It’s about faith, hope and love at Sycamore

A LESSON TAUGHT TO VOLUNTEER LEADERS — Volunteer leaders, along with staff at the Sycamore Youth Center, held a training day Saturday, focusing on being a reflection of Sycamore’s Christ-centered mission ... having faith, hope and love, and passing that on to students taking part in the center’s spring classes. -- Contributed
STEUBENVILLE — “And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” One of the most well-known passages in the Bible, taken from 1 Corinthians 13:13, the message of faith, hope and love served as the focus of a special training day held at the Sycamore Youth Center.
Approximately 25 leaders who are volunteering their time to help teach the city’s youth during the center’s spring semester received an important lesson from Sycamore officials, including Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman.
Bauman reinforced Sycamore’s Christ-centered mission, instilling in volunteers and staff the importance of having faith, the importance of holding onto hope and the need to possess love in everything we do. He welcomed those in attendance, expressing his gratitude for their dedication to serving the area’s youth.
Bauman emphasized that faith, hope and love should be at the heart of every interaction with students. He reminded the group that “their work will have a lasting impact — even if the results are not immediately visible.”
Volunteers took part in a vision-casting session led by Bauman, who encouraged each person to “have faith that God is working through their service.”
Bauman encouraged volunteers “to be a source of hope for students facing difficult circumstances,” and to show “Christ-like love through patience, kindness and selflessness.” At the conclusion of the session, volunteers participated in a hands-on training activity to demonstrate the integration of these values into their daily interactions with students.
Michelle Clum, Roy Arbogast and Hayley Keiser, led the morning’s workshops, which focused on behavior-management strategies, trauma-informed approaches and creating a nurturing environment.
Topics covered positive reinforcement techniques, strategies in which to engage children in a classroom setting and encouraging a supportive atmosphere for students. The event concluded with Bauman providing a prayer and offering some final remarks. He stressed how the day was about reinforcing Sycamore’s commitment to making “a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.” An update regarding the spring class schedule, room locations and upcoming events was then provided to participants.
“This semester, everything we do should be rooted in faith, filled with hope and fueled by love,” Bauman concluded. “We want our volunteers to see themselves as more than just helpers … they are mentors, encouragers and a reflection of God’s love in these students’ lives.”
A pillar of support for young people throughout the community, Sycamore offers after-school programs, leadership training and mentorship. Classes for the spring semester began Monday and run through May 2.
A complete list can be found online at sycamorecenter.com. Those interested in becoming a volunteer, supporting the center or enrolling their child, can visit the website or call (740) 409-2986.