Have a bad day!

One of the things that makes me smile is when a child is standing outside his classroom, crying at the top of his lungs, and resisting his parent's best efforts to leave him with a new leader. Some people might walk by this situation and think, 'Waumba Land is having a bad day!'


For example, a leader was out because her son was sick. Unfortunately, one little boy in her two's class missed the memo about the unexpected substitution in his class. Two-year-olds just aren't as sensitive to other people's problems as they should be. They tend to express their dissatisfaction, loudly if necessary. That was the scene on Sunday. 

I happily listened to the sound of a sweet two-year-old cry and holler about how he 'wanted his teacher'. He even called for her by name SEVERAL times. It was precious! Because in all the commotion, what I heard was a child who valued and trusted his small group leader. And a leader who had connected and made an impact on the child entrusted to her. 

In my book, that's not a bad day. Not bad at all.

Reading and Writing

 I have a story to tell you.

Once upon a time there was a little boy who came to a strange, but interesting land called Waumba. (Pretty original stuff, I know. Just stay with me.) The little boy met other people the same size he was. They seemed nice, but he wasn't sure how to act around them. He met very kind big people, but he wasn't sure if he could trust them. In this new land, they spoke of Love and Gentleness. He did not know these words, he had never seen what they were. He knew Anger and Frustration. These he had seen. They were familiar and he knew them well.

This new land was not at all like the land he came from. It made him feel confused. The new land seemed happier, but the other land was where he lived.

Now I wish I could tell you that this story goes on to a "happily ever after' ending. But the truth is, I don't know how this story ends. Because it's still being written. What I can tell you is that this story is true. And, that you are part of it.  Sometimes the story you're in, makes you want to close the book. The story is too complicated. There are too many plots and the characters are less than appealing. No one would blame you for shelving this story. 

But the Author in this story is very good. And you know that He would want you to continue to turn the pages in this book.  

Whether you know it or not, every week you are making a significant impact in, not just the life of a child, but in the life of a family. With every smile, every hug, every song... you are influencing the outcome of someone's story. Thank you for making that first impression of who God is in the lives of children.
And thank you for having the courage to keep reading.

Family XP: Fall on the Farm

Last night, the Family Ministry team put together our first Family XP (a.k.a Family Experience).  We called it "Fall on the Farm".  The idea was to partner with families by creating a fun event for a family to do together.  You see, sometimes people can live in the same house, share the same last name, spend money from the same account... and hardly spend any time together at all.  Sound familiar?  It does to me too.  That's why we wanted to give families an opportunity to get together and enjoy each other in God's creation, before we all get distracted by sports, Christmas shopping, mid-term exams, year-end projections.... and the billions of other things that a family has to fit into a week. The fact is, parenting is hard. Overwhelmingly hard sometimes. It takes so much time and intention. I read this quote once that, well to be honest, it shook to my core... "If you don't have TIME to do it right, when will you have TIME to do it over?"

That's what "Family Ministry" is all about. It's about partnering with parents to help and encourage them to weave God into their family's everyday life. It's not about giving parents more to do. It's not about church planning more events. It's about combining our efforts to create the biggest impact in a child's life, because we only get a limited amount of time to influence them.

Thanks for partnering with Family Ministry and Wiregrass Church!  Enjoy the pictures from "Fall on the Farm":

taking photos of families. love it!

train ride!

I snuck in on this family's photo being taken by a friend. too cute!!

the folks that make it happen

"photo spot" signs. stole this idea from Disney.

PACKED parking lot! THANK YOU, K. Faulk & small group for providing parking volunteers!

Farmer on the Farm

cool fall weather. cool fun family.

hugs!

family moment to remember

hayride to pumpkin patch

"crowd" waiting for the hayride.  How cool?!  We actually had "crowds" at Family XP!

It's the great pumpkin!

pumpkin...check, sunflower... check, wife... check.  good to go!

exploring 

cook out

Thank you college girls small group for providing guest service volunteers!

fun family photo!

family picnic

Photo op

proud survivors of the corn maze

Dad found a pumpkin as big as his kid

"Hey let's go and get the audio CD we get to listen to on the way home from the farm! I hear it has a great talk from Adam about intentional parenting on it!"  

(pretty sure that's what I heard them talking about)

love capturing people, capturing their small, beautiful moments

"seriously, this is how people used to get water?!"

good to the last cookie crumb

the farm was fun for students too

generations on one farm, together.

A Personal Ministry Perspective

The end of the school year had brought unexpected transitions for one particular girl. Changes beyond her control.  Responsibility beyond her maturity. The tallest girl in her class. She felt angry and awkward. To add insult to injury... acne had taken hold. Why did she have to be different?  Why did she have to be the first among her peers to advance to adolescence? Without perspective to understand what was happening, she despairingly confessed to her mother, "my body hates me."

"You are wonderfully made. God created you. You are part of His plan. "  Her parents reassured.

"Yeah... sure... you're suppose to say that" she said.

Throughout the summer, she got to spend one day a week helping take care of the little kids whose mothers came up to Wiregrass Church to prepare curriculum for Waumba Land and Upstreet.  That's how she got to know a rambunctious 2-year-old, named Grace. Very soon, 'Friends' volunteer days became her favorite part of the week. It became hard to tell if Grace was following her around, or if she was following Grace around. At any rate, the two were inseparable. However, like things often do, the summer came to an end. In the last week she got to spend taking care of Grace, she told her mother, "I just love Grace. She's so smart. She's the tallest her age. She's just like me."

The start of the new school year has come with a renewed spirit. Through Grace, she saw herself differently than she had just a few months before. God created Grace. The tallest her age, but God made her that way. Grace is advanced beyond her peers, but God has a plan for Grace. Grace, she thought, is a most wonderful creation.  When she saw herself in Grace, she saw herself with a new perspective. She began to appreciate her uniqueness. 

Her simple understanding of God grew a little in those few months.  Through her willingness to invest in Grace a few hours a week, she learned that she and Grace were a lot alike.  And how could anyone not love Grace.

  

Where kids bring their parents to church

http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Wiregrass_Church_Attendence_Still_Increasing_126090629.html

What a Wonderful Waumba's World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6zK9YP3fKs

The Big Picture

"Cooper" had worked hard all through his first preschool year. Listening, paying attention, doing homework. Short of the one time he got in trouble for talking during circle time, it had been a near flawless performance. For graduating from pre-k to kindergarten, friends and family members rewarded Cooper! It was his first big pay day!  Cold, hard cash... just for him... that he had actually earned through his own efforts! 


At the same time, Cooper's parents had started reading "Fields of Gold" in their small group, and had learned about the principle of "Give, Save, Live". Given Cooper's new found wealth, it seemed like a golden opportunity to share this practical application of finances with their young son. 


The following Sunday, Cooper came to church excited to make his own first "give". His Small Group Leader sensing his enthusiasm, saw that this was "a big deal" for Cooper.  Possibly, a defining moment. 
The Small Group Leader didn't just take the money from Cooper... she and Cooper walked all the way into the Main Auditorium (the "Big Church!") and Cooper, himself, dropped his offering into the bucket. When Cooper's parents picked him up from Waumba Land, he told them about how he had given. 


As Cooper's parents told me their story, they were so appreciative of the leader who had partnered with them that day. They understand that how they lead Cooper at home is more important than any activity or craft the Small Group Leader could ever do with Cooper on a Sunday morning. But, because that leader owned her unique role in Cooper's life, she was able to make an impression on Cooper that could influence him, for the rest of his life.


Because, on that Sunday, Cooper learned that he is part of something bigger.