It all began when four women from the Huntsville area attended a 1998 Women’s Missionary National Training, a program offered through the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham. Today, their efforts in creating the Christian Women’s JobCorps(registered trademark),(CWJC), has spread to 200 sites across the nation, helping women in poverty through Bible study, computer training, job readiness classes, and other studies, including money management.
Each student is assigned a mentor, and each mentor is committed to a one-on-one relationship to help build the student’s self-esteem, self-confidence and skills essential to success in life and work. The Bible studies are based on doctrine, not denomination.
The most important aspect of this training is the Bible study aimed at helping women in poverty to apply Biblical knowledge to everyday living. Each student is assigned a mentor, and each mentor is committed to a one-on-one relationship to help build the student’s self-esteem, self-confidence and skills essential to success in life and work. The Bible studies are based on doctrine, not denomination. The Christian Women’s Job Corps(reg trademark) has now led to a similar program aimed at men in poverty, underway in San Angelo, Texas.
Women chosen to participate in the Christian Women’s Job Corps® program attend intensive life and work skill courses that include Bible study and computer classes. The classes vary in length and are free of charge. The curriculum is designed to give the CWJC® students a firm foundation on which to build a successful life and career.
The Jobs’ Corps also fosters a “Volunteer Internship Program,” matching job searchers with on-the-job training as they volunteer at companies which benefit from their work.
When a company opening comes available, these volunteers may be hired as employees.
From its beginning the Christian Jobs’ Corps has relied on church and community support for its expansive training and mentoring programs. It depends on donations, volunteers and support from churches and corporations. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, it assists women in Madison County are two daytime sites, and one evening site. Its graduates become eligible for scholarships and donated vehicles, as most participants lack reliable transportation. The Jobs’ Corps also fosters a “Volunteer Internship Program,” matching job searchers with on-the-job training as they volunteer at companies which benefit from their work. When a company opening comes available, these volunteers may be hired as employees. CWJC grads also become eligible for used computers donated to CWJC. Women participants without high school diplomas also can apply for GED tutoring.
CWJC operates a “Clothes Closet” at Madison’s First Baptist Church where job searchers find donated clothing and accessories. An annual fundraising event, an Annual Circles Luncheon is held to heighten awareness of the organization and its needed services and to raise funds for operations. As a non-profit, CWJC operates totally on donations, while putting women in poverty on the fast track to employment. Last year’s Circles Luncheon was held in November. For more information about the organization and the luncheon, emailedickson@cwjc.netor call them at (256) 428-9435. You may visit their website at cwjc.org. Their address is Christian Women Job Corps of Madison County, 600 Governor’s Drive, Huntsville, Ala., 35801.
