|
Monthly Newsletter - December 2023 |
|
|---|
|
|
Happy Holidays! Welcome to our monthly newsletter. It is our hope that you will find our content beneficial and that you will share what's going on with Christian Job Corps (CJC) of Madison County with others in your circles.
Celebrating 25 years, CJC continues to operate as a church and community model, incorporating Christian churches from throughout the county as well as health, educational, government, and business organizations who desire to “be a part of a ministry that equips men and women for life and employment; a ministry that provides a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’.” |
|
25 years of Christian Job Corps |
|
|---|
|
 |
As 2023 comes to a close, we want to thank those who came before us with the vision to launch Christian Job Corps (CJC) of Madison County 25 years ago. This journey began with four Huntsville women who saw the need to invest in other women to help them obtain better life situations. Through their research and commitment, these women raised money, recruited volunteers and mentors, secured a location for meeting, and launched classes at no financial cost to the students. And, thus the model followed today at CJC continues to be used here as well as other locations across the country.
Two of these women, Anne Stone and Dana Lee Jennings (pictured left), still actively invest their time and contributions at CJC.
In addition to being a founder of CJC, Dana came up with the idea for the annual fundraising luncheon to support the Program along with the name for the event, Circles. According to Anne, "the word 'Circles' was chosen because our life journey travels in a circle - sometimes we need help - sometimes we give help. We all need one another and in a circle working together." We are so thankful for these two ladies and each person who has continued to invest in CJC.
While the population of students and some components of the Program have changed throughout the years, CJC continues to work because God remains the focus, and for that we are also eternally grateful.
Here's to another 25 years of CJC! |
|
|
|
|
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a mentor as "a trusted counselor or guide."
Actor Denzel Washington once said, "Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.”
A mentor with Christian Job Corps is someone who commits to support and encourage her mentee for six-months. This commitment consists of at least 14 one-hour, face-to-face visits along with 14 phone calls, however, this relationship usually spans far longer than the required meetings and calls. In addition to providing encouragement, mentorship involves Bible Study and goal setting.
Heather Shull explains why she is a CJC mentor: "I have learned and grown so much as a person from others mentoring me over the years, I can’t help but pay it forward by mentoring others. The funny thing is, my mentees end up mentoring me in the process. It’s a win-win!"
Mentoring is an essential component of Christian Job Corps (CJC), and each participant in the Program is carefully matched with a mentor. Mentors are provided training and resources by CJC prior to embarking on the mentorship. On of our Fall 2023 Semester Students, Peggy Hewlett, has said numerous times that God chose the perfect mentor for her, and she continues to benefit from this relationship. Peggy said, "it's good having someone you can talk to, to encourage you, and to empower you in personal development. My mentor has helped me to identify and achieve my career goals. And, also mentors sharing their knowledge, skills, or the experiences they had is helpful. I’m definitely grateful for my mentor, Heather."
The next Mentor Training is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 6 - 8 pm.
|
|
|---|
|
| |
|
 |
CJC Clothes Closet
The CJC Clothes Closet is closed for the month of December, but will reopen for donations and shopping Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
The CJC Clothes Closet takes donations of women's professional attire on Tuesdays during the months of January through November between the hours of 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. No appointment necessary for donations.
There is a 50 item limit per donor - women's clothing appropriate for job interviews and daily office attire is accepted. Please make sure to bag or box all donations.
The CJC Clothes Closet is located at First Baptist Church (FBC) on Governors Drive, Entrance #7 (this is the back of FBC facing St. Clair -- directly across the street from Huntsville Public Library). Pull your vehicle under the covered area, ring the doorbell, and a volunteer will meet you outside with a cart to receive your donation and give you a tax receipt.
Current and former CJC students along with women in the community in need of professional clothing are welcome to shop the Clothes Closet on Tuesday afternoons from 1 - 3 pm. Appointments to shop are required.
For questions or to make an appointment to shop, please call (256) 428-9404 or email volunteer@cwjc.net.
|
|
|
|
|
Coming in January...
The CJC Men's Site is scheduled to launch in January 2024 on Saturday mornings. Keith Williams, Men's Site Coordinator, continues to recruit students for the upcoming semester.
|
|
|---|
|
Christian Job Corps is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2024 Semester at the First Baptist Church location.
Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 2 pm at First Baptist Church, Huntsville beginning Tuesday, February 13.
If you know of someone who would benefit from the Program, please have them contact Rebecca Perry, Recruitment Coordinator, at recruitment@cwjc.net or call 256-428-9404. |
|
|
|
|
Because the Harvest is Ripe, but the Laborers are Few...
"Because the harvest is ripe, but the Laborers are few"... is why Pamela Hunter encourages others to volunteer with CJC and why she has continued to invest her time and resources with the Program for the past four years.
Pamela Hunter, VP of Talent Acquisition for 4M Research, serves as the CJC Career Development Coach. After attending the annual Circles luncheon and hearing testimony from CJC graduates, Pamela explains, "My heart was captured… I KNEW I could help and wanted to be involved in this ministry. I had been looking for an opportunity to become involved in something where I could give back in a Christian environment. Not only was this an opportunity, but it was direct and in the trenches where I could definitely make an impact with my area of expertise."
|
|
|
| |
|
Each semester, Pamela travels to the CJC site weekly where she equips students with meaningful, relevant knowledge and skills to achieve their career goals. She works with the students helping them explore career options, develop current resumes, create Linkedin accounts, practice interviewing skills and much more. Her curriculum culminates with guiding the students through Mock Interviews. |
|
|
| |
|
Talent Acquisition is Pamela's passion and it shows through the investment she makes in CJC students during their Career Classes and well beyond graduation from the CJC Program. Pamela credits the support of her company, 4M Research and its CEO Julie Martz, for giving her the opportunity to invest so much of her time with CJC.
When asked about the most important thing that CJC offers to students, she says "We foster hope through commitment…the hope that we find in Christ…The hope that if I apply myself, I have the resources and guidance, through CJC, to attain my professional goals, strengthen my relationships, and live the fulfilled life God intended!" |
|
|
|
|
We support CJC because of their focus on helping under-resourced people begin and follow a pathway to self-resiliency with faith at the forefront. CJC is a leader in our community in helping people the right way to success. - Dale Jobes, Cintel |
|
|---|
|
|
Special thank you to our 2023 Circles Luncheon
Crown, Premier, Diamond and Platinum Sponsors.
Without the continued support of these businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals, CJC could not provide the programs and services to women across Madison County.
|
|
|---|
|
December is typically the month of giving with over 30% of total annual donations made and over 10% of those occur the last couple of days of the month. If you'd like more information on how you can support CJC, visit our website at https://cwjc.net/donate/. |
|
Did you know?
Did you know that every student who participates in our program does so at NO COST whatsoever to the student? All classes, materials, laptops, and lunches are provided by CJC during each 12-week semester.
And, did you know that every student who participates in our program is given a new Bible, weekly planner, bag of toiletries, journal, flash drive, and tote bag at the beginning of the semester?
In addition, did you know that CJC provides laptops and educational subscriptions for each student to use for classes and coursework?
All of these things are made possible by the generous donations from individuals and corporations across Madison County.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
 |
|  |
|
|
|
|
