Working Towards Wisdom

“Do you have more work for us?”

One of the most enjoyable things the kids do at New Song is working odd jobs around the campus. The boys and girls thoroughly enjoy these special work activities, such as detailing a vehicle or trimming trees with pruners.

“Mr. Bob”, our Director, Bob Schloss, is normally the one overseeing the kids’ work. “I am always very impressed with the work ethic I have seen in the kids over the years,” shared Mr. Bob. “While some have had to be coached up in their efforts, that has been rare. Nearly all of our kids have had a strong, internal drive to work hard, and they want to do their jobs with excellence.”

Household chores, for which the kids do not get paid, and special chores, for which they do earn money, are woven into the fabric of life at New Song. Teaching the kids to connect income with good old-fashioned work—a timeless lesson for youth—fits in well within our ministry’s overarching theme of “Equipping children for life, in Jesus’ name.” God instituted work, and so it’s no wonder why people—even children—innately have that good feeling of a sense of accomplishment for a job well done.

The group of boys and girls currently living on campus have been especially eager for work, from 14-year-old Brie all the way down to six-year-old KaMaria. “Just give me a job and I’ll do it!” said 11-year-old Amiri recently.

The kids are also learning about receiving a “paycheck” in the process, connecting a job well done with the reward of pay. Most want the money they earn to accumulate over a month or two so that their pay ends up being bigger. We keep track of their earnings for their jobs, which usually last around 45 minutes, and the kids love getting cash in their hands when pay day rolls around!

The mentoring opportunities these work experiences provide are endless. “You’re able to share a lot with the kids while working alongside them as opposed to just speaking to them about in a classroom setting,” shared Mr. Bob. “And we have a lot of fun together in the process!”

As spring approaches, there will be plenty more work opportunities on campus, beginning with changing the oil in our campus lawnmowers. As we train the kids in the value of hard work, they grow in wisdom, which will serve them well in life.