For 6 years we were blessed to work with Darrough Chapel School, tutoring and mentoring children.  The School Board has decided to change the mission and Darrough will no longer be an elementary school.  But, thanks to the time we spent learning how to work with the school professionals, our program (The Morning Star Model) is the ONLY certified program recognized by the Department of Education.  We also became part of the fabric of that school and all that makes us the single example cited everywhere of how churches and public schools can cooperate for the sake of children to show God’s love in a practical way.  Here’s the story and the future. 

Sometimes Servant Evangelism requires you to offer gifts of caring that you are pretty certain, will be rejected.  Faith-Based initiatives sounds great, but generally, government bodies will refuse to allow SE activities.  Sometimes commercial ventures will not allow faith-based initiatives for different reasons, but to the same end.If you want to perform random acts of kindness to demonstrate God’s love in a practical way, you generally have to do it without the cooperation of government and commerce.  In fact, both entities generally will be an impedance.  So we didn’t hold much hope when we decided to approach the Darrough Chapel Elementary School with an offer of free mentoring assistance.  We had several retired teachers, a few college education majors, and a lot of caring parents who wanted to become involved, so Serving in Love (SIL) decided we would ask if we could help.  We didn’t think they would or could accept the offer but God had different plans.

To make a very long and involved story short.  Darrough was one school in the system that had lots of opportunity for improvements and also has one of the best team of educators in the nation.  The rest is a story of praise and glory to God.  We were welcomed, our mentors were trained and we began what is now a five year long relationship with DCE.  Hundreds of MSC mentors have dedicated thousands of hours as a part of the overall mission at DCE.  The children are passing tests and achieving outstanding results.  But when you hear the mentors tell the stories, the attention the kids are getting is changing lives.  You owe it to yourself to come to MSC and hear those stories. 

Even more touching are the stories from the teachers and administrators.  If SIL is dedicated, as we say to building community based on caring, then our service at Darrough Elementary is the benchmark for us to follow.  The program is a template for others to follow and has received positive remarks for the Superintendent of Public Instruction as well as the Governor.   That lead to certification and recognition by the Department of  Education.

We have developed an effective program with hundreds of mentors in elementary schools all over North-Central Indiana.  You simply cannot imagine (beyond language and math) the impact these mentors are having on young lives and families in the North-Central Indiana area.  We could do more if we had more mentors, so feel free to contact us if you want to help. 

We now have metors in Tipton, Hamilton, Miami, Cass and evey district in Howard County.  Our 46 mentors from Darrough will relocate next year and we wanted you to know how you can help if your heart leads you in that direction. 

It’s an hour or so a week that may change a young life.  So if it fits into your plans contact us about learning to become a Morning Star Mentor.