An hour of mentoring per week can make an enormous difference in the life of a vulnerable child – a fact that was celebrated at Mooroolbark Baptist Church (MBC) in July for their 20^th anniversary of Kids Hope Australia.

MBC was part of the initial pilot program in 2004 to partner with a local school in providing social and emotional support to children who experience hardship, conflict or disadvantage. Since then MBC has mentored 62 children and trained 38 mentors. Across Victoria, 27 Baptist churches participate in Kids Hope.

At the anniversary service, MBC’s program coordinator David Fitzgerald said he had seen first-hand the value of Kids Hope as he mentored 10 children, including one boy whom he has visited for 10 years. “Owen has changed so much from a boy that was saying, ‘Yahoo I’m getting out of maths,’ to now being in high school, on the school council, and trying to prevent bullying at his school. Another example is a little girl who hardly ever came to school in Term 1. She wouldn’t talk at all for a whole two terms. I was thinking, ‘God how do I get through and help this young girl?’ Something changed over those two terms of being patient, consistent and dedicated to spending that hour with her. By the end of that year the girl had made friends, and she never missed coming to school for the last two terms. The principal said, ‘I don’t know what you did but it was just fantastic, and she’s changed her whole life.’ That’s what Kids Hope is about – changing lives.”

Former MBC Senior Pastor Darrell McKerlie said that one of the best things about the program was that it involved people of all ages and walks of life. “It’s something any and every church member can be involved in. All you need is empathy and a bit of time – put those two things together and you make a good mentor. You don’t need a university degree to do those things. If someone feels they can’t do the mentoring, you could always be a prayer partner. It involves everyone who wants to be in it.”

Currently in Australia, there are 180 Kids Hope programs facilitating 900 mentors. The program has enabled more than 600,000 hours of mentoring over the past 20 years. Each church is encouraged to build a partnership with one school, and the principal or wellbeing team nominates the children who could benefit from the program.

At the celebration, Kids Hope CEO Simon Warrick said children today faced significant challenges and the years following Covid had seen major rises in childhood mental health, social anxiety and school avoidance.

“It’s amazing what happens when a group of people come together and say, ‘There’s a significant need in our community and we can serve that need’. Our desire is that Kids Hope mentoring is available to every kid who needs it. James 1:26-27 says to look after the unprotected, the needy, the oppressed, take them into your family and take care of them as a way of reflecting through your actions what God has done in you. Right now, there’s so much need. Would you consider stepping alongside these kids and supporting them? You don’t know the future that they can have with your support.”

Croydon Hills Baptist Church also took part in the pilot and has continued mentoring for the past 20 years. Diane Smith has coordinated Kids Hope at Croydon Hills Baptist Church for the past three years, and has mentored a girl for six years. She said the program was rewarding for both mentors and mentees. “The mentors always feel uplifted every time they come to visit their child and see the way their face lights up. It makes them feel that they are making a difference in little ways in someone’s life. And for the children, the consistency of having an adult who’s come just for them and no one else makes them feel quite chuffed. The school is very welcoming – we have a really positive rapport. We often meet with our kids in their staffroom and sometimes use their cooking facilities. Every time a staff member walks in they are always encouraging to the child and also to us.”

Diane talked about attending an arts festival where her mentor child performed a dance and ran a stall. “She was thrilled that I was there to watch her – she grabbed my hand and introduced me to her step mum, who was pleased to meet me.”

For details on Kids Hope visit kidshope.org.au