Information:
Hope Community Services
1370 Lockhart Drive, Kennesaw
Telephone: 678-574-0202
Watching her daughter prepare for the start of classes, Nancy Fabela was inspired to enroll in a class herself, one that she had been postponing for a while.
Fabela, a 28-year-old native of Mexico, found out that a church in her community was offering free English classes every week. She decided to take advantage of the opportunity to improve her language skills.
Along with Fabela, a group of Hispanics shows up every Tuesday for these classes at Iglesia Senda de Restauración in Kennesaw. The ministry addresses the language barrier that affects many Latinos’ interaction with their children, including the ability to help with school work.
“We want to open our arms to our community, outside of our church’s four walls. We want to really impact them and seeing this need and knowing that we have all the tools we need, we threw ourselves into this challenge and we are very happy to have done so,” said Heling Aguilar, founder and director of Hope Community Services.
An immigrant herself, (originally from Nicaragua), she saw her own mother taking English classes when she was a young girl and recognized the positive difference it made on her life.
In addition to English classes, the ministry offers tutoring services to middle and high school students. It also provides free food and clothing to those in need.
Some 60 individuals are currently enrolled in the English class, but more are coming every week, according to Aguilar. And more than 40 youngsters, mostly children of the participants, receive tutoring assistance.
The tutoring services and English class, which ranges from basic to advanced, are financed through the church and are provided thanks to the help of its volunteers, some of whom are students at Kennesaw State University and Emory.
“I love it, it’s a big blessing from God for all of us who go. It helps us because we know that the cost of going to a school are too high for the kinds of jobs we have,” said Fabela, who found out about the class while shopping at a Hispanic butcher shop.
Even though the program just began in February, those who dedicate their free time volunteering are already seeing the fruits of their labor.
“Seeing how pleased they are to be learning makes me very happy,” said Jennifer Vázquez, a volunteer teacher for the ministry and member of Iglesia Senda de Restauración.
For Aguilar, serving this community is part of her mission, and she hopes that the program continues to grow.
“We are here to serve them, we are a church that loves the community and we want to help them,” said Aguilar. “I love seeing when families leave here with a bag full of food or clothing. A happy child because he’s going home with a gift. That fills my heart.”
About the Author
