The CCC Local Outreach team recently joined family and friends of Blessings of Summit and Portage Counties in celebrating the academic progress of teen moms under their guidance. Blessings currently is focusing its life skills training on a life map for the young parents. This past year, the students each made a beautiful personal quilt which helped them see milestones and goals, with a special emphasis on God’s plan for their lives, including a vision for a career.
In defining her life map, one undergraduate young woman identified with the Bible story of Solomon, in which two women fought over a baby. This story made the teen mom think of the custody battle over her daughter. Looking to the future, she now has a vision of a career as a special ed teacher.
Another teen mom’s high school graduation was celebrated. She began her journey with not much of a church background. However, through the Blessings mentoring program and a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, she has become a better mom to her two year old son, and is able to put her worries and struggles in God’s hands. With the help of Blessings, she now has a vision to go on to attend college.
Perhaps the high point of the gathering was a short talk by one woman who recently earned a master’s degree. Having been where today’s teen moms are, this successful Blessings alum encouraged the girls to dream on – about their own futures, and those of their children. Through Blessings, this alum gained the encouragement and faith to overcome many obstacles. And through personal experience, she is uniquely qualified to cheer on her younger counterparts in the assurance that “God is great, He is good, and He will give you a vision and carry you through, just as He promised in Jeremiah 29:11, saying: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This remarkable single parent was the first of her family to graduate from high school. She later became the first to get a college degree, and has now completed her Masters degree.
The Reverend Bruce Chouinard, Chair of the Blessings Board, gave a brief message based on Jesus’ forgiveness of the sinful woman in Luke chapter 7.
Blessings helps teen moms understand the depth and breadth of God’s forgiveness, and helps them grow in the knowledge and hope that He indeed has a plan for their lives. Would you prayerfully consider how you might help Blessings continue its efforts in the lives of young parents, either through volunteer work, or through contributions toward helping young moms with their child care expenses?
For more information, please contact:
Michael Ammirati
Michael.Ammirati@ccchapel.com…330.650.9533 x340
Barbara Ammirati
Barbara.Ammirati@ccchapel.com…330.573.5951
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