The Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership is launching a new gospel centered outreach and discipleship event for twenty five 5th through 8th graders who are participants in the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) program.
ACE primarily serves children from low-income, minority families, the majority of whom are African-American. Almost all of the children who participate in ACE receive free or reduced fee lunch at school. ACE’s approach, building healthy relationships with children and their families, as been successful because they not only concentrate on the key areas of literacy and math, but directly address the critically important issues of identity, value, and worth of each individual in God’s eyes.
The Madison Christian Giving Fund has granted $6,500 to help ACE invest more deeply in the lives of the children they serve–ACE graduates and their friends–through a three day retreat this summer. The special retreat is designed to build community among the children so they can support one another in standing firm for what they believe and helping each other make choices that honor God.
According to Ozanne Anderson, Director of ACE Youth Empowerment Services, “As we are building that community we want to reach out to friends of ACE children, sharing with them the Good News, so our event will be designed as a ‘bring a friend’ experience. There are many children in Madison’s south side who don’t attend church, so a fun weekend which helps ACE children grow as disciples and model Christ’s love is a perfect opportunity to proclaim God’s love to their friends.”
“This creative project is right in our wheelhouse,” said Scott Haumersen, Chairman of the FUND. “The emphasis on evangelism and children, especially in low-income, African American families, is exactly what we think will transform lives. We love projects like this.”