Please call Sarah Davis at:
(804) 916-9619 to sign up to participate.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Caroline’s Promise “Redskins Score Points for Caroline Kids” Campaign has begun!
By pledging $1 or $2 for every point the Redskins earn during the 2010 -2011 regular season, or by making a one time donation, your business will be making a strong commitment to the youth of our community and in turn help to sponsor programs that add quality to their lives!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
'Harlem Ambassadors' to brighten January
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
Who says January is a cold, dreary month? ...Chilly, damp, cloudy, drizzly, and frigid, with freezing rain icing the power lines and a nine-foot blizzard always possible.
But when you live in Caroline County, frosty January is actually a cheery, merry-making month. Folks here are real handy at figuring out fun things to do. For example, we can spend January looking forward to jumping into freezing water for "The Polar Bear Plunge" – on Saturday, February 2, at 10 a.m. – when heroic county residents plunge into icy Lake Caroline to raise money to help Caroline needy pay heating bills and keep toasty. And all through January, the plungers will enjoy practicing for the event taking 20-minute cold showers.
Also in January, Caroline County residents will get all stirred up with all the commotion of the "2008 Relay for Life Kick-off." What could be more fun than joining with old friends and meeting new ones while figuring out clever ways to raise money to end cancer? That's on Thursday, January 10, at 6 p.m. At the Bowling Green Town Hall.
And now, Darlene Keener of Caroline's Promise has figured out another great way to make icy January a frolicsome month. Keener, Executive Director of Caroline's Promise, has recruited an intrepid team of courageous Caroline super-athletes to compete on the Caroline High School basketball court against the world-famous "Harlem Ambassadors." Kings-of-the-hoops known for their skillful gags, the Harlem Ambassadors travel the country in their bus that runs on vegetable oil because they are promoting "green alternatives." They also encourage the young to stay in school, keep off drugs and live the good life. The Ambassadors, of course, are invincible. Nobody wins against them.
But all this will change January 12, at 7 p.m. in the Caroline High School gym, when the Ambassadors face-off against the Olympic-quality, and even funnier, Caroline team. The Caroline team, as Darlene Keener has devised it, is called "The Promise Players." Not only has each team member volunteered to combust their last calorie trouncing the Harlem Ambassadors, they have each raised $200 or more from sponsors to benefit Caroline youth.
"The purpose of this event is two-fold," said Keener. "Caroline's Promise strives to create safe, positive environments for the families of Caroline to enjoy together. ...This event is also a major fundraiser to enable Caroline's Promise to continue its efforts to fulfill the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the youth of Caroline." Caroline business sponsors have volunteered – nobly – to pay the Harlem Ambassadors' $5,000 fee. Ticket sales will then be a free-and-clear profit to fund the good deeds of Caroline's Promise.
Purchased in advance, tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults, available at The Caroline Progress, the Department of Social Services, Caroline's Promise and Union Bank in Bowling Green. Purchased at the door, the tickets are $8 and $10.
One of the first Caroline residents to volunteer to joust and cavort with the Harlem Ambassadors was Rev. Duane Fields, pastor of Oxford Mount Zion Baptist and founder of Unity of Zion Lions which is bringing a youth center to Dawn. Another volunteer is the mayor of Bowling Green, David Storke, an expert at beaming a friendly grin while dribbling with dizzying speed and watching his shots swish through the net. Other volunteers include Jeff Sili, supervisor-elect, who will be stunning the standing-room-only audience with his high-flying leaps and dazzling skill. Then there's the towering Donnell Howard, director of Parks and Recreation, who will undoubtedly be a lofty powerhouse. Backing him will be Parks and Recreation coach "Big" Rick Beale. Also now perfecting their center-court, lofting jumping shots are Salem Baptist youth leaders Todd Beasley, Patrick Greene, and T.J. Loving. And from the Sheriff's Office there's Deputy Honeycutt and Deputy Chris Hall, both speedy individuals of extraordinary basketball skill. Sheriff Toni Lippa will also be pacing the court as referee, unless called away to referee a college game. No doubt, January 12 will see a sporting event of delirious drama.
The Harlem Ambassadors feature a lady professional – beautiful, log-legged and long-armed, and called "Lade Magic" – who by herself has defeated one tangle-up and perplexed team after another.
But the Promise Players have their own female, secret weapons in school teacher Joni Rollins and college student Jessica Beale. Joni Rollins now headlines the event with her newly-given nickname "Lady Promise." And so the game may well turn into a duel between two gladiators of the court – "Lady Promise vs. "Lade Magic."
The 10-member Harlem Ambassador squad includes the whizzing stars Jazz Copeland, T'Neisha Turner, Angel Branch, LaRon Bradley, Kerrie James, Amonzo Gantt, Andy Chelcher and Marcus Alexander. The Harlem Ambassadors also have a lucky and lovable mascot – "Kagnee" (pronounced like "Cagney") – a Boston Terrier big in attitude.
Our very own local spectacular hoopsters will without a doubt face a supreme challenge January 12 when they take on the professional gagsters known as the Harlem Ambassadors. And of course, losing to the Ambassadors is unthinkable.
But if the unthinkable does occur, spectators are sure to take home a wealth of laughter sufficient to brighten up and warm the remaining 19 days of chilly January.
Who says January is a cold, dreary month? ...Chilly, damp, cloudy, drizzly, and frigid, with freezing rain icing the power lines and a nine-foot blizzard always possible.
But when you live in Caroline County, frosty January is actually a cheery, merry-making month. Folks here are real handy at figuring out fun things to do. For example, we can spend January looking forward to jumping into freezing water for "The Polar Bear Plunge" – on Saturday, February 2, at 10 a.m. – when heroic county residents plunge into icy Lake Caroline to raise money to help Caroline needy pay heating bills and keep toasty. And all through January, the plungers will enjoy practicing for the event taking 20-minute cold showers.
Also in January, Caroline County residents will get all stirred up with all the commotion of the "2008 Relay for Life Kick-off." What could be more fun than joining with old friends and meeting new ones while figuring out clever ways to raise money to end cancer? That's on Thursday, January 10, at 6 p.m. At the Bowling Green Town Hall.
And now, Darlene Keener of Caroline's Promise has figured out another great way to make icy January a frolicsome month. Keener, Executive Director of Caroline's Promise, has recruited an intrepid team of courageous Caroline super-athletes to compete on the Caroline High School basketball court against the world-famous "Harlem Ambassadors." Kings-of-the-hoops known for their skillful gags, the Harlem Ambassadors travel the country in their bus that runs on vegetable oil because they are promoting "green alternatives." They also encourage the young to stay in school, keep off drugs and live the good life. The Ambassadors, of course, are invincible. Nobody wins against them.
But all this will change January 12, at 7 p.m. in the Caroline High School gym, when the Ambassadors face-off against the Olympic-quality, and even funnier, Caroline team. The Caroline team, as Darlene Keener has devised it, is called "The Promise Players." Not only has each team member volunteered to combust their last calorie trouncing the Harlem Ambassadors, they have each raised $200 or more from sponsors to benefit Caroline youth.
"The purpose of this event is two-fold," said Keener. "Caroline's Promise strives to create safe, positive environments for the families of Caroline to enjoy together. ...This event is also a major fundraiser to enable Caroline's Promise to continue its efforts to fulfill the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the youth of Caroline." Caroline business sponsors have volunteered – nobly – to pay the Harlem Ambassadors' $5,000 fee. Ticket sales will then be a free-and-clear profit to fund the good deeds of Caroline's Promise.
Purchased in advance, tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults, available at The Caroline Progress, the Department of Social Services, Caroline's Promise and Union Bank in Bowling Green. Purchased at the door, the tickets are $8 and $10.
One of the first Caroline residents to volunteer to joust and cavort with the Harlem Ambassadors was Rev. Duane Fields, pastor of Oxford Mount Zion Baptist and founder of Unity of Zion Lions which is bringing a youth center to Dawn. Another volunteer is the mayor of Bowling Green, David Storke, an expert at beaming a friendly grin while dribbling with dizzying speed and watching his shots swish through the net. Other volunteers include Jeff Sili, supervisor-elect, who will be stunning the standing-room-only audience with his high-flying leaps and dazzling skill. Then there's the towering Donnell Howard, director of Parks and Recreation, who will undoubtedly be a lofty powerhouse. Backing him will be Parks and Recreation coach "Big" Rick Beale. Also now perfecting their center-court, lofting jumping shots are Salem Baptist youth leaders Todd Beasley, Patrick Greene, and T.J. Loving. And from the Sheriff's Office there's Deputy Honeycutt and Deputy Chris Hall, both speedy individuals of extraordinary basketball skill. Sheriff Toni Lippa will also be pacing the court as referee, unless called away to referee a college game. No doubt, January 12 will see a sporting event of delirious drama.
The Harlem Ambassadors feature a lady professional – beautiful, log-legged and long-armed, and called "Lade Magic" – who by herself has defeated one tangle-up and perplexed team after another.
But the Promise Players have their own female, secret weapons in school teacher Joni Rollins and college student Jessica Beale. Joni Rollins now headlines the event with her newly-given nickname "Lady Promise." And so the game may well turn into a duel between two gladiators of the court – "Lady Promise vs. "Lade Magic."
The 10-member Harlem Ambassador squad includes the whizzing stars Jazz Copeland, T'Neisha Turner, Angel Branch, LaRon Bradley, Kerrie James, Amonzo Gantt, Andy Chelcher and Marcus Alexander. The Harlem Ambassadors also have a lucky and lovable mascot – "Kagnee" (pronounced like "Cagney") – a Boston Terrier big in attitude.
Our very own local spectacular hoopsters will without a doubt face a supreme challenge January 12 when they take on the professional gagsters known as the Harlem Ambassadors. And of course, losing to the Ambassadors is unthinkable.
But if the unthinkable does occur, spectators are sure to take home a wealth of laughter sufficient to brighten up and warm the remaining 19 days of chilly January.
Divas are Going Places – and Winning!
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
Ten Caroline ladies – the Leadership Team of the "Divas With Promise" – will rendezvous at the stately Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, January 30, to be feted and honored with the presentation of the 2008 Virginia Mentoring Partnership Award. With mentoring groups from across Virginia competing for the award, the ladies from Caroline, who mentor 100 Caroline middle and high school girls, established and executed the winning program in just two years. "I am past words that could describe how we feel as women in the community doing something for so many girls," said Leadership Team member JoNi Rollins-Davis. Also on the team are Kriztina Pierce, Jacquelin Richardson, Sophilia Rollins, Sonya Lewis, Darlene Keener, Emily Skinner, JoWanda Rollins, Georgette Willis and LaTonya Garnett. Sponsorship comes from the Divine Divas' Social Club, Caroline's Promise and Caroline Parks and Recreation. Caroline County Schools also support the Divas With Promise. "Everyday someone walks up to me and says, 'I can't wait to sign my daughter up when she gets to middle school,'" said Rollins-Davis.
Empowering themselves for success in school and as adults, the Divas With Promise learn about appropriate dress, manners, social skills, job skills, fine dining and financial planning, while exploring educational, career and cultural opportunities. On the first and third Mondays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., they meet at the Social Services Building. "The population of young women we serve includes many who come from broken homes, poverty, or other risk factors related to teenage difficulties and trouble. Yet, many are also from very supportive circumstances. This uniqueness allows friendships to develop that are carried beyond the program, back into the school and community environment," said Darlene Keener.
The Divas focused this fall on health and well-being with sessions on "Healthy Relationships." They traveled to Virginia Beach and the "Youth Careers Skills Building Conference" hosted by the Hampton Roads United Way, where they learned about budgeting, goal setting, fitness and fashion.
Also this fall, the Divas met with Health Alliance representatives who encouraged exercising and avoiding smoking. Their body mass was calculated and they were given pedometers to measure their walking exercise. A representative from American Family Fitness taught them exercises.
This spring the Leadership Team of the Divas with Promise will focus on career and culture. The young ladies will take a trip to see a play. On March 25, the "Parade of Divas" will feature career women from the county who talk with the girls about work, success and careers. Throughout the spring, the Leadership Team will work to enable the girls to present a positive image to their teachers.
The Virginia Mentoring Partnership, which will present the award, is a nonprofit group with an office at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Partnership supports and develops mentoring programs in Virginia. Their representative, Rebekah Holbrook, said the Divas With Promise Leadership Team won because the two-year-old Caroline program "is really embraced by the County of Caroline, has a strong infrastructure, dedicated mentors, crosses cultural lines and has an early success."
Darlene Keener, Executive Director of Caroline's Promise, had been cautiously optimistic about winning the award. "I sent in the application with referral letters and was hopeful but not overly confident. The competition is fierce," she said. The award will improve the chances for the Divas With Promise to win grant money. The Divas recently received an $11,000 grant from the Self-development of People Committee of the Presbyterian Church. The money funds learning-trips for the Divas. "Recently the young women loaded a bus and drove to another county to dine at a nice Italian restaurant. They were thrilled to put their newfound knowledge of table manners and place settings to the test!" said Keener.
Caroline businesses, which raise funds for Caroline's Promise, the primary financial backer of the Divas, have also impacted how the girls think about their clothing choices.
"A highlight was when local stores allowed the program to borrow outfits to represent business, casual, school and formal appropriate attire," said Keener. "The girls divided into groups and modeled that you don’t have to show everything to get attention and look nice."
The Divas With Promise have steadily grown in numbers. Last year there were 60, now they number 100.
"Results are hard to determine but at the last meeting a young lady through teary eyes said, 'Thank you for having this program – I had nothing else,'" said Keener. The executive director of Caroline's Promise also quoted Oprah Winfrey who said, “When you change the direction of a young girl’s life, you have changed the direction of the next generation.”
The morale of the Leadership Team is soaring. Keener is receiving calls from other localities about starting up similar programs. "It indeed takes a village to raise a child and Caroline is doing just that – one child at a time, one program at a time," said Leadership Team member JoNi Rollins-Davis. "The effort is paying off. We will see!"
Executive Director of Caroline's Promise Darlene Keener can be contacted at
(804) 916-9619
Empowering themselves for success in school and as adults, the Divas With Promise learn about appropriate dress, manners, social skills, job skills, fine dining and financial planning, while exploring educational, career and cultural opportunities. On the first and third Mondays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., they meet at the Social Services Building. "The population of young women we serve includes many who come from broken homes, poverty, or other risk factors related to teenage difficulties and trouble. Yet, many are also from very supportive circumstances. This uniqueness allows friendships to develop that are carried beyond the program, back into the school and community environment," said Darlene Keener.
The Divas focused this fall on health and well-being with sessions on "Healthy Relationships." They traveled to Virginia Beach and the "Youth Careers Skills Building Conference" hosted by the Hampton Roads United Way, where they learned about budgeting, goal setting, fitness and fashion.
Also this fall, the Divas met with Health Alliance representatives who encouraged exercising and avoiding smoking. Their body mass was calculated and they were given pedometers to measure their walking exercise. A representative from American Family Fitness taught them exercises.
This spring the Leadership Team of the Divas with Promise will focus on career and culture. The young ladies will take a trip to see a play. On March 25, the "Parade of Divas" will feature career women from the county who talk with the girls about work, success and careers. Throughout the spring, the Leadership Team will work to enable the girls to present a positive image to their teachers.
The Virginia Mentoring Partnership, which will present the award, is a nonprofit group with an office at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Partnership supports and develops mentoring programs in Virginia. Their representative, Rebekah Holbrook, said the Divas With Promise Leadership Team won because the two-year-old Caroline program "is really embraced by the County of Caroline, has a strong infrastructure, dedicated mentors, crosses cultural lines and has an early success."
Darlene Keener, Executive Director of Caroline's Promise, had been cautiously optimistic about winning the award. "I sent in the application with referral letters and was hopeful but not overly confident. The competition is fierce," she said. The award will improve the chances for the Divas With Promise to win grant money. The Divas recently received an $11,000 grant from the Self-development of People Committee of the Presbyterian Church. The money funds learning-trips for the Divas. "Recently the young women loaded a bus and drove to another county to dine at a nice Italian restaurant. They were thrilled to put their newfound knowledge of table manners and place settings to the test!" said Keener.
Caroline businesses, which raise funds for Caroline's Promise, the primary financial backer of the Divas, have also impacted how the girls think about their clothing choices.
"A highlight was when local stores allowed the program to borrow outfits to represent business, casual, school and formal appropriate attire," said Keener. "The girls divided into groups and modeled that you don’t have to show everything to get attention and look nice."
The Divas With Promise have steadily grown in numbers. Last year there were 60, now they number 100.
"Results are hard to determine but at the last meeting a young lady through teary eyes said, 'Thank you for having this program – I had nothing else,'" said Keener. The executive director of Caroline's Promise also quoted Oprah Winfrey who said, “When you change the direction of a young girl’s life, you have changed the direction of the next generation.”
The morale of the Leadership Team is soaring. Keener is receiving calls from other localities about starting up similar programs. "It indeed takes a village to raise a child and Caroline is doing just that – one child at a time, one program at a time," said Leadership Team member JoNi Rollins-Davis. "The effort is paying off. We will see!"
Executive Director of Caroline's Promise Darlene Keener can be contacted at
(804) 916-9619
Silver Rings to Shine in Caroline
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
It's called "The Silver Ring Thing."
Promoting sexual abstinence, the multi-media stage show and presentation at Caroline Middle School and Caroline High School at the end of this month will feature music, laser lights, pyrotechnics, comedy, drama, straight talk – and silver rings. The rings, worn by increasing numbers of young people across the nation, mean the wearer intends to stay sexually abstinent until marriage. Inscribed "Thes4:3-4" for 1st Thessalonians 4: 3-4, the rings will be made available during the two-and-one-half hour Christian-based "Silver Ring Thing" production at the Caroline High School gym Saturday night, March 1, from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. There will also be a program for parents.
The passage from 1st Thessalonians contains the Apostle Paul's teaching to "abstain from fornication" and sanctify and honor one's physical body.
The Saturday evening faith-based production will be preceded "God-neutral" presentations on Friday for students at Caroline Middle School and High School which will promote the health and emotional benefits of abstaining from pre-marital sex.
Caroline churches and businesses are contributing to pay the $5,500 fee for the event which will bring 12 performers and speakers to Caroline, along with laser lights, pyrotechnics and video. There is no entry fee. The rings are $15 each. For those without money, Caroline churches are stepping in to make sure everyone gets a ring who wants one.
Caroline's Promise is orchestrating the event which – according to silverringthing.com – presents "an evangelistic message focused on forgiveness and new beginnings with an opportunity to embrace a 'second virginity.'" "The only way to reverse the moral decay of any youth culture is to inspire a change in the conduct and behavior from those within the culture. Therefore, the Silver Ring Thing has developed a roll-out plan to help create a culture shift that will reach 20 percent of the student population (across the U.S.)."
Dana Blanton, youth minister at Salem Baptist Church, presented the idea "The Silver Ring Thing" to area pastors and their representatives at a "Congregations of Promise" meeting last Saturday at Second Mt. Zion Baptist Church. "One of the most difficult challenges that parents and churches face is combating the sex-saturated culture in a way that will have a lasting and powerful effect. The Silver Ring Thing Live Event does just that," said Dana Blanton.
It's called "The Silver Ring Thing."
Promoting sexual abstinence, the multi-media stage show and presentation at Caroline Middle School and Caroline High School at the end of this month will feature music, laser lights, pyrotechnics, comedy, drama, straight talk – and silver rings. The rings, worn by increasing numbers of young people across the nation, mean the wearer intends to stay sexually abstinent until marriage. Inscribed "Thes4:3-4" for 1st Thessalonians 4: 3-4, the rings will be made available during the two-and-one-half hour Christian-based "Silver Ring Thing" production at the Caroline High School gym Saturday night, March 1, from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. There will also be a program for parents.
The passage from 1st Thessalonians contains the Apostle Paul's teaching to "abstain from fornication" and sanctify and honor one's physical body.
The Saturday evening faith-based production will be preceded "God-neutral" presentations on Friday for students at Caroline Middle School and High School which will promote the health and emotional benefits of abstaining from pre-marital sex.
Caroline churches and businesses are contributing to pay the $5,500 fee for the event which will bring 12 performers and speakers to Caroline, along with laser lights, pyrotechnics and video. There is no entry fee. The rings are $15 each. For those without money, Caroline churches are stepping in to make sure everyone gets a ring who wants one.
Caroline's Promise is orchestrating the event which – according to silverringthing.com – presents "an evangelistic message focused on forgiveness and new beginnings with an opportunity to embrace a 'second virginity.'" "The only way to reverse the moral decay of any youth culture is to inspire a change in the conduct and behavior from those within the culture. Therefore, the Silver Ring Thing has developed a roll-out plan to help create a culture shift that will reach 20 percent of the student population (across the U.S.)."
Dana Blanton, youth minister at Salem Baptist Church, presented the idea "The Silver Ring Thing" to area pastors and their representatives at a "Congregations of Promise" meeting last Saturday at Second Mt. Zion Baptist Church. "One of the most difficult challenges that parents and churches face is combating the sex-saturated culture in a way that will have a lasting and powerful effect. The Silver Ring Thing Live Event does just that," said Dana Blanton.
Churches Unite Youth Efforts
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
The pastors and youth directors of the churches of Caroline have been called upon to unite for the sake of the youth. "We face some problems that one church can't face by itself," said Rev. David Johnson of Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green. "I hope and pray we are going to find a way to work together for the community," he said.
Congregations of Promise will meet next month to address problems facing the youth. "We're asking all 60 Caroline churches to send an Action Team of a youth representative and an adult representative to a Congregations of Promise meeting, June 2," said Darlene Keener, executive director of Caroline's Promise. The meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green will begin with breakfast at 8:30 and end at 10:30. "We'll set goals and decide what action to take," said Keener, who stated that county youth need the churches to unite their efforts. "The recent wellness report completed in the county tells us that every other child born in Caroline is born to a single mother and Caroline has the highest rate of bed use at the regional juvenile detention center. These two statistics alone show we must work together for our children. We have a ripe mission field right here at home," she said.
Strategizing for the coming year, Congregations of Promise met with area pastors April 28, at Concord Baptist Church. Meeting with Keener were the pastors of five Caroline Baptist churches: Rev. Kevin James of Salem Baptist Church, Rev. Duane Fields, Sr. of Oxford Mount Zion, Rev. David Johnson of Calvary Baptist of Bowling Green, Rev. Kevin Moen of Bowling Green Baptist and Rev. David Upshaw of Concord. A new Caroline church--Faith Journey Ministries, Inc.--was represented by Rev. James Quickly. Also present were Darnell Wright, youth director of St. James Baptist Church, and Taryn Barlow, youth director of Concord. At the meeting too was Jennifer Dockum, missions director for the Herman Baptist Association. The challenge facing Caroline's 60 churches, as Rev. Upshaw expressed it, is that "no one church or denomination can meet all the needs of the youth in our diverse community." For the sake of the youth there needs to be a uniting "of denominations and across racial lines," he said.
Keener said Congregations of Promise is the organization that can facilitate that union. Keener wants to continue and move beyond last year's successful events, like the Unity Fest, the Fifth Quarter Party, and the "Clean Freaks" program on sexual abstinence for youth; Keener wants to enable area churches in sharing opportunities for youth such as mentoring, safe places to gather and healthy events to attend. Congregations of Promise can also help individual churches as a resource, said Keener--sharing informational data about the county youth, helping churches make strong connections to the schools and letting churches know of programs churches can tap into. Keener said a Congregations of Promise newsletter will begin to arrive monthly at all Caroline churches; an important purpose of this newsletter is letting churches know what other churches are doing and how to join in.
An example of upcoming events that all Caroline youth can participate in is the Youth Revival at 6:30 May 2 and 3, at St. James Baptist Church. Call 633-7183 for information. Then on May 5, there will be the all-day "Saving Sound" event at Salem Baptist where there will be a Battle of the Bands playing Christian music, Christian hip-hop and a skateboarding exhibition. 633-5583. And at Second Mount Zion there will be a Youth Revival, May 18 through 23, kicking off May 18 with a Basketball Tournament.
The pastors and youth directors of the churches of Caroline have been called upon to unite for the sake of the youth. "We face some problems that one church can't face by itself," said Rev. David Johnson of Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green. "I hope and pray we are going to find a way to work together for the community," he said.
Congregations of Promise will meet next month to address problems facing the youth. "We're asking all 60 Caroline churches to send an Action Team of a youth representative and an adult representative to a Congregations of Promise meeting, June 2," said Darlene Keener, executive director of Caroline's Promise. The meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green will begin with breakfast at 8:30 and end at 10:30. "We'll set goals and decide what action to take," said Keener, who stated that county youth need the churches to unite their efforts. "The recent wellness report completed in the county tells us that every other child born in Caroline is born to a single mother and Caroline has the highest rate of bed use at the regional juvenile detention center. These two statistics alone show we must work together for our children. We have a ripe mission field right here at home," she said.
Strategizing for the coming year, Congregations of Promise met with area pastors April 28, at Concord Baptist Church. Meeting with Keener were the pastors of five Caroline Baptist churches: Rev. Kevin James of Salem Baptist Church, Rev. Duane Fields, Sr. of Oxford Mount Zion, Rev. David Johnson of Calvary Baptist of Bowling Green, Rev. Kevin Moen of Bowling Green Baptist and Rev. David Upshaw of Concord. A new Caroline church--Faith Journey Ministries, Inc.--was represented by Rev. James Quickly. Also present were Darnell Wright, youth director of St. James Baptist Church, and Taryn Barlow, youth director of Concord. At the meeting too was Jennifer Dockum, missions director for the Herman Baptist Association. The challenge facing Caroline's 60 churches, as Rev. Upshaw expressed it, is that "no one church or denomination can meet all the needs of the youth in our diverse community." For the sake of the youth there needs to be a uniting "of denominations and across racial lines," he said.
Keener said Congregations of Promise is the organization that can facilitate that union. Keener wants to continue and move beyond last year's successful events, like the Unity Fest, the Fifth Quarter Party, and the "Clean Freaks" program on sexual abstinence for youth; Keener wants to enable area churches in sharing opportunities for youth such as mentoring, safe places to gather and healthy events to attend. Congregations of Promise can also help individual churches as a resource, said Keener--sharing informational data about the county youth, helping churches make strong connections to the schools and letting churches know of programs churches can tap into. Keener said a Congregations of Promise newsletter will begin to arrive monthly at all Caroline churches; an important purpose of this newsletter is letting churches know what other churches are doing and how to join in.
An example of upcoming events that all Caroline youth can participate in is the Youth Revival at 6:30 May 2 and 3, at St. James Baptist Church. Call 633-7183 for information. Then on May 5, there will be the all-day "Saving Sound" event at Salem Baptist where there will be a Battle of the Bands playing Christian music, Christian hip-hop and a skateboarding exhibition. 633-5583. And at Second Mount Zion there will be a Youth Revival, May 18 through 23, kicking off May 18 with a Basketball Tournament.
Caroline’s Promise Begins New Year
By Ed Simmons, Jr.
Caroline's Promise is roaring into its sixth year – its second with Darlene Keener at the helm – changing things for the better for the county's approximately 6,000 youth. Providing for the "physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of the youth" is Caroline's Promise intent, according to its Mission Statement. Initiatives have ranged starting up the service-oriented high school group Youth Ambassadors, to uniting the county's churches in Congregations of Promise, to getting set to launch a county-wide mentoring program – to name only a few.
Caroline Promise's latest move is to name this year's new Board of Directors – selecting church, business, education leaders as well as community volunteers who've distinguished themselves in contributing to the county. The two church representatives are Rev. Duane Fields and Rev. Kevin James. Both are exemplary in serving Caroline youth, said Keener who is Caroline's Promise Executive Director. Rev. Fields has launched Unity Outreach Ministries – with a year's worth of activities for Reedy Church area youth that keep them on the right track, and he's planning another, even more active year. Rev. James has built a popular and very well-attended youth program at Salem Baptist Church and last spring hosted a sexual abstinence program that brought a vibrant professional speaker to student assemblies at Caroline Middle and Caroline High School.
New board members also include Cynthia Green who is Social Services Director; Patricia Wright who has distinguished herself by her volunteerism; Garland Atkins, Caroline County's Finance Manager; Maureen Hijar who is Director of Instruction for Caroline County Schools, L.J. Moyer, of Century 21 Classic Real Estate, a prominent businesswoman who recently raised $13,000 for Caroline's Habitat for Humanity and who organizes Rotary's "Christmas Dinner for Seniors;" Kay Brooks, Caroline County Head Librarian; and Linda Sealy, of Crown Homes, who has backed and organized the building of Habitat homes.
Jacquelin Richardson, Children's Librarian, is serving as Fundraising Chair.
A major source of fundraising for Caroline's Promise is the "Redskins' Score for Caroline Kids," where Caroline County businesses donate one dollar for every point the Redskins score during their season. This nets about $30,000, if all the businesses follow through as promised. "What we really need, though, is $100,000 to do all the things we want to do," said Keener. Keener is awaiting word on a $200,000 federal grant to fund the launching of this year's Caroline's Promise Mentoring Program. If the grant does not come through, the program will still be initiated, said Keener.
Caroline's Promise is joining forces with Rev. Duane Field's Unity Outreach Ministry for its Sept. 3 "Back-to-School J.A.M." "J.A.M." stands for "with Jesus Achieve More."
This event drew 500 youth last year to celebrate the end of summer and motivate students to do well in school for the coming year. "I'm really excited about this coming year," said Keener.
"Caroline is going to really shine."
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