plan for the Greater Williamsburg area. This initiative has evolved to a final model to offer to the Greater Williamsburg community and school
district.
"Learn what you love and you will love what you learn."TM
OUTCOMES TO DATE
In discussion with James Blair MS for a pilot implementation.
ONE-YEAR GOAL
-
Establish a pilot program to develop a Proof of Concept for scalability.
-
Register 10 participants in EKnowledge All Access SAT/ACT Math supplement
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Yes
FINANCIAL NEEDS
$4,700/annum/$313.00/student/year -Minimum 15 students. Additional students at no cost.
CHALLENGES
Obtaining buy-in from academic staff at local schools to include in their curriculum. The challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic has placed a strain on the educators.
PROJECT INSPIRE
Project InSPire is the umbrella for all initiatives that require investment of capital, private donations for investing in students’ and youth potential and their future by providing products, services and coaching, which will help them build a solid foundation for their future achievements.
DATA
Poverty and Benefits (in the past 12 month)s
-
13.9% Families with income below the poverty level
-
22.5% Families with Food Stamp/SNAP benefits
Families
-
30 % Female householder, no husband present
Employment status
-
21.5 % Not in labor force
Educational Attainment
-
15.7 % Less than a HS graduate
-
23.5 % High school graduate
Internet capabilities
-
14 % Households without broadband
Data Source: https://nces.ed.gov/Programs/Edge/ACSDashboard/5104020 Williamsburg City Public School
HISTORY
Established 2019 with the gift of 30 Chromebooks from a private donor to assist with computer needs. The vision became clear, this was greater than just a one off of providing Chromebooks. This was about the awareness of a need to invest our time, talents and treasures into our youths. It was about taking ownership and the use of personal and pecuniary influence to bring about results.
​
It is more efficient and cost effective to invest in students during their best days rather than wait to save them during their worst days. There is a need to nourish the landscape of potentials and strengths by directing the river flow of capital through communities to nourish opportunities.
OUTCOMES TO DATE
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Yes, individuals who are willing to for grants and funding solicitations
ONE-YEAR GOALS
-
Develop a list of 5-10 qualified candidates to participate in the Project InSPire initiatives.
-
Develop a Virtual Building Construction Trade Fair using major construction divisions.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
Yes, to fund ongoing, established and newly created initiatives.
CHALLENGES
Fund solicitations and yearly donor contributions.
PASTORS' PRAYER GATHERINGS
This monthly meeting of regional Christian pastors is a response to Jesus's prayer for unity of His Church in John:17. The focus is on fellowship and prayer for God’s direction, for our community, for one another and for local churches to come together in unifying relationships. Through commitment to meeting and praying together, we seek to break down denominational and racial divisions.
DATA
-
It has been said the that Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America.
-
There are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations in the world.
-
If current trends continue 50% of all American churches will disappear by 2050! (Crossman: The Great Opportunity)
HISTORY
This initiative arose from the work and prayer of the Church Engagement Design Team. The prayer gatherings began in Jan 2021 during the Covid19 epidemic on 4th Tuesday of the month at 8:30 AM. Depending on public health guidelines, meeting have been via Zoom, in person, or both.
The pastors plan and lead each meeting and the location rotates between participating churches.
On the night before His crucifixion Jesus prayed.
John 22-23: "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
OUTCOMES TO DATE
Participation has continued grown as more Pastor's choose to move beyond talk of unity to taking actions to make unity a reality.
ONE-YEAR GOALS
We pray the pastors will choose add breakfast or lunch fellowship gatherings and a yearly retreat to their monthly meetings.
CHALLENGES
We continue to pray for an increasing number of pastors will commit to bring their churches together in unity of prayer, worship, and service to the needy.
PRAYER WALK FOR WILLIAMSBURG
The Prayer Walk for Williamsburg is a prayer initiative led by Kingdom Harvest Global Breakthrough Center. It is focused on uniting the community across cultural, denominational, generational, economic, and civil domains through intentional intercession for Williamsburg based upon Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham’s Seven Mountains of Influence.
HISTORY
In June 2021, Pastor Davet’a Saunders participated in the Movement Scholars Program. The India Movement Day leaders highlighted how they strategically spent years in intercession praying for India based upon Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham’s Seven Mountains of Influence. This method was also something that Pastor Saunders has been doing daily with a prayer ministry she started since 2013.
The weekend after the program, Dr. Mac Pier shared on the Virginia Cities Movement call about how it took Nehemiah 52 days to rebuild the wall. This sparked a prayer by Pastor Saunders to intercede for guidance from God for how Kingdom Harvest Global Breakthrough Center can be used in Williamsburg, Virginia. In August, during a time of fasting almost 52 days after the Virginia Cities Call, God told Pastor Davet’a to lead the ministry with dropping breadcrumbs in the City of Williamsburg through prayer in the parks based upon the seven mountains of influence. Initially, the prayer walk was supposed to just be for the ministry, but after some discussion with community members and prayer, God reminded Pastor Daveta, “When God’s people are on one accord in alignment with His will, transformation occurs” (Acts 4:24-35).
​
Greater Williamsburg Movement has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to partner with this initiative.
​
Prayer walks continue to take place the third Saturday each month. Location and time are posted on this sites Events page each month.
OUTCOMES TO DATE
Prayer Walks have occurred in parks throughout
Each walk averages participants from 6 ministries/organizations within Greater Williamsburg with around 15-23 participants.
Connections have been made while walking in the community with at least four pastors that never heard of GWM and showed interest in learning more.
During each prayer walk, participants have been able to pray or witness with individuals within the park or surrounding community. This includes being used to pray for marriage restoration, and a pastor reconnecting with a member that had stopped attending service.
Leslie Williams has provided cross necklaces and Ebenezer stones for participants to be used symbolically as a witnessing tool about Jesus and how God is our help.
Collette Roots and Charlie & Leslie Williams met at the Ironbound Prayer Walk. Since, November 20th, they have used their combined agency professionally, within their churches, and GWM to begin the church remodification process for Oak Grove Baptist Church.
​
ONE-YEAR GOALS
-
Pray monthly at each park in Williamsburg/JCC thus covering the city in prayer.
-
Build relationships across the community that tear down the walls of division, bring awareness of the cultural history and experiences of Williamsburg citizens beyond the textbook, and ignite a passion for citizens to work together to produce positive change within the community for the glory of God.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Individuals that are willing to spread the word about the prayers walks to citizens of Greater Williamsburg that have a heart for God, faith that God can do the impossible, and a love for all citizens of the community of Greater Williamsburg.
12 Verse Challenge
IllumiNations is a collective impact alliance of Bible translation partners and resource partners working together to eradicate Bible poverty in this generation. The mission is to make God’s Word accessible to all people by 2033.
Prosper's Story is proof positive how Bible translation can help to eradicate Bible poverty. Prosper's Story
DATA
-
3,800 language groups the words of Scripture have not been translated into the language they can best understand.
-
That’s one billion people with little or no access to the Word of God.
-
Over 2,000 of those language groups do not have a single verse of Scripture.
-
Data source: https://vimeo.com/642330664#:~:text=%3Ciframe%20src%3D%22https,Vimeo%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E
​
HISTORY
Launched on 6/27/2021. What would your life look like if you did not have access to the Word of God? For over 3,800 language groups across the globe, this is their daily reality. No access to our living hope, and no way to share it with others. We are changing that. Right now, 10 of the leading Bible translation agencies and their global partners are working together to translate and deliver the Scriptures to all people. There are two ways to access giving:
​
GIVE ONLINE
​
QR CODE
Scan this custom QR code, and you will be invited to take the illumiNations 12 Verse Challenge for the 12VC.com/757beginning campaign.
​
​
​
​
​
​
OUTCOMES TO DATE
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Yes in the form of 1,000 donors/givers.
THREE-YEAR GOAL
CHALLENGES
Expanding the giving participants list.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
$35.00 per month X 12 months = $420.00 year
Minimum of 1,000 Givers = $420,000
Building a Skill Trades Bench
A Purpose with Passion Navigated by Will.
This is a solution to the shallow skilled labor and career bench which exists in the construction industry. A scalable model to offer career opportunities for the youth who may or may not be college bound. This initiative evolved from a need for skill trades careers for youths and a historical need in various industries. Faced with changes in labor force demographics within the next 10 years, there will be growth and increased demand for skill professions that cannot be automated or outsourced. The shortage of tradespeople is and will have a direct impact on the inability to keep up with industry demands.
DATA
“The skilled trades are in dire need of workers right now, with a particularly high demand for apprentice-level and skilled labor positions.
-
Plumber apprentices: Job postings have increased by 24% in the past month, and jobs are sitting unfilled for an average of 29 days.
-
Roofer apprentices: 50%; 39 days.
-
Carpenter helpers: 12%; 28 days.
-
Carpentry apprentices: 33%; 31 days.
-
Construction workers: 17%; 27 days.
-
Electrician helpers: 15%; 27 days.
Data Source:
HISTORY
In 2021 this initiative evolved from a need for skill trades careers for youths and a historical need in the industry. Faced with changes in labor force demographics within the next 10 years, there will be growth and increased demand for skill professions that cannot be automated or outsourced. The shortage of tradespeople is and will have a direct impact on the inability to keep up with industry demands.
This is a solution to the shallow skilled labor and career bench which exists in the construction industry. This is a scalable model to offer career opportunities for the youth who may or may not be college bound.
OUTCOMES TO DATE
Cotney Roof Estimating Training Program for the roofing industry. This on-line course covers the fundamentals in both residential and commercial applications as well as new construction and re-roofing. It was designed for both newcomers to the industry as well as those seeking to advance their career with estimating skills.
​
Currently 2 of the 3 scholarships are available.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Mentorships
ONE-YEAR GOALS
-
3 scholarships for Cotney Consulting Group roofing estimator training program.
-
Create a mentorship network of industry leaders for each skill trades discipline.
-
Obtain commitments for internships and apprenticeships.
-
Relationship development with vocational, technical and colleges for skill trades
CHALLENGES
-
Overcoming the stigma placed on construction skill trade careers.
-
Obtaining passionate applicants who are interested in skill trades.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
Funding for enrollment in 2-year Voc/Tech Schools and Cotney Estimator training program.
HOLY SMOKE
Holy Smoke is a non-profit ministry providing mobile, fresh meals for those in need and a variety of community and church events. Bringing groups together "breaking bread" promotes fellowship and church unity.
HISTORY
Founded in 2012 by Joel Gorelick with a focus on outreach in the community. Holy Smoke has provided a growing number of hot, fresh meals for church functions and partnered with other area non-profit organizations.
​
OUTCOMES TO DATE
Prepared and served an estimated 100 + events throughout the Williamsburg area
End of School Year BBQ for James Blaire Middle School
Middle- Joel Gorelick (Holy Smoke leader) with organizers from Churches Loving Schools Claire Jacobs and Leslie Williams.
ONE-YEAR GOALS
In the continued partnership convene and serve a large local Pastor gathering to further build unity.
Determine other opportunities to meet area needs via prepared meals.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Holy Smoke is fully dependent on volunteer help for each event. Ideally we would like to train up some younger individuals to step in as Holy Smoke leaders and build a team of area wide volunteers.
CHALLENGES
Expanding the leadership team and a core of regular volunteers.
Adequate funds to meet the number of requests for providing meals at events.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
Major needs are funds for procuring the food and and other supplies required for each event.
The River Church continues to provide some ongoing funding.
Pray For Me Campaign (P4M)
The central idea is for each participating church to is that 1-3 older adults commit to pray for a teen or family with younger children daily for an entire year. Every year each teen or family get 1-3 new older adults to pray for them. The model used is from the non-profit “Pray for Me Campaign”.
DATA
Mental Health
-
29 % of high school boys and 51% of high school girls report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
-
31% of nominal Christian teens have had suicidal thoughts in the past 3 months.
Trusted Adults
-
Only 38% of young people have a positive role model for a successful life.
-
As the number of trusted adults in the lives of 13-25 year olds increases from 0 to 5, these percentages change from:
-
62% to 9% feeling completely alone
-
70% to 24% not feeling understood
-
59% to 21% feeling left out
-
73% to 39% feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
-
Prayer
-
The requirement for and promised results of prayer are a primary Christian doctrine.
Sustaining Faith
-
If trends continue 50-80% of our youth brought up in the Church will have left before they are age 30.
​
HISTORY
In 2022 GWM sponsored a meeting for youth leaders in the community and churches to come together to identify youth needs in our community. Three areas of greatest need included youth mental health. It was determined that there were many social and professional resources in the community with much greater resources and expertise the GWM. However, we realized that many churches in our community were struggling with how best to address these issues in their teens. The Pray for Me Campaign seemed a perfect fit. This was confirmed with interviews of almost 20 pastors.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Each church recruits their older adults and their teen volunteers.
FINANCIAL NEEDS
None
CHALLENGES
It is always a challenge for churches to embrace new church-wide initiatives and for GWM to coordinate efforts when there is such diversity in decision-making processes, resources, other efforts in place, and unique needs among community churches.
THREE-YEAR GOAL
Over 10 churches complete the first year of their campaign and to continue in the following year.
By 2026 over 30 churches have adopted P4M
OUTCOMES TO DATE
Eleven churches expressed interest in a P4M Campaign and additional churches are being invited to initiate campaigns beginning in the Fall or 2023.
Use for New Initiative
Name of Initiative
Summary
DATA
-
Text
​
HISTORY
-
Text
​
OUTCOMES TO DATE
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
THREE-YEAR GOAL
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
text
CHALLENGES
Text
FINANCIAL NEEDS
text
Use this space to add an image after deleting this text box.
MAKE A COPY OF THIS TEMPLATE SECTION TO CREATE A NEW SECTION
Name of Initiative
Summary
DATA
-
Text
​
HISTORY
-
Text
​
Use this space to add an image after deleting this text box.
OUTCOMES TO DATE
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
THREE-YEAR GOAL
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
text
CHALLENGES
Text
FINANCIAL NEEDS
text