A Guide for the Journey
The Lord loves working through friendships. A great example of this truth is the church/school partnership between Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. These churches are in different parts of Little Rock. But seven years ago, one friendship brought them together.
“Bob Hayden and Sherman Tate were next-door neighbors,” says Scott Jackson, the senior pastor at Calvary Baptist. “They started talking about their churches, and both went to their pastors and said, ‘Let’s start connecting with each other.’” Tate set up a lunch between pastors from both churches at the Capitol Hotel. “I started hanging out with Pastor Smith pretty regularly, and we became friends.”
Both churches wanted to do more together. That desire led to prayer meetings and joint fellowships. Eventually, a small group of men from both churches met in a room to brainstorm what they could do. One of the men suggested mentoring young boys in schools. The rest of the group thought it was a great idea.
Robert Holt, another pastor in Southwest Little Rock, had mentoring experience. “He got behind us and did all the training for us,” says Herb Scott, a member of Mt. Zion who began his career in teaching before working for the state in the Department of Finance and Administration. “We had the superintendent and everybody involved, and the next thing you know, we’re up and running at Henderson Middle School.”
The men named their church/school partnership “Zionalvary,” a portmanteau of both churches. Things started off well at Henderson. Students, teachers, and school administrators were all very responsive and supportive. However, in 2021, the Little Rock School District closed Henderson Middle School, leaving the men looking for another school partner. They found one at J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory School.
A Focus on Character
Since its inception, the men of Zionalvary have focused on boys in 6th to 8th grade. “The statistics point to that age group as when the wheels start coming off. They start listening to outside forces that may not be guiding them with their best interest at heart. We wanted to catch them young, and present the alternative to what they may be hearing elsewhere,” says Lionel Davis, a retired member of Mt. Zion.
“It’s a joy to run into someone you mentored years ago, and they’ve gone on and graduated high school and tell you of their plans to go to college or vocational school. They’re on the right track, and that makes you think you’re doing something.”
Rather than provide tutoring for subjects like reading or math, the men have always focused on character and skill development. “That came from the training we had. Pastor Holt was working with inmates who have steered wrong and was saying, ‘If we can steer two or three to do right, we’ve done a good job,’” says Scott.
Curricula that the men have used over the years include “The Leader in Me” (based on Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, and a study of Jackie Robinson’s character traits.
“We have 35 minutes with the boys every Wednesday. We bring lunch, and as they eat, one of the mentors gives the lesson. After the lesson, we have one-on-one or one-on-two conversations,” says Michael Hall, a member of Calvary Baptist. “We try to tie all those ends into the 35 minutes that we have,” says Davis. “Sometimes it’s a difficult thing to do, but, for the most part, we’re able to get the foundation laid. When they come back to you in four or five years, you say, ‘Well, the building’s coming up real nice.’”
Being There
The mentoring program is voluntary, but there are standards. “They have to earn it from the school. The school counselor oversees this and vets the kids. Unfortunately, we’ve had a few kids who didn’t get to stay in the program because of behavioral issues,” says Pastor Jackson.
“Some days you go in, and it’s a rowdy day and hard to get the boys’ attention. You might think, ‘Did we do any good today?’” says Hall. “But more often than not, some of the boys have questions or comments, and you can tell they’re listening. They’re processing it. Some of the boys ask, ‘Do you get paid for coming here?’ or ‘Are you buying this lunch for me?’ Just showing up week after week — that means a lot to those boys.”
“It’s a variety of home situations. You have some living with a grandmother or uncle. Some have only one parent. Some have two-parent homes,” says Randy Madison, a retired pastor who has recently joined the group. “Even though some may have a dad in the home, he may not be a good example,” says Davis. “I think just being there and living an example in front of them of what being a godly man means is important. We challenge them to be a better person every day, to try and be a little bit better than you were the day before.”
The Needle is Moving
“I try to point out where I see them maturing. I think it makes a world of difference,” says Scott. “We want to show them that they are set apart here. They’re in a mentoring group. They’re leaders now. As my mother used to tell me: ‘You don’t know at any time who’s watching you.’ Put yourself in a position where people are saying, ‘He helps out his fellow students. He doesn’t have behavior issues.’ I’ve been amazed at how many of them will accept that concept. ”
One of the highlights of the program is an annual picnic to close out the school year. Instead of the usual 35 minutes, the men get extra time with the boys to have fun, play games, and eat outside. The boys also have the opportunity to give back to the men by sharing what the program has meant to them.
“It isn’t just a good-bye. It’s a thank you,” says Pastor Jackson. “You see the maturity in them. They’re obviously growing in character. Even the way they are able to express that to us is meaningful. Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of it, you’re wondering, ‘What’s the point?’ but the needle is moving.”
“By the end of the year, they’re appreciative that we invested our time into them, and they had the opportunity to rethink some of the things that may have been bad influences on them and the path they might be going on in life,” says Davis. “You have a few who come up to you and ask, ‘Are y’all going to be here next year?’ We tell them, ‘We said we’ll be here ‘till you get to the eighth grade. Are you coming back?’ And they say, ‘Oh, yes, sir! I’m definitely going to be back.’”
All Hands on Deck
The program’s impact extends beyond the boys the men meet with week to week. “It’s not just the kids we get to know. It’s faculty, too. When you get to know them and work with them, they go through stuff. One counselor lost her mother, and we got to pray with her and encourage her,” says Pastor Jackson.
“A lot of the openness to the partnership is the fragmentation of the family and the breakdown of the home and the deterioration of marriages,” says Madison. “Kids are hurting more now than ever. I think school counselors are overwhelmed. Administrators are overwhelmed. Last year was a rough year at J.A. Fair. They had a challenging student population. Being a presence there shows them that this is all hands on deck.”
“It’s an ocean of need,” says Davis. “There’s a need at other schools. If you see a need in your neighborhood, what are you waiting for? Get together with some guys or some ladies, and see what y’all can do to help resolve the issues that you see going on.”
The Partnership Continues
Recently, the men of Zionalvary welcomed a new school year with another group of young boys on their way to becoming men. Those boys need a guide for the journey, and Pastor Jackson, Herb, Lionel, Michael, and Randy will be there to walk with each one of them.
What started seven years ago with just two friends carries on today in friendships.
Because that’s just how God works.
We are grateful for the exceptional work of Mt. Zion, Calvary Baptist, and other churches in our cities that are investing in schools and youth through mentoring. They are helping the whole Church grow.
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:15-16
This church/school partnership is one of over 40 partnerships that CityChurch Network supports throughout Arkansas. If you’re interested in starting a partnership in your community, contact Anthony Hampton at [email protected].
