This story is a group (Religion for Life SS Class) story and an old story that continues to have new meaning and abundant blessings as it unfolds and become an even “Better Story”.
A few years ago, the Religion for Life Sunday school Class became involved in the lives of a family that our church had helped to build a Habitat house. The family moved into their new home as a one-parent family with high hopes and a brighter future. Because of difficulties encountered by the mother who became mentally dysfunctional and experienced other problems, the family soon lost their home and was left with no parent to guide and hold the children together. The oldest child, Temeka, at the age of 19, assumed the role of parent for her two younger brothers, Quentin and Quenterius and vowed to keep the family together.
Class Member, Ann was captivated by Temeka’s determination and fighting spirit to maintain the family and began to ask the Class for help at various times to support this family. For more than six years now, the class has supported this family in many ways and the W’s have become, more or less, unofficial grandparents to these children. Helped by Larry and Nancy, the Woodall’s urged the Class to adopt this family as it primary mission project. The support of this appeal had been almost universal with class members and the class has set up a Family Fund to support the family financially. Each year members of the class pledge varying amounts to this fund and with the money, all kinds of support has been given to assist with the family needs.
Temeka works everyday to provide the primary family support while going to school to continue her education in hopes of finding a better paying and more responsible job. She has completed an Associate Degree from Jackson State Community College and will soon complete a degree in business from Bethel University. She now has two children to support, in addition to helping her brothers. Quentin is completing his degree in accounting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville this school year. With the help of the Brooke’s, Quentin was able to obtain an internship with Lockheed-Martin and has worked the past two summers in their accounting departments at Marietta, GA and in Ft. Worth, TX. Class members are all hopeful that he will be offered a permanent position with Lockheed upon graduation. Quentarius is attending Bethel University on a football scholarship and has been in the starting lineup in recent games. He is in his sophomore year.
Recent events have necessitated the unexpected expenditure of more dollars than had been budgeted from the family fund. Some in the class proposed that the members use the money received from the church, match it at least 2 dollars for each 1 dollar received, and contribute it to the Fund to assist in paying the additional expenses. Members were encouraged to multiply their money by greater amounts as they felt the need. The response has been very gratifying with a total of more than $1000 contributed so far from class members. Assuming that the class members that have responded (21) received an average of $10 each, this would mean that the Class has multiplied their money by almost five fold.
But that is not the end of the story. In addition, many class members have relayed the story and their project goals to others in the church. One result of this is that the Dick Nunn Class has decided to join the effort and has contributed $435 thus far. Another friend of class members took the loose change accumulated at home, redeemed it and contributed $128 to the effort. To date, a total of more than $1400 dollars has been contributed to this effort. As news spreads, it seems certain that even more money will be forthcoming so that this family can enjoy and experience a “better life”. In the meantime, members of the Religion for Life class will continue to grow this into “An Even Better Story” through the help and generosity of the members and others that have heard this story and want to be part of it. Anyone who reads or hears about this story and has a desire to join in this effort, please contact Ann or Ray and they will be glad to help you become involved.
This story is not yet at an end and with God’s help and the generosity of church members and others, it will become a continuing saga to show love and provide assistance to a very special family in Jackson, TN. Only God knows what might have happened to this family without the intervention of this SS class into their lives. Each of these children’s lives now holds so much hope and promise. God continues to bless us all as we learn that helping others is one of the most rewarding endeavors in our lives.
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