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Photos by Vicki L. George
September 25, 2023
Great things are happening in the Job Corps
By Vicki L. George
The Bandera Prophet
The Christian Job Corps of Kendall and Bandera Counties held their fundraiser luncheon, Women of Excellence and Purpose, on Sept. 21, at the First United Methodist Church in Boerne.
The round dining tables were lavishly set for 200 guests and the raffle items covered several long tables in the huge Family Life Center of the church.
While enjoying a meal of salad and pork loin, with sides of sautéed squash and scalloped potatoes, the attendees were treated to drawings for door prizes between guest speakers.
Lynn Heckler opened the program by thanking all who were involved with putting on the event, as well as the many sponsors. Heckler is the founder of the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Kendall County and is a board member. She went on to state that the mission of the organization is to provide a safe, Christ-centered environment that encourages spiritual, professional, and personal growth to transform women, men, families and communities.
Heckler said 500 women have been served since Job Corps started in Kendall County in 2004. Of those who complete the programs and seek employment, 95 percent got the jobs they needed to get back on their feet.
Ann Barham was the featured guest speaker. Barham is a Boerne businesswoman and a CJC Instructor. She spoke on “From Pain to Purpose.” She told of being a prisoner, not physically but in her own mind due to abuse. The Job Corps program changed her life.
“When you see a door open, no matter how afraid you are, just bust through it,” Barham said.
A young woman named Chelsea told her story. She had made poor decisions in her life and ended up addicted to drugs. Eventually, her lifestyle put her in Kendall County jail.
One day Chelsea noticed another inmate going over a workbook. She asked what the woman was studying. The woman was working through the CJC Inmate Prepped for Life program and she recommended it to Chelsea. Chelsea signed up and completed the program.
Chelsea still had to do her time, but she said, “I walked out of that jail with a new identity. I have found my purpose.”
Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier spoke to the group. He said Heckler approached him two years ago to start the inmate program for women. He found it so successful that he widened it to include men this past year. That, too, has been successful. When he questioned some of the inmates upon release, he found that all who took the program were grateful for it.
“The jail is full of people who made poor choices. Many are stuck in a cycle of what they’ve been taught. It takes one person to take a stand for what they believe in, to break the cycle,” Auxier said, adding he believes a faith-based program beats a secular program hands down and he said the Job Corps is making a difference. “Hopefully, Bandera County will come along. What the Job Corps is doing has an impact.”
In January 2023, Kendall County joined with the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Bandera County, founded by Aurora Williams of Tarpley, who is a Board Member. While the merged Job Corps has been promoting the inmate program to the Bandera County jail, they also offer the Prepped for Life program for other women and men to teach the skills necessary for getting back on their feet.
Bandera County jail administrators understand women need more support and teaching to prepare them for the outside world. To that end, the administrators are allowing approved paperback books to the jail library. They also recommend the Job Corps programs.
In Kendall County, the Inmate Prepped for Life program has seen more that 50 women and 30 men equipped with the skills needed to succeed. As the program continues in Kendall County, they look forward to what can be accomplished in Bandera County.
In addition, the Job Corps has received a small block grant to start their work in the Bandera County jail in October.
Carla O’Dell gave the closing remarks. O’Dell is the executive director of Christian Job Corps of Kendall-Bandera Counties. O’Dell said they are actively working towards certification to receive grants now only available to Bexar County. She stressed the need for more volunteers and board members.
O’Dell said she believes, “Bandera County will catch fire.” It is her desire to set the prisoners free. She called on churches to step up.
Christian Job Corps of Kendall-Bandera Counties is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, contact them at P. O. Box 363, Boerne, TX 78006 or 830-423-3022 or check out the website at cjcboerne.org or email at [email protected]. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
The round dining tables were lavishly set for 200 guests and the raffle items covered several long tables in the huge Family Life Center of the church.
While enjoying a meal of salad and pork loin, with sides of sautéed squash and scalloped potatoes, the attendees were treated to drawings for door prizes between guest speakers.
Lynn Heckler opened the program by thanking all who were involved with putting on the event, as well as the many sponsors. Heckler is the founder of the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Kendall County and is a board member. She went on to state that the mission of the organization is to provide a safe, Christ-centered environment that encourages spiritual, professional, and personal growth to transform women, men, families and communities.
Heckler said 500 women have been served since Job Corps started in Kendall County in 2004. Of those who complete the programs and seek employment, 95 percent got the jobs they needed to get back on their feet.
Ann Barham was the featured guest speaker. Barham is a Boerne businesswoman and a CJC Instructor. She spoke on “From Pain to Purpose.” She told of being a prisoner, not physically but in her own mind due to abuse. The Job Corps program changed her life.
“When you see a door open, no matter how afraid you are, just bust through it,” Barham said.
A young woman named Chelsea told her story. She had made poor decisions in her life and ended up addicted to drugs. Eventually, her lifestyle put her in Kendall County jail.
One day Chelsea noticed another inmate going over a workbook. She asked what the woman was studying. The woman was working through the CJC Inmate Prepped for Life program and she recommended it to Chelsea. Chelsea signed up and completed the program.
Chelsea still had to do her time, but she said, “I walked out of that jail with a new identity. I have found my purpose.”
Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier spoke to the group. He said Heckler approached him two years ago to start the inmate program for women. He found it so successful that he widened it to include men this past year. That, too, has been successful. When he questioned some of the inmates upon release, he found that all who took the program were grateful for it.
“The jail is full of people who made poor choices. Many are stuck in a cycle of what they’ve been taught. It takes one person to take a stand for what they believe in, to break the cycle,” Auxier said, adding he believes a faith-based program beats a secular program hands down and he said the Job Corps is making a difference. “Hopefully, Bandera County will come along. What the Job Corps is doing has an impact.”
In January 2023, Kendall County joined with the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Bandera County, founded by Aurora Williams of Tarpley, who is a Board Member. While the merged Job Corps has been promoting the inmate program to the Bandera County jail, they also offer the Prepped for Life program for other women and men to teach the skills necessary for getting back on their feet.
Bandera County jail administrators understand women need more support and teaching to prepare them for the outside world. To that end, the administrators are allowing approved paperback books to the jail library. They also recommend the Job Corps programs.
In Kendall County, the Inmate Prepped for Life program has seen more that 50 women and 30 men equipped with the skills needed to succeed. As the program continues in Kendall County, they look forward to what can be accomplished in Bandera County.
In addition, the Job Corps has received a small block grant to start their work in the Bandera County jail in October.
Carla O’Dell gave the closing remarks. O’Dell is the executive director of Christian Job Corps of Kendall-Bandera Counties. O’Dell said they are actively working towards certification to receive grants now only available to Bexar County. She stressed the need for more volunteers and board members.
O’Dell said she believes, “Bandera County will catch fire.” It is her desire to set the prisoners free. She called on churches to step up.
Christian Job Corps of Kendall-Bandera Counties is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, contact them at P. O. Box 363, Boerne, TX 78006 or 830-423-3022 or check out the website at cjcboerne.org or email at [email protected]. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.