Jobs for Life: An Opportunity to Learn Character and Community
MNA Multiply
November 2008

When Fred Hubach, Jr., was assigned a Service Learning Project during his senior year of high school, he chose a project that many adults wouldn’t have tackled. Interested in economics and mercy ministries, Fred ambitiously created a Jobs for Life site at his church, Reformed Presbyterian, in Ephrata PA.

Jobs for Life (JfL) is a Christ-centered ministry, utilized by several PCA congregations, that equips churches and community-based organizations to help unemployed and underemployed adults find and keep jobs. Classes are held at sites formed at churches and community outreach centers. Each site is given all the tools and training materials necessary to teach and mentor students.

Fred’s venture was a success. Of the five adults with developmental disabilities who started the class, four completed all o fthe requiremnets with flying colors and graduated each possessing bith increased soft job skills and an enhanced confidence level Of the four graduates, one was able to move out of a sheltered work environment into a community work-based environment. Fred was awarded the 2008 JfL Samaritan Award as Volunteer of the Year. “Our goals are to teach character and to connect people to their community,” says David Spickard, President of JfL. “Character is taught through the Word of God, and community comes through God’s people.”

Steve Nash, Executive Director of Advance Memphis, says this philosophy is what makes JfL successful. “Jobs for Life is a great tool for churches to use in deed ministry,” he says. Advance Memphis works to bring economic revitalization to inner city Memphis, on of the poorest zipcodes the poorest area in the nation. Its first JfL class, offered in 2005, was unsuccessful—fizzling out by the second week. Advance Memphis turned to JfL for advice.

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