Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2014

light to a dark area, to bring hope to a place that’s a little low on it?” While Bouchard was still at Cedarville and working at Grace Baptist Church, he sought families that were living in rougher places. “Those were the families I wanted to connect with,” he offered. “It’s always been a part of me, and it will always be a part of me.” Bouchard’s move to the trailer park helped church families realize the trailer park isn’t an alien world, but a place filled with people God loves. And they should love them, too. “We have quite a few church families who’ve decided to adopt park families through finances or service projects,” he said. “We’ve had a couple people help our trailer park parents put together résumés so they can look for jobs or take them to a local restaurant and show them how to use the Wi-Fi and Internet. Parents, teens, and even young kids tutor the park kids in reading and math. This connection has helped our church families live on mission together.” In addition to these connections, Kensington puts on an Easter egg hunt — including a Gospel presentation — that draws 150 parents and children, shoots family photos during the holidays, and offers a vacation Bible school program. In the summer, Bouchard pairs church and Orion Lakes kids to “serve together, eat together, play together, do Bible study together, and create personal mission strategies together,” he said. “And they keep each other accountable all school year.” Supporting Other Service Ministry to the trailer park has also had a flow-over effect to Kensington’s ministry to Pontiac schools. “All kids in the park go to Pontiac schools,” he noted. “The schools trust us more as a church because they see we’re not just people connecting during school but outside of school, too. There’s round-the-clock ministry going on. We’re willing to connect all the time, not just when it’s convenient.” That’s opened doors for Pontiac sixth- graders to visit Kensington’s Lake Orion campus for an annual career day. “They get bussed to our church to hear about goal setting and talk with professionals about their work,” he said. “And they let the kids hear a Bible story, too. That’s pretty cool.” The upside of all this connecting has been tremendous for families in the Orion Lakes Mobile Home Community. “Kids in the park are getting all these relationships with other kids and families that have amore solid foundation,” Bouchard explained. “They’re hearing the Gospel in Bible studies but also seeing it lived out. They’re seeing parents and kids working together in a healthy way and being around kids living for Jesus. Their parents love them, but they’re seeing a different kind of love. They’re getting to see what unconditional love looks like.” Crediting Mentors Bouchard credits Barb (Morris) Hunt ’81, an Adjunct Professor of Biblical and Ministry Studies at Cedarville, as a major influence in his life. “She showed us the importance of children’s ministry and connecting with families,” he said. “You can be involved in changing entire families, no matter who you are or where you’re at.” And what does the future hold? “I’m staying here as long as God wants me here,” Bouchard said. “Every year I sign the lease on my land, I do it with open hands, one year at a time.” “I’m not in this alone,” he added. “This couldn’t happen without my church’s support, without all my friends, or without the [trailer park] families. My faith comes alive as I watch them take ahold of their faith. Every need has been met, for my neighbors, and for me. My life has been changed by them.” Clem Boyd is the Managing Editor of Cedarville Magazine and Communications Specialist in Marketing. EVERY DAY MATTERS. IMPACT THEM ALL. 568 256 50 15 80 120 THERE ARE 1,000 DAYS IN THE AVERAGE STUDENT'S CEDARVILLE EXPERIENCE. For more information about how Cedarville students use their days and to make a gift, visit cedarville.edu/1000days or call 1-888-CEDARVILLE today! CEDARVILLE.EDU/1000DAYS EVERY DAY MATTERS. IMPACT THEM ALL.