BCM Annual Impact Report 2015

Annual Impact Report 2015 Letter from our Executive Director We are very excited to share with you another inspiring year at Bayshore Christian Ministries (BCM). God is truly amazing in how He drives the work of our ministry and in how He provides for BCM. We are humbled and thankful for the many families that send their children to our programs where on any given day they learn to pray, memorize Bible verses, improve their reading and writing skills, or program a Lego Robot.

The impact from this work would not be possible without the support from hundreds of volunteers and donors. Thank you, Lord!

In an effort to expand our holistic programming, we launched two new programs centered on increasing our students’ exposure to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Last Fall, we hosted our very first FIRST Lego League robotics team, which competed in the local tournament and just missed the cutoff to the regional competition. During the Summer, BCM piloted a four-week camp called CREATE Academy in partnership with Ravenswood Youth Athletic Association (RYAA). Each day middle school students developed their critical thinking and problem solving skills by working on design thinking, mathematics, art, and technology projects. To cap the day, RYAA offered sports-based activities after camp.

As we move forward, we will continue to implement our strategic plan. BCM is building new ways to increase parent engagement and deepen our connections to our families. Given the community need for more academic, after-school support for middle school students, StreetWorkz will be piloting a tutoring component. We hope to expand the STEAM enrichment programs on Saturday mornings as we incorporate new tech and art programming. Finally, we are taking this year to redesign our high school programs. We are thrilled for the new season God is leading BCM into and invite you to please continue to pray for our ministry and to find new ways to join us in this work!

Blessings, Rolando Zeledon

Our Mission is to equip East-of-Bayshore youth to grow spiritually, gain life skills, and develop as leaders so they have hope and a future.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19-20a ESV

Programs Bible Club, Bible Club Plus, Summer Bible Club Outreach, StreetWorkz, LEAD. This year...

249

Students served

70

decisions for Christ

25

Students went on spiritual retreats

Stories from StreetWorkz “At the start of the year the StreetWorkz program focused on the fruits of the spirit, however as time passed the program shifted to addressing bullying, self-mutilation and peer pressure. The immediate relevance of the subjects encouraged the students to open up more and that resulted in a trusting atmosphere. Despite their limited experience and exposure to the Gospel the students proved they were capable of engaging with the deepest parts of scripture. ‘How do I have a relationship with God if I cannot see Him?’ and ‘What does it mean to be Jesus’ children in other ways?’ were some of the questions asked. The nature of the StreetWorkz program (spiritual development, mentorship and academic support) allowed for these sorts of questions to be raised one week and for difficult conversations of self-esteem and bullying the next week.”

– Sydney Brown, EPA Fellow

Lower left photo by Katie Rentzke

STORIES

“As an education major, I feel this program has prepared me better than any class I have taken. Also, it was so much fun working with everyone here and the kids were amazing.”

– James Carr, CREATE Academy Intern “I learned a lot from this program and the students. I wish I could help more students to gain more confidence in math and pursue, in the future, higher education.”

– Rommy Joyce, CREATE Academy Teacher “This fellowship made me understand Jesus’ ministry to the marginalized more than ever. It changed my life!”

– Stefie Dominguez, EPA Fellow.

“Michelle* is a lovely young woman from East Palo Alto whom I have mentored since she was in middle school. Over the years I have seen her and her family go through many struggles, especially homelessness. I have also seen Michelle grow as a leader through serving in our summer internship programs, graduate from high school (with flying colors) and attend college supported in part by a BCM scholarship.

As an intern, Michelle was able to share her story with some of our elementary students in our Bible Club program. After Michelle finished sharing, she was approached by one of our students, who was often overly active and disruptive. The young girl shared that she was tired and that her family was forced to move frequently from shelter to shelter. She wondered where this God of love was and how he could allow them to be homeless. Because of her own struggles and God’s provision, Michelle was able to speak a powerful word of hope and encouragement to this young girl, who we pray will be able to share her own story of hope some day.”

– Amy Joh *Name changed

Programs EPA Fellows, Summer Interns, KidSmart Interns, Scholarships.

This year...

32

scholarships given to local high school and college students

$27,516

scholarship total

*in partnerships with INCH and RYAA

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

104

Students were served

80%

improved in reading and math.

Each KidSmart student had over

72 hours

of exercise/playtime and

138

healthy snacks.

1001 Beech Street, East Palo Alto, CA 94303 650.327.1139 • www.bayshore.org

Staff

Rolando Zeledon, Executive Director Pastor Clifton Bennett, Director of Ministries Amy Joh, Director of Partner Development Pastor Marcus Givens, Major Gifts Development Heather Biscoe Tarman, Development Officer Holly Meyer, Volunteer Coordinator Roberto Mendoza, Jr., Facilities Associate Christian Salinas, Receptionist Diana Liggs, KidSmart Manager Tammy Slaughter, Bible Club Manager Jesse Huro, LEAD Coordinator Benedicta Ott, CREATE Academy Manager EPA Fellows Sydney Brown, Briana Carter, Stefie Dominguez, Margaret Kazibwe, Amnoni Meyers KidSmart Interns Waniya Bryant, Kyle Carter, Roland Chan, Ed King, Alex Marin CREATE Academy Teachers Rommy Joyce, Tina Ebey Summer Interns James Carr, Stephanie Estrada, Mia Kirkendoll, Lesley Miranda, Jazmin Perez, Julia Watson, Ariana Yee, Jordan Yee

Board of Directors Sami Nawas, Board Chair Ed Wong, Vice Chair Erica Wilson, Secretary Lance Bloomquist, Member Kwame Eason, Member Pastor Kelvin Smith, Member Alejandro Vilchez, Member Larry Wu, Member

7,413.5

415

total volunteers

hours worked by volunteers

$84,513.90

dollar value of volunteer hours

Ways to pray

• For the expansion of our middle school academic program so that more students are equipped for high school • That our students would experience the deep and unconditional love of God in their everyday lives • For creative ways to engage parents of our students • For our EPA Fellows, that they would readily receive God’s wisdom and guidance during this year of service

Ways to Get involved • • • • • • • •

KidSmart (grades 1-5) tutor StreetWorkz (grades 6-8) mentor Bible Club (grades 1-5) leader or co-leader Photographer Graphic designer Admin/Mailing support (seasonal) Event planning team member (seasonal) Summer program volunteer

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:3-6 ESV

Cover photo by Katie Rentzke, photo above by Dave Walters