Elvis Bueno: A Life Transformed

There are a handful of people in Elvis Bueno’s life that mean the world to him. It’s evident by the way he smiles when he talks about them, or how he puffs up with pride when he speaks their name.

“The reason I am the way I am today is because of my grandpa, Alberto Jarquim,” Elvis says, his voice sharp with emotion and chest puffing up to show respect.  “And my mother, Jimena Jarquin, and grandma, Elba Gutierrez. After my father left when I was three years old and my mom struggled, my grandparents took me in. They’re everything to me, and they were always there for me, giving me everything I ever wanted – clothes, food, shoes. Even if they didn’t have the money, they’d find a way. Today, I’d do anything for them.”

But there’s another man that Elvis – a 20-year-old who calls Nicaragua his second home – also holds in high esteem: Tim Mathewson, his Pathways Danbury Mentor.

“Oh man, I love him! He is my right hand,” Elvis said, a big grin spreading over his face. “I can’t thank him enough. You’d never believe the struggle I was having in my freshman year. I was failing most of my classes, and he was always right there, helping me with school work.  He said ‘give me a call whenever you need help’ so I kept asking more and more.”

It’s paid off.

Today, Elvis – one of the first students to attend and graduate from The Academy (PDYM’s middle school for at-risk boys) – is not only a graduate of Danbury High School, but is now a certified machinist, having graduated from a program at Naugatuck Valley Community College. Next, on Elvis’s goal list – earning his Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. And if that weren’t impressive enough, he’s doing it all while holding down a job (two jobs for a portion of time), and sharing a car with his grandfather because he hasn’t been able to afford his own car.

From where he sits, Tim Mathewson couldn’t be more pleased. “Elvis has grown into a fine young man, realizing the importance of advanced preparation for life by getting his associates degree along with his machining certification. I’m proud of him,” Tim said.  “Elvis taught me about the challenges that are presented to a young person who is being educated in English when there is no English spoken in the home, and no resources to help with homework. He also taught me about the strength of his family. His grandparents did an amazing job of anchoring family support for Elvis and his siblings and their mother. I developed great respect for their constancy of purpose for raising Elvis with solid principles and values.”

As busy as his life is, Elvis says he might yet be in a completely different place if not for his involvement with the Jericho Partnership, which began Pathways Danbury Youth Ministries as a way to minister to at-risk youth in Danbury. Founder Bill Beattie has long held to the belief that mentoring – by loving, modeling and coaching – is “a significant strategy for strengthening urban youth.”

“It’s definitely true that I might be on the streets, or in jail” without his involvement with Jericho, Elvis said. “But I am a unique person for people my age. I’m not into drugs, no alcohol or any of that. I am into dancing.  Most of my goodness is because of the people who helped me. So I can’t thank God enough for Jericho; the people here, it’s like a second family. They are always there for you. They’ll help you find your way, ya know?”

Pastor's Corner: Rev. Joseph Shepley

Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15).

The African impala can jump to a height of over ten feet and cover a distance of over thirty feet, yet can be kept in an enclosure with only a three-foot wall. They will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is not knowing where our feet will fall, yet taking the leap nonetheless.

Jesus didn’t say to the world, “go to church,” but rather to the church, “go to the world.” We, of course, certainly want people in our churches, yet the call to be sent into the unknown is our inescapable mission as Christians. Jericho invites us into the adventure of being guided to a hurting world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Transcending denominational boundaries, together we serve in unity, as Jesus prayed we would. And it is as we are on the journey with this singular focus on Jesus that relationships are fostered, resources shared and the leap of faith is seen.

It has been said that Christianity is not a spectator sport, and Jericho allows us to take this adage into a full-contact experience. Personally speaking, as a board member representing a participating church, it wasn’t until I was approached about becoming a mentor through Pathways Danbury that I began to experience the transforming power of serving through Jericho. As one fellow mentor said to me early on, as I clearly looked a bit nervous on my initial outing with my mentee: “Don’t worry, you won’t fail. Just keeping showing up.”

However, the Lord is sending us, by grace we keep showing up. We see it in the many ways Jericho serves our community and beyond. Is God calling you to step out in a new way?

Take a leap of faith. Just show up. God will handle the landing.

– The Rev. Joseph Shepley, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookfield

Jonathan Lees: Resident in Training Program Helps Reset Life's Course

Jonathan Lees can look back over his life and see exactly why and how it got off course, leading to his struggles with crippling anxiety, isolation, and alcohol abuse.

But today, because of the ministry of Good Samaritan Mission and Discipleship House, he can look forward and see a future filled with hope. He does not take that lightly and is grateful for a second chance at recovery at Jericho Partnership’s ministry, after a short, aborted stint two years ago.

“The biggest mistake I made was leaving here,” he said. “But I really like it here this time. I’m in a 12 Step Christian program because it’s important for me to be in the Word. I’m lost without it. The peace and love that I get from the people here – I can’t even tell you. Mark (Grasso, GSM’s executive director) welcomed me with open arms and an undying love.”

This time, Jonathan, 53, is about five months into treatment as a resident of the rescue-mission, and is finding ways to grow while he is here.  He’s taken a leadership role coordinating the weekly Community Lunch that Discipleship House residents prepare and serve to the homeless men and women who stay at GSM’s shelter on Maple Avenue. Jonathan says he welcomes the opportunity to share his faith and a word of encouragement with the men and women who come in.

He’s also part of a new Resident Training program, which allows him the opportunity to go out into the community with a GSM staff member and talk with people – even those considered potential consumers of GSM’s services – about his experience at Discipleship House.

“I just got tired of being where I was for so long,” Jonathan said of his decision to take part in Resident Training. “I just wanted to get closer to God and be where I was serving Him more…. And giving back to others. I asked Him, ‘how can I get past my fear of crowds… how could I get to a place where I could be IN the world, but not OF it.’ This is where He led me.”

“It was a blessing to have Jonathan return to GSM and see the heart he has developed for serving others,” Mark Grasso said. “It is also terrific to see the Lord developing him as a leader, which is one of those great signs of transformation that we love to see in someone.”

Mentoring - You've Got to Role With It

By Don Lewis, Mentor and Pathways Danbury Youth Ministries Board Chairman

While it’s true that being a successful mentor requires “showing up,” the true test of the strength of any mentor-mentee relationship is rooted in how well a mentor wears multiple hats.

More than just being a companion, a good mentor must be prepared to play many roles during the years he spends with his or her mentee.  Some roles will be required throughout the relationship; others perhaps for shorter periods. No two kids and no two mentor-mentee relationships are exactly the same. But there are some defined roles that successful mentors will – and should – take on throughout the relationship with their mentee.

They are: Teacher/Trainer; Positive Role Model; Social Supporter/Guide; Resource Supporter/Advocate; Challenger; Friend/Companion.

Today, let’s unpack “teacher/trainer.”

Webster defines “teacher” as a person who imparts knowledge to another; one whose occupation is to instruction. A trainer is a person who teaches things, but goes a step further and helps them do it. Think of a trainer at a gym; more than just saying “to build strong muscles, you should lift this weight 12 times for 3 sets,” he gets in the trenches and shows you the proper weight for your body and demonstrates the proper form, so you don’t hurt yourself.

Both of these terms have application for mentors as they develop a relationship with their mentee. As time passes, the mentor will find themselves continually switching between the two roles: that is, first you teach, then you coach the young person to develop what you have taught them. You help them put their knowledge into action.

The most important teaching/training we do as Christian mentors through Pathways Danbury Youth Ministries is to help the young person understand how the Word of God impacts their life, and how to depend on it to help them through tough times. Well tell them that the Word of God never loses relevance, even in a world that seems to want to bury and invalidate it. This is where we, as mentors, can make the most impact as we open the young person’s eyes to a better way for them.  We can help them, train them, to go a better way by following God’s plan for us. We may not see the immediate impact, but we’re in it for the long-term effect, anyway!

Teaching a young person can be one of the most exciting things you can do, as you are aware that, through you, God is impacting another person’s life.

Christian Private Education vs Public School Education: What's the Difference

By Everette Hutchins, Headmaster, The Academy

As the Headmaster of an all-boys Christian middle school, I’ve been asked “Are you a school or are you a ministry?” What I’ve learned is that there is no difference between the two. The simplest definition for teaching is “the presentation of ideas brought forward by a figure of authority.” A school provides only a place for that to happen. Discipleship, which is the foundation of any ministry, is simply to train or teach … and that’s the same thing that happens in any respectable school.

As a Christian middle school, we simply have made the decision to put Jesus Christ at the center of our core values. If you walk into any school, you will see signs posted all over the walls that say “Be Kind!”, “Respect each other”, “Be helpful”, “Be friendly”, etc. Many schools will discuss these values and give real life examples, but to teach them explicitly is considered to be time consuming.

Here at The Academy, we ask our boys to become “Men of Honor.” All of those core values – respect, honor, truthfulness, confidence, hope – are implied. What we are training them to be, and the core values that provide the foundation, are no different than at any other school. The difference is that we are allowed to wear our faith on our sleeves when we instruct our students on how to be “Men of Honor.” We can incorporate it into our curriculum and behavior plans. We can set rewards and consequences. We can measure growth over time.

We are taught to love one another. The Bible tells us that love is not a feeling, but an action. It is patience, kindness, protection, trust, hope, and perseverance. As a school AND as a ministry, these are the qualities we will always strive to display for our teachers, our parents, and our students.

The Academy, a middle school for at-risk boys, is part of Pathways Danbury Youth Ministries, a ministry of the Jericho Partnership.

Pastor's Corner: Jim Wiley

Pastor Jim Wiley, Assistant Pastor at First Assembly of God, Brookfield, volunteers as a Team Leader for CleanStart, the joint Jericho/City of Danbury initiative that helps our homeless neighbors learn job readiness skills by engaging in clean-up and other projects on city property. We asked him to share how being part of this ministry has impacted him.

One of the first things that came to me when this pilot came about was, “what a wonderful way to help instill value and worth into an individual.”  So often, our friends within the homeless community have been given labels – all too frequently, undeserved.  But they constantly hear this, and after a while, they sometimes can’t help but to fall into the trap where they may actually believe it.  This program gives them the opportunity to dispel those labels, and prove to their accusers, to those around them, and even to themselves that they are of value. That they are of worth. That they can contribute to his community if only given a chance.

Isn’t that, in part, what Jericho is about? Giving second chances?  Giving folks an opportunity to prove themselves?  Since I have been involved with The Jericho Partnership, it’s always been about transformation.  For the community, yes, but it always starts with the individual.  The CleanStart workers I have been serving alongside have worked hard, with grateful and appreciative hearts, to put their best foot forward, welcoming this transformational opportunity to move themselves forward.  Men and women, saving money, moving out of homelessness, making the best of the doors that have been opened for them.

Praise God that Jericho continues to be an organization that God works through, to open these doors and to provide hope for the hopeless. God does indeed transform ashes into beauty.  I have seen it firsthand through Jericho’s CleanStart Program.

CleanStart will continue through the end of October, and we still need volunteers. If you would like to invest a few hours a week working alongside people who are working to improve their lives, contact Volunteer Coordinator Angie Rogers at volunteer@jerichopartnership.org.

Why I Jericho: Helen Sullivan

Ministry: Hopeline Pregnancy Resource Center

Time volunteering with Jericho since her retirement: 7+ years (even longer for Hopeline before it was part of the Partnership)

Over the years, Helen Sullivan has talked to many young pregnant women who were unsure whether they could, or even should, carry their baby to term. But one conversation sticks with her, because she knows without question that God was in the middle of it, directing her words …and transforming lives.

In that late-night phone call to the crisis hotline, this young woman told Helen that, although she was getting married soon, her parents would be “so disappointed and embarrassed” to learn she was pregnant. She said they were supportive parents, as well as church-goers with an authentic faith, but simply wouldn’t be ok with her being unmarried and pregnant.

Helen said she felt a nudge from God to ask her if she thought her loving parents would be “ok” with her having an abortion, or would they rather her honor God by choosing differently. It was a bold question, but it led to an honest conversation.  And, by the end of the phone call, a solid decision to have the baby.

THAT, Helen says, is why she continues to volunteer at Hopeline, a Jericho Partner Ministry – to be in a place that helps people work through a pivotal time in their life, with compassion and love.

Today, Helen, a 72-year-young retired nurse, volunteers once a week at Hopeline, administering pregnancy tests and teaching prepared childbirth classes.

“I love volunteering… it’s not like work because of the people who work here; they’re so kind and caring and fun,” she said. “I love being around people who love the Lord. We need each other.”

She is also committed to working with Hopeline’s clients.

“I love working with these first-time moms, helping to allay their fears… they come in so terrified,” she said. “For so many, life is so hard. I just respect them and try to encourage them. And they’re so grateful. But what I love the most, though, is that, at the end of every meeting, I ask them if they would like a Bible. 99% of the time they say yes. I know the Bible is overwhelming, so I encourage them to read one chapter a day. You can’t trust someone you don’t know…and by reading the Bible, they’ll get to know Jesus.”

Helen says it’s been a joy to serve at Hopeline as part of the Jericho Partnership.

“The people here are wonderful, inspirational,” she said. “The good that they do here speaks for itself. It’s putting Christ’s love into action. It’s awesome.”