BROWNWOOD—A pair of Howard Payne University students who lead a mentoring program for girls at a juvenile correctional facility insist its worth their time investment to let the young women know Christians care about them.
Howard Payne University students Monique Ching (left) and Ciera Culpepper discuss their ministry team at the school's Baptist Student Ministry center. The students lead a mentoring program for girls at a juvenile correctional facility. (PHOTO/Coby Kestner/HPU)
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Monique Ching and Ciera Culpepper head the Baptist Student Ministry's mentoring program through the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, working with girls at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood.
The program pairs Howard Payne students with girls at the state school. Each mentor and juvenile offender meet at least one hour a week.
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department offers an option for faith-based mentoring, in which a mentor can bring a Bible and discuss matters in a spiritual context.
"The goal is to share Christ with the TJJD students and really love on them in a way they probably have never experienced—with the love of Christ," said Culpepper, a family studies major from Zephyr.
In addition to serious discussions about the Bible, mentors also play games and just visit with the juvenile offenders.
"This is one of the most rewarding ministries ever," said Ching, a communication major from Hong Kong. "Just being able to hear the girls' stories and be there for them through this time of their life is amazing."
Many of the students at the state school come from troubled or unstable backgrounds, Culpepper added.
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"I think the impact of the program is to provide the TJJD students with safe and healthy relationships," she said. "One of my goals is to get every girl at the state school matched with an HPU mentor."
Keith Platte, BSM director at Howard Payne, has a goal of his own to help HPU students at connect with the girls at the correctional facility through the chapel services they can attend.
"I would love to see Howard Payne students taking part in leading some of these chapel services for girls who don't always get to hear the gospel presented from people close to their own ages," he said.
Allison Voss, chaplain at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex, values the commitment made by the Howard Payne mentors.
"The time and effort spent by mentors at our facility is invaluable," Voss said. "Our students look forward to seeing their mentors each week and develop a strong bond with them. Having a volunteer come and listen and support them makes our students feel valued and loved in a way that many have never experienced before. Howard Payne students are especially an encouragement to our students as they bring with them a sense of youthfulness, energy and diversity."
Although it is a rewarding ministry, the mentoring program demands commitment, participants note. But Culpepper and Ching insist it is worth it.
"At the very least, it is showing these girls that someone cares for them," Ching said.
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