He’s going to a court case on Tuesday and has counseling sessions all day Wednesday. Thursday afternoon is blocked off for helping someone build a resume, and Friday morning is set aside to meet with a man looking for ways to pay down his debt. It makes for a busy week, but for Adam, this is all just part of leading the Graduate Society at Pathway Ministries.
The Graduate Society is the newest program at Pathway Ministries. After completing a long-term life change program, men and women can live in accountable community while paying income-based rent. But long before graduation, students have already started to meet with Adam to build a road map for the future.
Part of this road map is creating short-term and long-term goals. Done right, short term goals should lead to the long-term goals. For example, a short-term goal could be getting a driver’s license. A long-term goal might be getting CDL certified. Adam helps guide this process so that when students finish a program, they already know and have started on their next steps.
Graduate Society is also where students begin resolving the consequences of past decisions.
Court cases that were put on hold while the student was in a program are addressed. Time is set aside to slowly reconnect and restore relationships with family members. Education is continued, and debt is paid down.
Every aspect of residential ministry at Pathway Ministries is relational, but nowhere is it more evident than in the Graduate Society. Adam and his team of volunteer allies support students by going to court, driving them to meet family, and walking them through basics of budgeting and building an emergency fund. Lastly, the Graduate Society arranges rides to churches and small groups so men and women can deepen relationships with other Christians and their local church.
The Graduate Society is crucial to helping men and women continue down the right path in life. In the past 3 years, 40 men have lived at the Men’s Community House in Peoria. While all the same support and resources are available to women, there hasn’t been a central location for female graduates to live in community.
But that is about to change…
See more about www.pathwaypeoria.org/wch
