September 2012 FaithFamily News

Faith
Family
News
Faith Family News
September 2012
Alumni Spotlight
Linda Balencia
By Linda Balencia
B
efore coming to FaithWorks I
was lost on what my purpose
was for life. I had only been
living in Abilene for a month. I did
not know anybody or anything about
Abilene. I had just moved from Minnesota where I lived for 15 years and
was working at a casino. The casino
was the only job experience that I
knew. I was so empty inside that I
knew I needed a change in my life.
So one day I quit my job and came to
FaithWorks of Abilene
Abilene where I was living with my
mother‟s friend, and she helped me
get a job. Well, the job was working
at another casino. As I was working
there I was thinking, „This is not
what I wanted for my life. I left one
casino job to work at another one.‟ I
was confused and did not know
where my life was going. I thought
that I had made a mistake leaving
Minnesota. Little did I know the Lord
had everything worked out for me.
(325) 437-2272 phone
I would pray every night for the
Lord to help show me the direction
that He wanted me to go . Every
night at work I would read the newspaper so that I was able to get to
know Abilene a little better. On
September 14, 2005 I was reading an
article about FaithWorks. I thought,
„This is it! This is what I want to do:
try this program.‟
(Continued Inside…)
(325) 437-2273 fax
faithworksofabilene.org
Joyce Dalzell—The Power of Character
T
he vision of
FaithWorks
is that it is
an organization – a
faith based nonprofit – a ministry
to the Abilene
community – that never stops
growing. Every day, each week
and with every single class, it is our
goal to be better than the day, week
or class before. I love the new
motto that Lowe‟s has adopted,
“Never Stop Improving.” That is
us! Never Stop Improving.
As we look forward to the Fall
2012 class that begins on September 12th, we are back at the drawing
table in conversation about ways to
make the learning opportunity at
FaithWorks even better. When we
began in 2003 our curriculum was a
10-unit life skills curriculum written at Columbia University on how
to find THE job, how to get that job
and ultimately how to keep it. The
curriculum focused us on all of the
steps of representing ourselves on
paper, on successful interview
skills, time management, networking. . .The Adkins Life Skills Curriculum is basic yet comprehensive,
and we continue to use that every
day in the classroom.
In 2009 we added a Conflict
Management in Poverty curriculum
developed by the Duncan Center
for Conflict Resolution at ACU
with FaithWorks serving as one of
the pilot groups. We continue to
include weekly lessons in conflict
management in our classroom, usually each Monday afternoon.
The following year we were
blessed when Gloria Bradshaw
joined the corps of volunteers at
FaithWorks and brought with her
the expertise on Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People and we
filled Wednesday afternoons with
the wisdom of Stephen Covey and
Gloria Bradshaw.
So what else could we possibly
squeeze into our already filled-to-
the-brim day at FaithWorks? Character education is the answer and
we are excited and encouraged to
add to the semester the importance
of TRUSTWORTHINESS,
R E S P E C T , RESPONSIBILITY,
FAIRNESS, CARING and
CITIZENSHIP.
Quoting Michael Josephson,
“The future of our families, neighborhoods and country does not require the moral reformation of villains and rogues. It will be quite
enough if good people are willing
to try harder, to be better and to do
more.”
We all need help in developing
good character. It doesn‟t just happen, nor is it easy. We invite you
to walk this journey with us. We
will share with you as this next part
of FaithWorks is developed and
implemented. As always your
comments, suggestions, and recommendations are valued.
Linda Balencia (continued from cover)
S
o I quit the casino job and started attending the 12 week program which began on September 19, 2005. This program helped
me build up my confidence. I was
depressed, lost, and empty inside. I
had low self-esteem and I had built up walls all
around me from everything I had gone through in my
life. I did not know how God was going to use me
with all the baggage I had built up inside of me. FaithWorks helped me learn and see that I am perfect in
Him and it gave me a chance of hope . Also, FaithWorks helped me find the skills that God had given
me and showed me how to use them for my future. I
did not know what I wanted for my life. It helped me
discover what my interest was and led me in the right
direction. That direction was leading me back to
school.
At first I thought, „I cannot go back to
school.‟ I had quit school in the 9th grade. My educational level was very low. I had difficulty reading and
understanding what I read. After a lot of prayer, I decided to go back to school. FaithWorks helped me fill
out a FASFA and gave me the confidence and support
that I needed to go back. If it wasn‟t for the help of
this FaithWorks program, I would not have returned
to school, and I would not have known the potential
that I have within me to succeed and the accomplishments that I have done since I completed this program. After FaithWorks I attended Cisco College. I
graduated on August 30,2012 with an Associate‟s
Degree in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy.
Linda Balencia
Attention Former Students:
We’re still
taking
applications
for the Fall
Needed
Items for July:
Thurs,
Class!
Men’s and Women's Razors
and
Cream
FallShaving
Class Begins
Women’s Skin Lotion
Wish List
Laundry Supplies
$500 for Vacuum cleaner
replacement
fund
September 27
We’d love
to see you at 6:30 p.m.
Bring your friends, family, and favorite
side dish.
Thank You!
To everyone who helped provide
classroom supplies.
Special Thanks to the
“50something.com” Highland Bible
Class for their monetary donation,
which allowed us to buy the following supplies:
The mission of FaithWorks of Abilene is to help the underemployed, through
personal, career, academic, and spiritual development, acquire the skills and
confidence necessary for gainful employment.
September 2012
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
2
9
3
10
4
11
5
12
6
13
7
14 Who I Am and
1
8
15
Orientation
Where I Want to Go
First Day
of Fall
Class!
16
23
Life Stages
17 “Types of
18 Group
19 Share Life
20 Book of Mat-
21 Employment
Work” Exercise
Conflict Resolution
Character Education
Counseling
Transferable skills
Maps
“7 Habits of Highly
Effective People”
Research
My Work Values
Interests Collage
Draw Life Maps
thew Study
Interests and Abilities
Share Life Maps
24 Who I Am
25 Group
26 Exploring the
27 Book of
28 Exploring the
Conflict Resolution
Counseling
Matthew Study
Job Exploration
Computer Lab—
typing practice
World of Work
Phone Interviews
Computer Lab
Character Education
World of Work
Plan for Jobs and
Who I Am Presenta- Phone Interviews
tions
Who I Am
22
29
30
Joyced@faithworksofabilene.org
www.faithworksofabilene.org
1229 North Mockingbird
Abilene, TX 79603
Ph: (325) 437-2272
Fax: (325) 437-2273
Return Service Requested