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By Christine Kumar
UMConnection Staff

Steve Fulkrod wanted to be a disciple for Christ and serve others ever since he was a young boy attending church and Sunday school with his family.

Fulkrod, 47, a member of Cokesbury UMC in Abingdon, is reaching out to thousands of people as the vice president of Finance and Operations of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland and the lower Eastern Shore.

'My job is my mission work and I get paid for it,' he said. He manages the administrative, facility, technical, financial and human resources for the company.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been around for 100 years and serves more than 240,000 children, ages six through 18 nationwide.

Fulkrod, a native of Texas, grew up in Texas and New Mexico because his father was in the Air Force. He also joined the armed forces and served as an army sergeant for three years. His three-year tour landed him in Washington, D.C., in 1983; since then Maryland has been his permanent home.

In 1995, Fulkrod and his family joined Cokesbury UMC. He serves as the finance committee chairman and has held many leadership positions in the church over the years. 'He and his family love the Lord and the ministry of the church,' said the Rev. Janet Brewer, pastor of Cokesbury. 'He?s a natural leader with a heart for the Lord, and he?s a lot of fun and down to earth,' she said.

In addition to his leadership role in the church, Fulkrod dresses up as Santa Claus to spread holiday cheer to young children.

'Two years ago, he and his family paid for six teens to attend the ROCK youth retreat in Ocean City,' Brewer said.

'The bulk of my experience has been the opportunity to give back,' said Fulkrod.

In March 2006, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America partnered with the General Commission of United Methodist Men to develop Amachi Big Brothers Big Sisters with children whose parents are incarcerated.

Amachi, the Nigerian Ibo word that means, 'Who knows but what God has brought us through this child,' was started by former Mayor of Philadelphia, the Rev. Wilson Goode, Sr.

According to research by the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, it is estimated that 14,000 Maryland youth will go to jail unless they have positive role models. The statistics also show that 70 percent of children with an incarcerated parent are at risk of going to jail.

Amachi matches faith based partners to mentor to the children. Currently in Maryland there are 544 children ready to be matched.

The program also stretches deeper and wider and partners with schools to allow mentors to spend time with students during lunch time and after school since many kids are not available to meet outside of the school.

Currently, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland runs mentoring programs in 24 Baltimore County public schools.

According to the Amachi brochure, studies show that the program keeps kids in school, out of gangs and away from drugs.

'I do feel that the Lord has put me here and I have always believed in serving others,' Fulkrod said. 'I get to help others with my work which I find very rewarding.'

SIDEBAR:
If you would like to know more about Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi program, contact Carley Thimmesch, Director of Outreach, at (410) 243-4000, Ext. 221, or