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Wanda Ashworth, a CBF affiliate, talks with Carlos about the start of school. Patricia Heys photo
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. – With a new backpack and school supplies in hand, Carlos said to Wanda Ashworth, "I’m ready for school. When can I go?" Carlos, a second grader, was one of more than 100 children who recently participated in the Back to School Challenge at Open House Ministries in Homestead, Fla.
Open House, a joint ministry of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and CBF of Florida, hosted the event to help prepare local children for the start of the school year. Forty-three percent of the school age children in Homestead live below the national poverty line, and many parents do not have disposable income to purchase items like book bags and school supplies.
"What Open House tries to do is instill kingdom values," said Ashworth, a CBF Global Missions affiliate and director of Open House. "We want everybody in this community to have an abundant life. Not necessarily a life of prosperity but a rich, fulfilling life."
Twenty-two members of North Stuart Baptist Church in Stuart, Fla., worked with Ashworth to prepare for and lead the event. The church members also spent a day doing repairs at the center.
"The needs are obvious, and we have been so impressed with the kids," said North Stuart church member Mike Crook. "You don’t have to start something new, but just look where God is working and join in. We can use this as a way to get started, and who knows where else this will lead us."
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North Stuart Baptist Church member Mary Beth Waddell reads with a child at the Back to School Challenge. Patricia Heys photo
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Church members helped children participate in six "challenges" – physical, spiritual, reading, nutrition, safety and drug-free. After completing the stations, children received one of the 300 book bags donated by churches and local partners.
While the Open Door Health Center, a free health clinic for low income patients located at the Open House center, provided children with physicals and immunizations, North Stuart church member and dentist Lydia Alonso provided free dental screenings to children and adults.
"We’ve been praying about the dental needs for two years," Ashworth said. "Having Dr. Alonso here could really be a catalyst for building education and awareness in this community. We don’t need to create another program, but we need to help the community figure out how to use the dental services that are here."
To learn about partnership opportunities with Open House Ministries, call (800) 352-8741.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
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