How Did the Maple Leaf Tutoring Program Get Started?

When our first official team went to serve with New City Fellowship in Atlantic City, there were a lot of hearts stirred. One of our team members asked me, “Why can’t we do what we are doing in AC closer to home?” I replied that we could, we would just need a location. Her suggestion was the Maple Leaf Apartment Complex in Brick. She went on to say that there were lots of children there, many from single family homes and those on section 8. Again, I replied that we can certainly do that, we just need someone who could connect us…

 

Fast forward to about a month later when I was sharing our trip in front of the church that Patrick and I were attending. I talked about the AC trip and then added that there was a desire to do something closer to home, but I stopped short of saying that we were thinking of the Maple Leaf Apartments. Immediately after service, I was approached by (then) officer Jim Kelly from the Brick Police. Dressed in his uniform, he told me that he had the same passion for mercy ministry…but his desire was to serve the people of the Maple Leaf Community!!

Wow, that was God! I then told him the whole story and he simply said that he has been part of the police patrol for that community and had a very good relationship with the administrator and could get us a meeting.

Less than 8 months later we had our first official tutoring program with about 40 Maple Leaf kids! 

 

In 2022 we start our 10th season and God continues to be glorified! We have been able to provide a lot more than homework help…

~ A safe, no bullying place to go ~ hot meals ~Bible Clubs ~ Vacation Bible Clubs during the summer ~ soccer camps during the summer ~ art classes ~ dance classes ~ cooking classes ~ Christmas parties and family support ~ class trips ~ end of the year trips to the Point Pleasant Boardwalk ~ mission trips to AC ~ relief aid during covid ~ relationship building ~