Christian Women’s Job Corps sites find unique ways to raise funds, awareness

Models took to the runway at First Baptist Church, Albertville, April 8. But they were showing more than beautiful clothes. Many were showing the beautiful effect a relationship with Christ can have on a life that has reached the end of its rope.
   
The show was held to benefit the south site of Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) of Marshall County, which equips women in need with life and employment skills in a christian context.
   
Women and children of all shapes and sizes took part, modeling affordable, conservative fashions. And CWJC participants were involved in every aspect of the fourth annual show.
   
“One of the classes we teach is called personal discovery,” said Linda Henry, CWJC state coordinator. “We teach that beauty is on the inside and teach them how to dress for interviews and color coordination and accessorizing.”
   
Each student from that class received tickets to the fashion show at First, Albertville, in Marshall Baptist Association so they could see ideas for dressing for interviews and church, as well as casual and formal wear.
   
Rosalie Hunt, president of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and one of the event’s models, noted that the CWJC participants who modeled and shared their testimony showed the difference CWJC makes.
   
Begun by national WMU in 1997, CWJC and its male counterpart, Christian Men’s Job Corps (CMJC), help many of those who have reached the end of their resources, either physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, said Jean Cullen, WMU missions involvement specialist and national CWJC coordinator. 
   
Cullen, who served as master of ceremonies for the fashion show, said there are 148 CWJC sites nationally, with 11 in Alabama. The state is also home to two CMJC sites, out of seven nationwide.
   
“CWJC/CMJC is a ministry that recognizes that a change in a person’s circumstances can happen in their head through developing skills and increased education and through their heart by coming to know who God is and that they are loved and they have a purpose,” Cullen said.
   
Henry was site coordinator for the CWJC of Marshall County until 2005. During her time there, the site grew to have two sites, a south site in Albertville and a north site in Arab. She also doubled her responsibilities for a short while when she became CWJC state coordinator in 2002.
   
Although nationally the CWJC sites are connected through WMU, each one is responsible for raising its own funds, Henry said. 
   
A variety of ideas abound and each site does what works best for it. CWJC of South Alabama in Mobile held a rock-a-thon fund-raiser in April. Hosted by two area Cracker Barrel restaurants, the CWJC site partnered with a plant supplier and local Christian radio station to raise money by rocking and selling plants. 
   
The idea for a fashion show came to Henry while at a site coordinator training session. She liked the idea of raising money while teaching CWJC participants about proper ways to dress. She took the idea home to the Marshall site and began implementing it. 
   
“We ask the (women modeling from the community) to come up with a complete outfit for $15 and then model along with the participants,” Henry said. The outfits that are modeled are then auctioned off. Stores and individuals also donate outfits for a silent auction.
   
The first show was held in 2002 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Albertville, in Marshall Association and raised more than $2,000 for the program, Henry said. This year, the show raised $10,022.50, exceeding its goal of $10,000 and setting a new record. 
   
“I think it is an awesome outpouring of the community coming together,” said Rená Strange, site coordinator of the south site of CWJC of Marshall County. “You can see the body of Christ coming together in it and working together.”
   
Henry noted that every year, the money raised has been just enough to cover the expenses and needs for the following year. 
   
This year, state and local WMU leaders got involved, including Beverly Miller, former Alabama WMU executive director. “I appreciate the fact that they have such an ingenious fund-raiser. It is a thrill to help them.”
   
Other CWJC sites, such as CWJC of Etowah County, have taken the fashion show idea and put their own spin on it.
   
According to site coordinator Dianne Lowe, this year’s organizers invited vendors to the fashion show also held April 8 at MeadowBrook Baptist Church, Gadsden, in Etowah Baptist Association. 
   
By charging a vendor fee in addition to selling tickets to the show, the CWJC site raised $1,300 — about a $300 increase over last year, Lowe said.
   
Henry is quick to note that while the fund-raisers provide the means to continue operations and programs at a CWJC site, the sites still need support from area churches and associations, especially in the area of mentors.
   
Cullen noted, “The thing that makes us different is we require every person to be involved in Bible study, and each person is paired with a mentor who supports that person.”
   
A mentor may help a participant with setting a budget and goals, Bible study, personal development, family relationships and even take her to church. The mentors commit to spending one hour a week for a year with the participant with whom they are paired. 
   
Henry said the availability of mentors means the difference between being able to accept women into the program immediately and putting them on a waiting list. A woman cannot enter the program if a mentor is not available for her.
   
For information about Alabama CWJC, contact Henry at 256-891-4533 or lindray@bellsouth.net. For information about national CWJC or CMJC, contact Cullen at 205-991-4096.