Education Redirection/Vision of Hope

A Ministry of Reconciliation (Col 1:19-21)

Jesus with flesh on becomes a viable and vital part of lives turning around.
Jesus is the only answer!

Statement of Purpose

Education Redirection, Inc. is a ministry based on biblical principles. ER was founded to provide a quality alternative education to the expelled and suspended population of the Low Country of SC and beyond as an alternative to Juvenile Incarceration. The major referral source will be the family courts and the solicitor's offices. The target age group is 6-18 years of age. Youth will be accepted on a no-reject, no-eject basis; ie unconditionally.

ER operates on the expectation that the installation of hope through sound biblical teaching, generous caring, human contact, and the application of Christian based educational policies and healing ministry will lead ultimately to the goal of increasing wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

ER's staff, volunteers and mentors serve as role models to aid the students in developing appropriate relational skills, problem solving skills and personal values. It is the hope of ER that these values will be transferred to all home, school and community settings.

Whole families will be mentored as we raise up an Army of Angels of Education and Healing.

Finally, ER's purpose is to incorporate the above ideals into an everyday workable plan to assist students and families in attaining their goals. This we hope to accomplish as we move from a passive entitlement society and take the moral, social, and ethical development of our nation back to the church.

Mission Statement:

The mission of Education Redirection, Inc. is to raise up an army of Angels of Education and Healing Ministry. This army will address the needs of our youth as an alternative to Juvenile Incarceration in the Lowcountry and the State of South Carolina and will be a model program for the United States.

Goal I: To return the responsibility for the moral, social, ethical development of our nation back to the church/people of God.

Goal II: To introduce the Lord Jesus Christ to suspended/expelled students, sharing the good news of salvation and the fullness of life in Him.

Goal III: To answer the biblical call to address the cries of the widows and orphans in our society. " See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones be lost". Matthew 18:10 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Objective IIIa. To aggressively address the deficiencies that entrap youths that have been cast out of our education systems and therefore become susceptive to the negative social environment of our society.

Objective IIIb. To address the familial and societal needs of the vast number of women who have over the last two decades given birth out of wedlock and become single-heads of households. Also to address the growing numbers of youth who have no responsible parent in their lives.

Goal IV: To utilize, as fully as possible, the multiple gifts and talents of members of participating congregations. To educate congregations regarding the debilitating effect on society of the breakdown of families and family value systems.

Family as well as individual mentoring will be encouraged. Mothers can be taught how to better care for and parent their children. Younger siblings can be nurtured and coached, both academically and socially, thus helping to stem the tide of negativism that pervades the less advantaged in our society. Sports/cultural opportunities can be shared. Medical and dental health can be monitored and good hygiene can be encouraged. The whole person can be addressed and the whole family can be valued and raised up.

All Students, Faculty and Staff Alike are selected without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin.

All students are accepted unconditionally-no rejects, no ejects.

WE ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Jim and Frankie are commissioned missionaries to Charleston, SC. In 1996 a vision was given to help street youth that have been expelled from the Charleston County Schools. Seeing the blatant abuse against these youth over the past several years, (Charleston County expels over 600 youth each year), we established a charter school (the first in SC) and a clinical day program with a staff of 60 employees. In two years ER proved a difference could be made. 800 youth were served. 94% of these street youth stayed out of jail and 84% became successful in school or other efforts. This program was an alternative to incarceration and was designed as a national model. The thrust was to become a learning lab for educators. In October 1999 Charleston County Schools revoked the Charter and withdrew the funding. Charter School status was not the way for a Christian endeavor. This opportunity, though, gave the program a chance to prove these lost kids can be saved.

Our desire is to go private and continue to serve the youth who other wise will be on the streets and headed towards a life of hopelessness. This is what God said in the vision. A totally Christian school and healing ministry. Jesus is the only answer.

When we closed, 150 mentally troubled and special education youth were back on the streets. Within two weeks one boy was killed. (see poem below)

In the 1930s and 40s the world ignored the plight of Jewish children. Is there any future for these youth without an education? Will you pray for us, for them? Post and Courier Article. "One-Third fail Pact test: A huge gap in achievement separates White and black" The name of our program is Education Redirection. Please pray for funding, and most especially that oppression be lifted and God's will be done for the least of His children.

My God Bless You.

Jim and Frankie Ring, Domestic Missionaries

"I went to school, Mom"

I went to a school that made me feel

welcome for the first time in my life

and, I remembered what you said.

You told me to get an education, Mom,

so I studied for the first time.

I felt proud of myself,

the way you said I would.

Learning was fun,

though some friends said I should be on the street.

I made a healthy choice

and, your advice to me was right,

sadly the school ended

racism and discrimination won out.

I went back to the street,

feeling I had no life,

being a disposable item is not right.

I never knew what was coming, Mom,

something I expected least.

Now I'm lying on the pavement

with a bullet in me, Mom.

And I hear the policeman say,

"The kid that caused this got away."

Mom, His voice seems far away.

My own blood's all around me,

as I try hard not to cry

I can hear the paramedic say,

This guy is going to die."

I'm sure the people that closed my school had no idea

what life on the street with no hope of an education is like

just because I am black.

I would have been in school, Mom.

Now I have to die.

So why do people do it, Mom

Knowing that it ruins lives?

Someone should have taught them

that everybody deserves the love

we received at Education Redirection,

God's pure love from above.

If God's people would stand for Godly programs,

I'd still be alive.

And now the pain is cutting me,

like a hundred stabbing knives.

Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom

tell daddy to be brave,

and when I go to heaven,

put "Mom's boy" on my grave.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom

I'm getting really scared.

These are my final moments,

and I'm so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me Mom,

as I lie here and die.

I wish that I could say I love you, Mom

So I love you and good-bye.

PLEASE PRAY, GOD BLESS!

" See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones be lost" Mathew 18: 10