The St. Joseph, Mo., Corps has received the Pathway of Hope (POH) Achievement Award. As a result of their teamwork and dedication, 14 families in the past year have not only made significant strides in changing their lives and futures but have been connected to the corps as a network of support and community of faith.
In addition to some families attending Sunday services together, 23 children have become members of character-building programs while their parents participate in programs like women’s ministries.
According to St. Joseph Corps POH Case Manager Jeaneal Byrd, pastoral care is a central component for POH participants who express interest. Her strong personal faith is evident in her caring interactions, and families who accept the offer for spiritual support are connected with corps officers Majors Ron and Laura Key. The Keys are committed not only to ministering to POH families but encouraging integration into the corps if they do not already belong to a place of worship.
“We have wonderful officers. They help us; we all work as a team. Everyone has a hand in making sure people succeed,” Jeaneal said.
Uniquely, the corps has incorporated POH as part of an optional aftercare plan for families who’ve been in the emergency shelter for one to three months which encourages them to develop long-term stability and sufficiency.
“As a team, we do our best to set families up for success,” said Jeaneal. “Through POH, we want to end the revolving door of seeing the same families in and out of the shelter every few months or years.”
When a family enters the shelter, they meet the officers and staff at the corps and learn about the programs and services that are offered. When they leave the shelter, they are again welcomed at the corps and invited to participate in programs, activities and worship. Each person has a part, whether giving a warm welcome, providing financial assistance or case management, inviting youth and adults to programs and Sunday worship or encouraging them spiritually. According to Jeaneal, most families accept the invitation to bring their children to youth programs and many also join Sunday worship.
Currently 24 families are enrolled in the POH initiative in St. Joseph with eight on the verge of completion. After four years managing POH, Jeaneal has found the approach a meaningful and effective way to help families move forward.
She concluded, “I have yet to find a family that hasn’t appreciated POH.”
