PRAYING TOGETHER BEFORE SERVICES TODAY

We’ll be meeting for prayer at 9:30-9:50am in the Elks Conference Room 2nd Floor this morning specifically to pray for the healing services.

You are welcome to join us.

 

VBS Brings Hope to Area Children!

(Pictures will be added soon.)

“VBS @ Baldwin” brought a week of hope to the children of Georgetown South and the surrounding area, trained youth volunteers, and provided our community with an opportunity to give and serve.  Over 100 volunteers, of all ages and different congregations, provided a quality program and excellent loving care, showing what the body of Christ can do when we all work together!

We reached out to over 200+ different children, who came to our daily program from 8:30am – 2:00pm.  We were blessed by “Virginia Kids Eat Free, Inc.” program (“Feeding the Physical, Spiritual and Intellectual Needs of Kids”).  Thanks to generous donations of individuals and groups alike,

the entire week for the children was FREE!  They received a t-shirt, backpack, and were fed breakfast and lunch!

Many of their siblings and families came to Friday’s Family Fun Day, hosted by The Life Church.  Parents, siblings and other family members celebrated the close of VBS by attending and participating together with free food, games, moon bounces, music, and fun.

Here are just a few comments from our VBS staff volunteers:

“The week was amazing!  On Friday late morning, what joy to see two girls kneeling and praying together in the hall outside the Main Office of the school!”

“It was so amazing the love, like a family, in the volunteers both young and old.  It was such a joy for me to meet those from the Life Church and other congregations!”

“I loved coming in and seeing so many children singing worship songs to the Lord! The Missions track was wonderful and I loved the time I had with them, sharing about the American Indians on the Santee Reservation!!”

“Seven of the kids in my group accepted Christ on Friday in our team rooms.”

“The most poignant moment for me was standing in line with one of my “students” to get cotton candy. She looked up at me and said, “I’ve never been to a fun fair before.  I’ve never had cotton candy.”  Now I pray in her 5 year-old mind she will associate the love of Jesus with these happy memories. Incidentally, at the beginning of the week this same child was terrified to be left and cried most of the first day.  So glad she kept coming back!!”

“The best part of VBS for me was seeing the transformation in Bruce – a kid who didn’t want to be there and who thought ‘nothing was fun.’  He started connecting and I think he really felt cared for because on Friday, he came to find me before he left to say goodbye, and wanted to make sure I told the other leaders he said goodbye, too.  I’m praying that the love of God continues to soften his heart.”

“On Monday many members of my team were unenthusiastic, uninterested, uncooperative.  By the end of the week it was amazing to see how much they turned around!  They were extremely spirited, participating and engaged in a lot of the lessons and activities.  One of the neatest things I saw was how supportive they became of one another and genuinely making new friends.  I had a lot of the kids tell me that next year even though they might be too old to be a cadet, they really wanted to come back and volunteer.  We even had our most difficult cadet proactively asking if there was any way he could help during the family fun day.  Pretty cool!”

Of course our most exciting outcome of this week was children giving their hearts to Christ!  Many throughout the week raised their hands to accept Jesus.  Our final Worship Rally on Friday concluded with 20 students asking Christ to come into their heart.

All of the preparation, prayer, and planning paid off!  I could have taken this team ANYWHERE.  The amazing thing was that every volunteer – no matter the age – LOVED being together and doing God’s work.

Yes, we all left tired, but with smiles on our faces…job well done…mainly because the family of God just got bigger.

Until next year…keep spreading His love!

Jo Ann

Overview of our Involvement at Sinclair Elementary

It is a privilege to serve the families of our community by partnering with the school to provide mentoring, tutoring, and assisting with special events.

The Life Church is involved throughout the school year working one-on-one with students, assisting teachers in the classroom, and providing childcare, refreshments, and other services for the school’s big calendar events.

KIDFEST is a highlight of the year and has become a tradition and Sinclair favorite.  After the school’s SOL testing is complete each June, students nd staff celebrate with Field Day – a fun day of outside games, contests, and an inside program put on by The Life Church.  At KIDFEST, each grade level is entertained with puppets, dramas, music, and lots of popcorn, as they take a break from their outside activities and heat.  KIDFEST, held in Sinclair’s new gym is not only fun for the kids and teachers, but for our volunteers as well!

We believe in not only serving the children, but also the teachers and staff of Sinclair Elementary.  Last year we provided a homemade breakfast buffet – strawberry pancakes, breakfast burritos, fruit, muffins, juice, and coffee.  Tranquility Day Spa and Salon gave every teacher AND staff member a $40 gift certificate.  We also provided a lunch for one of their workdays so they could “eat in” with a homemade meal, saving both time and money.

Just an hour of your time each week is a huge help to the children at Sinclair.  Reading with them, helping them with their math facts, reviewing their worksheets in preparation for tests, and just listening to them share what’s going on in their world, are a few ways we support and encourage these students.  They capture your heart as time seems to fly by.  Before you know it, the hour is up and it’s time to leave.

If you cannot commit to a weekly time slot, there are single big events throughout the year that could use your involvement.  Many hands make for a light load, yet there is no “small” job.  Everything we do is important to make their events successful ones.

Below is our “partnering calendar” for the rest of the 2010-2011 school year at Sinclair.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Jo Ann Baird at jo@welovechurch.com.

Friday, February 11th  7:00am – 8:00am, Breakfast, Blankets and Books (4th Grade); Hospitality Opportunity – Make and/or Serve Muffins, Fruit, Hot Chocolate

Wednesday, February 16th  7:00pm – 8:00pm  Snowflakes and Stories Night;   Hospitality Opportunity – Make and/or Serve Hot Chocolate & Cookies

Thursday February 24th   SOL Family Night (3^rd Grade)  7:00PM-8:00PM;   Childcare Opportunity – sign-in and care for younger siblings.

Friday March 11th  7:00am – 8:00am   Breakfast, Blankets and Books (5th Grade);   Hospitality Opportunity – Make and/or Serve Muffins, Fruit, Hot Chocolate

Friday April 15th  7:00am – 8:00am   Breakfast, Blankets and Books (Kindergarten);   Hospitality Opportunity – Make and/or Serve Muffins, Fruit, Hot Chocolate

Wednesday, May 4^th 11:00am – 12:30pm  Teacher Appreciation Week Luncheon;  Hospitality Opportunity – Décor & Set-Up, Cooking, Serving, Clean-Up

Friday May 27th  Staff Breakfast Buffet 6:45am – 9:30am;   Hospitality Opportunity – Make and/or Host the Buffet, Set-up/Clean-up

Monday June 13^th KIDFEST!! 7:30am – 2:30am  Scope:  Kids Show & Games– drama, puppets, face painting, clowning, refreshments, music, game director, prize coordinator, etc.

Trip to Trinidad

Jennifer Zehr traveled to her native country of Trinidad from November 11 – 23 to minister alongside of several Trinidadian pastors.  Trip highlights included: speaking to a group of thirty intercessors from various churches, going to churches to teach about finding freedom from bondages, and witnessing the power of God as people were set free.   What an opportunity it was to participate in God’s blessing being poured out to Trinidadian people who are hungry for His touch and for the Word of God.

It was also special to reunite with pastors that Jennifer has known over the years and to encourage American missionaries in Trinidad.  During her visit, Jennifer was able to help a missionary couple find greater support by introducing them to some of the pastors she knows.  One day, she met with these and six other missionaries to help them deal with cultural and communication challenges.   Reflecting on the fellowship, teaching, and personal ministry that happened in this trip, we believe that the Lord will continue to bear fruit in Trinidad and open doors for future visits.

We’re also grateful for the support which our church has provided.   Last fall, the Life Church gave 150 Bibles which were distributed to children off the street at Christmastime in Trinidad.

Welcome!

We’ll post updates related to our global and local initiatives.