BRENTWOOD — Figures recently released by the Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union from the 2009 State Site Report Summary for the Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps show a steadily growing ministry.
The Tennessee data chronicles figures from 2006-2009, which were reported by a total of 29 state CWJC/CMJC sites. Some valid growth observations may be made from the statistics, according to Denise Bronaugh, Tennessee WMU adult ministry specialist.
The national WMU requires annual reports of data from the CWJC/CMJC sites, Bronaugh reported.
Tennessee WMU uses the annual reports from the sites as a prerequisite to receiving the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions allocations, she added.
Some of the recent growth observations include:
• From 2006-2009 the number of CWJC/CMJC sites has almost doubled in the state from 17 to 29. Currently, the 29 CWJC/CMJC sites are made up of 22 CWJC and seven CMJC sites. Two of the seven CMJC sites are combined with CWJC locations.
“However, some CWJC/CMJC sites may have a large number of participants while other sites may just have a mentor and one student,” added Bronaugh. “Each site is responsible for raising its operating money.
“In addition, the majority of the site coordinators are volunteers and do not receive pay. The site coordinators feel a sense of calling. They have to have a ‘calling,’ because it’s hard work. It’s also a year of preparation work just to start a new site.”
• The number of CWJC/CMJC participants served in Tennessee from 2006-2009 through its core programs has tripled from 450 to 1,500. Some of the CWJC/CMJC sites are combined with other interfaith ministries that offer additional programs to moderate income men and women.
• During the time period from 2006-2009, the number of people who were served through CWJC/CMJC services, but who were not necessarily members of the core programs, increased from 789 to 2,813. The elements of the CWJC/CMJC programs may be used in local correctional facilities, but the inmate populations are not considered part of the programs, she observed.
• From 2006-2009 the number of CWJC/CMJC graduates who completed the program has more than quadrupled from 160 to 740. “The graduates are our success. Small steps along the way are celebrated.”
• The number of CWJC/CMJC participants who made salvation decisions from 2006-2009 has almost tripled from 54 to 149.
• Also during the 2006-2009 period, the number of spiritual decisions of CWJC/CMJC participants and their family members who rededicated their lives to Christ and also those family members who made salvation decisions has also tripled from 212 to 582. “Changing one life of a person in a family can have a positive effect on the other family members,” Bronaugh remarked.
The first CWJC began in Tennessee in October 1997 with the opening of CWJC site of Nashville with 10 women students. Candy Phillips, who is now the Tennessee WMU executive director treasurer, served then as the associate director of the Nashville Baptist Association’s WMU Leadership Team.
Phillips, along with the then NBA WMU director, Creely Wilson, both recognized the potential of CWJC to transform the lives of women trapped in poverty. With these ladies’ support and encouragement, the NBA WMU Leadership Team voted to establish a CWJC site in Nashville, which later became known as the CWJC of Middle Tennessee. Other CWJC/CMJC sites soon followed in Tennessee.
“God is doing a great thing in this ministry,” said Bronaugh. “To see the growth of this ministry and the lives that have been changed is remarkable.
“Only God could have grown this ministry this quickly. We don’t always see the impact of our labor sometimes ever in our lifetime.”
