Bridge of Hope aids women in community

PORTALES — Ministry keeps going strong for the volunteers at Bridge of Hope.

The ministry, located at First Baptist Church in Portales, is part of the Christian Women’s Job Corps program, which offers guidelines for women struggling with life changing events, according to coordinators.

“We equip them with life skills to be able to better their life,” said Site Coordinator Teresa Howard. “I always say everyone has a dream, and they should have a chance to pursue that.”

“It is simply a program where women meet with women and men meet with men to develop life skills,” said New Mexico Women’s Missionary Union Director Connie Dixon, “to the life of dependency to a life of self-efficiency.”

Assistant Site Coordinator Patty Mohon said one of the goals for this year is to start a men’s ministry locally.

Dixon said the program focuses on not only life skills but job readiness. Howard added educational skills are part of the program with a high school equivalency exam study for women included.

Dixon said programs also include financial support, health and nutrition resources.

“We have mentors that walk through this process with the ladies to encourage and support them,” said Howard.

From a state-wide perspective, there has been some slow growth, Dixon said, but eight churches in the state are anticipating national training.

Things are booming from a nation-wide perspective, she added.

“We are planning to start as many Christian Women’s Jobs Corps and Christian Men’s Job Corps in the state of New Mexico,” said State Women’s Missionary Union Director Connie Dixon. “There’s over 200 sites across the nation.”

Dixon added “no two sites are the same,” with different sites taking on either classroom or one-on-one instruction.

At the Portales site, there is a flexible balance.

“We work with a classroom setting and one-on-one, depending on what they (clients) are needing,” said Howard.

For the coordinators, seeing the participants’ personal growth was the most rewarding part.

“It’s so awesome to see them go from struggling to make ends meet to the point of wanting to give back,” said Dixon. “I think the biggest challenge is always having enough people involved. You don’t have to have any real special talents or gifts.”

“Just the fact that we’re offering something that they can really apply (is rewarding),” said Mohon. “We want to make this very practical.”

Another rewarding aspect is traveling, Dixon said, with the ministry recently receiving a van donation from an anonymous donor.

“I feel like we’re on the same team and have the same goals,” said Dixon.

Those interested in the ministry can contact Dixon at 575-760-1603 or the ministry office at 575-226-3759.