Church helps English students

Some would call it volunteerism or local mission, but for those who made use of a spring partnership between Axtell Learning Center and Faith Mennonite Church, it may have been called “merced divina” or “diversión tiempo.”

For adults taking English as a second language at Axtell this spring, the child care provided by volunteers from Faith Mennonite was a godsend — “merced divina.”

“The No. 1 barrier to adult education is child care,” said LeAnn Beets, principal of Axtell Learning Center. “They work during the day. Coming to school four nights a week is an issue.”

As part of the church’s 50th anniversary celebration, the congregation went looking for a service opportunity in the Newton community. Associate pastor Nathan Koontz said something in the world of education seemed like a good fit for the church.

That led to a conversation with Beets, who suggested the church consider providing child care one night each week for students in Elba Uphoff’s English language class.

“It helped the class immensely,” Uphoff said. “Parents knew their kids were just down he hall. They could study better knowing their children were right here, at arm’s length.”

The child care was available for six sessions and usually had about nine children in each session.

During those times, children were given help with homework if they had it, or played games with the volunteers.

“Because we have educators in our church, helping the children with their homework made a lot of sense,” Koontz said.

And it helped those kids do better in school, Beets said.

“Students who have limited English speaking parents may do well at school, but when they go home, there is a challenge,” Beets said. “Their parents may not understand the written word and may not be able to help with homework.”

Once homework was done, the games and play time — “diversión tiempo” — began.

Making some fun time for the children was key to the success of the program — and in some ways, to the success of parents in the English class.

“The kids were so excited and in to this,” Uphoff said. “They were making their parents come to class so they could be part of the activities here.”

During a meeting between Koontz, Beets and Uphoff to review what worked with the volunteer child-care program, one thing became very clear.

According to the three, it was a success and needs to continue — and there is a desire to have child care provided at Axtell more often than one night a week.

For that to happen, more organizations need to step forward.

“From our volunteer base at Faith, we can do about one night a week,” Koontz said. “If we want to do more nights, we need other churches to help. ... I’d be interested, if other churches are interested, in splitting it up.”

Beets said there is a lot of planning and some forms for volunteers to sign before they can help with child care, but she is more than willing to discuss those needs with groups who would like to follow Faith Mennonite’s lead.

For more information, Beets can be reached at 284-6230.