The Herald-News / TheHerald-News.com • Thursday, February 2, 2017
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FAITH
Bringing needs and resources together KC and Gail Crino’s ministry meets people’s most basic needs By DENISE M. BARAN–UNLAND dunland@shawmedia.com
JOLIET – Every Tuesday without fail, Michael “KC” Crino shows up at the Spanish Community Center. “He’s a big help with our food pantry,” said Monica Vasquez, citizenship and immigration director. Crino oversees the five to 10 volunteers who work the weekly food pantry, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Vasquez said. He arrives 60 to 90 minutes early to set up and stays afterward to ensure everything is clean and in order. It’s just one ministry Crino – a deacon at Judson Baptist Church in Joliet – and his wife, Gail Crino, perform as founders of the Joliet Community Transformation Initiative, which takes a collaborative approach to community transformation. The initiative is part of International Teams, a Christian organization that helps the oppressed and strives to restore human dignity with the slogan, “We change the future with each other with Jesus,” according to one pamphlet KC provided. JCTI connects local churches, community-based organizations, schools, businesses and, yes, even individuals, to bring “deep and holistic change for everyone in the community,” according to a written statement provided by KC. “We identify needs, we identify resources, and we bring those together,” KC said. “The great joy I get is bringing people together.” KC’s pastor at Judson, the Rev. Kevin Comfort, summed it up like this: KC ministers to people who “need someone to walk alongside them.”
A network of service and ministry
In an email, Kristine Schlismann, director of community and alumni relations at Joliet Township High School District 204, said KC serves on the district’s strategic planning team and volunteers with the Restorative Justice Problem Solving Circle Program, in which students on expulsion warning participate in a series of problem-solving circles. Schlismann said KC belongs to the district’s Joliet Region Interfaith Council and helped develop the tu-
Know more Since 1989, KC and Gail Crino have served in the U.S. and Mexico in the areas of church planting, urban ministry and leadership development. KC has a doctorate in missions leadership. Gail has an elementary education degree and home-schooled her children for 26 years. The Crinos have seven children ages 14 to 33 and five grandchildren. For information, visit Joliet Community Transformation Initiative on Facebook at shawurl.com/2zyp. toring program at Mount Carmel Church. The program began after KC arranged for student ambassadors from Joliet Central and Joliet West high schools to present “What to Expect in High School” to the church’s eighthgrade students and parents. “KC has a gift that brings people together in a way that strengthens our community,” Schlismann said. “He is truly a ‘connector’ who understands the importance of sharing resources.” Gregory Thompson, the dean of students at Joliet West and coordinator for the problem-solving circle program, said he’s rarely met anyone as devoted to community as KC, while still being equally dedicated to his family and faith. “I think it’s important to meet people like that,” Thompson said. “It gives the rest of us hope.” James Kucer, the New Beginnings manager at Catholic Charities Daybreak Center in Joliet, said KC is a weekly volunteer with his program. New Beginnings offers supportive housing for homeless men, Kucer said. “They can stay here as long as they want in, basically, their own apartments,” Kucer said. “I’m just here to help with whatever they need help with – counseling, medical issues.” Kucer said he met KC about a year ago at a meeting at Will County Center for Community Concerns. KC also volunteers Wednesdays at Daybreak Center’s Shepherd’s Table, Kucer said, which serves meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for anyone in the community who needs them. KC even helps out with the mobile food pantry. “KC has been a huge help, and
Photo provided
Michael “KC” Crino (right) – a deacon at Judson Baptist Church in Joliet – and his wife, Gail Crino, founded the Joliet Community Transformation Initiative, which takes a collaborative approach to community transformation. he’s been a great influence on the community,” Kucer said. “He’s been hanging out with clients who may not want to come in for shelter or accept emergency service. They just stay to themselves, but when KC comes in and asks them if they need a bike or a tent, they’ll readily take him up on his offer.” Since KC is “in” with the homeless population, is he familiar with Steve Sherwood, a street preacher who’s lived on the streets for more than 15 years? KC smiled. “He’s one of my collaborators,” KC said.
Thinking outside the organizational box
Sherwood said he met KC last year – both men know people at the Will County Center for Community Concerns – and struck up a mutual collaboration. KC said Sherwood drew his attention to a homeless family in Wal-Mart’s parking lot, whom KC was able to help. On the other hand, when KC wanted to provide a homeless man with a bicycle so he could get to job interviews, he went to Sherwood. “Boom! The next day I had a bike,” KC said. KC said he’s learned quite a bit from Sherwood.
“He’s helped me understand some things about the homeless community,” KC said. “Steve is a good guy as far as that goes. And he’s got a wonderful ministry himself.” Through working with Kids Hope USA, Gail began a mentoring program at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet, where many children live in poverty and in single-parent homes, Gail said. Kids Hope USA connects one local church – in this case, Judson – with one local school, Gail said, in order to provide positive role models in children’s lives. Each week, 17 mentors from Judson spend an hour with a child – each mentor with the same child every week. One husband and wife mentoring couple even developed a deeper relationship with the family of one of the children – despite a language barrier – to the point that the couple is considered their adopted grandparents, Gail said. The program is making a huge difference, she said. “I know some kids have moved up a grade level in math and a grade level in reading,” Gail said. “We took on one girl because she was kind of a bully, and she’s just flourishing in the program. She loves her mentor, and I think she is doing much better.”