“STING STING, STING STING” The sugar crazed four year olds yelled at me as they chased me around the small classroom. This wasn’t just any ol’ average week… this was VBS. VBS stands for Vacation Bible School, which is an organization put on by churches so that kids may experience the love of Christ while still having fun learning. I was honored (and a little anxious) to be a one of the leaders of the Jellyfish group during VBS. This was my first year ever experiencing it, so I really did not know what I was in for. The big day came, with over 600 kids, adults, and volunteers arriving at the same time that Monday morning in mid-July. I knew this was not going to be easy, but I was up for a challenge. I've always loved kids and how they see the world as such a pure, genuinely exciting place. Being the only child I am, I never got to experience what it's like to have a younger sibling, so being with kids makes me feel as though I am that older sister I always longed to be. This was the perfect opportunity to work with kids who share the same passion as I do; faith in Christ. My day was jumpstarted by walking into the Jellyfish classroom to meet the teacher I would be working with that week. As I went to introduce myself, I heard a loud cry coming from the far corner of the room. We immediately turned our direction towards the small boy, Nolan, who …show more content…
I had grown so close to these stinging jellyfish. I knew I probably wouldnt see these kinds until next year, which tore open a peice of my heart. In the end, I think the week benifited me even more than it did the kids because it taught me how to be patient and forgiving when things get complicated. I learned to be a role model to these kids. They taught me how to love life and be happy. VBS has greatly impacted my life and structured me into the growing person I am today. I can not wait o experience this amazing oportunity nexy year and the years to
Last semester, I planned my first outreach event at the church. We had bounce houses, face painting, food, games, and candy. I worked so hard to get this put together and even members of the church used their own money to purchase things to make this event happened. There was door to door evangelizing going on in the surrounding neighborhoods to get the word out, and there were only two people in the community that showed up. Two people.
It was back in the summer of 2004 when all was calm. The trees filled w/ dry green leaves, the grass barely green as patches of yellowness overcame its dried burned look, dandelions arose in monstrous amounts as the white cotton-like blooms of a dandelion flutter in the midst of an arid breeze, and visions of heat waves could clearly be noticed along a paved street on a clear afternoon. Yep, this truly was mid summer. But I do prefer summer over winter any day of the year. Around the hottest time of the year, a.k.a. middle of July, my church travels on a mission trip over to the Appalachia Mountains to help people in poverty rebuild their homes. I, among 14 other youths and leaders enjoy this yearly mission trip. Only to leave one week after my birthday the ASP (Appalachia Service Project) crew fled the town of Glen Ellyn and headed east towards the mountainous Appalachia Mountains. The mission had not only been to help people in distress but to also give an insight on personal faith, life, love, friendship, and a better understanding on why we are really here and why we have chosen to come here, as certain personality traits that we possess are revealed throughout the trip. I do remember last year's trip very clearly, and we've had just a few major dilemmas, but this year just clearly out does last year in every way, shape and form.
I am very honored to have been part of this organization for the 2013-2014 school year and I plan to participate next year as well. At the end of the event I always feel so inspired and ready to make even more a difference in the lives of others, whether through volunteering, my future profession, or other organization at the University of Northern Iowa. I have learned so much from the Miracle Kiddos and their families, and plan to carry those life lessons with me as I pursue a career in the exercise/health science field.
This book has been my interpreter, into the mired maze of youth ministry. From a logical perspective this is a must read for every one not only involved in youth ministry, but the church as a whole. If possible I would like to revisit this book in a year as kind of a case study to see how much I have learned for this course and how my views, out look, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors towards youth ministry have changed or no
I spent every spring and summer in middle school doing mission work and community service. I loved the opportunity that it gave me to build relationships and share my beliefs with people I didn’t know. Little did I know that this would pave the way for a life-changing experience that I would encounter one day. Each spring my church would host a missionary event called “The Ignite Project.” I felt an urge to join the group, recognizing that it was a calling to profess my faith in Jesus. These mission trips helped me to go out
On the first evening of service, I was prepared, yet scared that I would say something wrong or the children there would not accept my ideas. When I arrived, the group was small, as promised since it was a Saturday and many of the hospital guests were out with their parents or home for a fun weekend of activities. The children and youth who were there, however, gathered 'round for some of the activities I had planned. First, I made it a point to learn everyone's name which meant that I p...
The Baptist Bible Fellowship International has done great things throughout the many years of its existence. The reason for the group’s success has been through missions, evangelism, Bible Colleges, and church planting. In the 1950’s the World Baptist Fellowship ruled the Baptist scene. During the era of the WBF there was a conflict that arose as J. Frank Norris attempted to overthrow G.B. Vick’s presidency at his Bible College. Norris desired to be president of the college that Vick established. Norris attempted to push Vick out by spreading rumors and causing dissension regarding Vick’s character among the students that attended the college. Jeffery D. Lavoie writes in, Segregation and the Baptist Bible Fellowship, that G.B. Vick aided a “movement” for a new fellowship after being removed from his presidency by J. Frank Norris. When about one hundred pastors decided leave the WBF and start a new fellowship. With the leadership of Vick and the other pastors, a brand new fellowship called the Baptist Bible Fellowship was created in May 1950 (Lavoie 2). The WBF was the most prominent fellowship among Baptist pastors, and slowly after the BBF was formed, the WBF faded away. To this day is still existing and running as a missions agency.
As a small group leader at the Crossing, the church I attend, I am a member of the leadership team that serves over early childhood. Being a member of this team has given me experience working with children both individually and in a group situation. Each week kids expand their knowledge of the bible through conversation, crafts, singing, dancing, and storytelling. It is my responsibility to arrive prepared to oversee all of these activities as well as answer questions to ensure that every child learns and enjoys themselves during our time together. In addition, I also
I was really excited to go the first day because I live kids and feel like I understand them. The first day, the kids were so excited to meet me and the other mentors. I got to interact with them and understand their perceptive in life as kids. I have only gone twice to the middle school, but I feel like I make a differences in those children’s’ live because my and the other mentors may be their only person who will listen. I feel like I can understand them, because I know how I was felt as a kid. I remember as a kid, I always felt like I had no rights and no one listen to me I was just a kid. I remembered as a kid, always wanting to a grown up so I could do something important. After, those two days at that middle school, I believe God is directing me to work with children. I have looked into adoptions and the foster care system. I am not hundred percent sure what I want to do, but I know that I want to work with children and be a voice for them. In the foster care system, social workers have the opportunity to provide care to children who are sexual abuse or neglect. I believe God wants me to be in a career where I can make kids feel safe and that they matter in life. Also, if I decided to work at an adoption agents, I will have the opportunity to give children a safe home with a loving family. So, if I purse a career as a child welfare social worker, I know that I will be
On the walk back one of our leaders wanted to make this a learning experience because in scouts we can’t do anything fun without out a moral. He asked us how we could relate this experience to a principle of life. Giving it thought I decided that my experience could be related to the story of the lion and the mouse. Nobody really wanted me on their team because I was not as skilled, but I was able to help
In society today, we are working with families and children are more diverse than ever. We are servicing families and children from so many different traditions, beliefs and values. Every family has their own stories. We will find that families and children
Rolling waves gently brushed upon the sand and nipped softly at my toes. I gazed out into the oblivion of blue hue that lay before me. I stared hopefully at sun-filled sky, but I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to get through the day. Honestly, I never thought in a million years that my daughter and I would be homeless. Oh, how I yearned for our house in the suburbs. A pain wrenched at my heart when I was once reminded again of my beloved husband, Peter. I missed him so much and couldn’t help but ask God why he was taken from us. Living underneath Pier 14 was no life for Emily and me. I had to get us out of here and back on our feet. My stomach moaned angrily. I needed to somehow find food for us, but how? Suddenly, something slimy brushed up against my leg and pierced my thoughts. I jumped back and brushed the residue of sand of my legs. What was that? As my eyes skimmed the water in front of me, I noticed something spinning in the foam of the waves. Curiosity got the best of me and I went over to take a closer look. The object danced in the waves and eventually was coughed out onto the beach. “Emily!” I called to my eight-year-old daughter who was, at that time, infatuated with a seashell that she found earlier that day. “Come here and see this! Mommy found something.” Although I had no idea what that something was and I definitely didn’t know it would change my life forever.
It was finally the first day of school; I was excited yet nervous. I hoped I would be able to make new friends. The first time I saw the schools name I thought it was the strangest name I’ve ever heard or read, therefore I found it hard to pronounce it in the beginning. The schools’ floors had painted black paw prints, which stood out on the white tiled floor. Once you walk through the doors the office is to the right. The office seemed a bit cramped, since it had so many rooms in such a small area. In the office I meet with a really nice, sweet secretary who helped me register into the school, giving me a small tour of the school, also helping me find
One of the best parts was seeing the creativity and ingenuity of all the children, while they took part in this program. One girl was really shy, but she had a lot of really imaginative ideas and when it came time to present she had a lot to say about her project. Now it has been four years since we did this camp, and I have seen her at church and seen her grow as a person. I hope all the children that expressed their love of learning and intellectual curiosity continue to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs and have the ability to graduate from high school and further their
As the day approached, I knew that I had just about finished what I wanted to teach. It was going to be a busy day, I had my agenda planned and was almost set. I called the church to find out how many were actually going to attend so that I would have enough materials on hand to give to everyone. I was now in for a big shock. As I was telling the owner of the training agency I work for about the outline, she was calling and letting the daycare know.