By Rick Abercrombie
Victoria McKenna, Director of Development for Ezekiel Ministries, spoke August 8 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Ezekiel enjoys financial and in-person support from more than 40 local churches. Its inspiration comes from Ezekiel 37:10; “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.”
The interaction with and influencing of youth, many from difficult backgrounds, is the goal at Ezekiel. McKenna described in detail the ways in which mentoring occurs. Today, Ezekiel has paired 81 young people with one-on-one mentors who see their mentees a minimum of four times a month. Most of those mentors come from the supporting churches.
Mentors undergo a thorough background check, a formal training, and a child protection orientation. A resume is normally an ingredient in the background check, and McKenna noted that active church membership strengthens the resume. Mentor candidates also submit their statement of faith.
Ideal traits for mentors include:
Committed
Able to set sensible boundaries
A communicator
Knows how to be a friend
Reliable
Sets realistic expectations
At that point, they begin their mentoring relationships, having committed to a year’s duration. McKenna said many mentors opt for additional one-year commitments with their same mentees. The buzz term for that activity is “EZE Mentoring.” As McKenna said, “Every child should experience the love of God.”
Mentees’ backgrounds may include:
Single parent households.
Kids on free or reduced lunches.
In some cases, a background of trauma
A successful mentoring pairing relies on confidentiality. Although kids who have experienced trauma can be slow to open up, once they do reveal more background, that information is treated with care, dignity, and diplomacy. Referred to by sociologists as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), it can deteriorate into toxic stress, which EZE Mentoring attempts to detect, identify, and seek professional treatment.
The good news about ACEs is the inherent resiliency of children and youth. Once they realize they can rely on Ezekiel’s love and support, they do “bounce back.”
Added to EZ Mentoring are after school programs where kids, grades K-5 are kept until 5:30, are given healthy snacks, and can either play or receive tutoring/mentoring.
Pictured left to right are Optimist Club Vice President Larry Blosser, speaker sponsor Steve Odom, and Victoria McKenna, who received a copy of the Optimist Creed.
