Reach a Child, Impact a Family
S.A.Y. Yes! offers a broad range of educational resources — homework help, tutoring, academic skill development, recreation, a Bible club, practical living skills, arts and crafts, and field trips — even college preparation for older youth. And many of the children and their parents have been drawn into the Emmanuel Church family. Mario is one child whose life has felt the impact. Now in seventh grade, Mario lives with his mother Rosa and his younger half-sister. School was a struggle for Mario, due to both academic and disciplinary problems. When the school requested to meet with Rosa, she asked the staff at S.A.Y. Yes! to go with her, to help her understand what was needed from her. She wanted to do what was best for her son, and she needed an advocate. Sometimes it seemed that Mario would take two steps forward and then one step back, but eventually he gave his life to the Lord, encouraged by the love and perseverance of mentors at the Center. His grades, attitude, and behavior all improved tremendously. Emmanuel Church continued to reach out to Mario’s mother, and eventually she began attending services there. It wasn’t long before she dedicated her life to Christ and became an active participant in the church. She attends prayer services every week and helps with childcare at other church programs. The S.A.Y. Yes! program, developed by Here’s Life, has proven to be an important stabilizing presence in the life of this family. All across the nation, S.A.Y. Yes! not only connects with inner-city children but also connects their families to neighborhood churches. |
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Mario is a totally different person than when he began attending the S.A.Y. Yes! Center at Emmanuel Church in Paramount, California, six years ago.