Week 3: Calvary Baptist Church, FBC Gleason, Yadkin Baptist Church

NATIONAL 

     For some reason, God never ceases to send more kids our way to be taught, to listen, and to receive the Word. This week proved that with 103 kids. First Baptist Gleason had such passion for these children that was evident in how they loved as Christ did through their very own actions. In the Word, it says "we love because Christ first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Such a fundamental truth but stretched to new boundaries with Gleason here to serve alongside of. They truly loved those kids through constant piggy back rides, a hug, or a smile. Finishing the week with many “I love you's” and “Jesus loves you’s” to the kids from Gleason showed that the purpose of being here was to love like Christ does. It was a wonderful week being Jesus' very own hands and feet with you Gleason. -Gaby

LEAHY'S

    This week may have been the hottest one we've had so far this summer, but at Leahy's I think it was also one of the best. Calvary brought in an awesome team, and Miss Aimee also joined us since her site, Pope, was not running this week. On Thursday, we had a total of 65 kids come to Bible club--a new record for Leahy's this year! But the high point of the week was most definitely that one of the boys started asking a lot of questions about Jesus. Miss Aimee and one of the team members got the chance to pull him aside and talk with him, laying out the Gospel for him. The eight-year-old was very engaged in the conversation, and we think it likely that he got saved on Thursday! -Kala

WHITTIER

   This week at Whittier proved to be an extreme success. With members from Calvary Church in St. Louis providing a fun, exciting, and energy filled environment, the team members and the kids had an amazing time. Starting off the week with 49 kids in attendance, there were always over 40 kids that could be seen at Bible Club at Whit-Vegas. The kids were able to have an autograph book for everyone to sign during craft station. Kickball games, songs about burritos, and Bible stories that had each kid getting involved were just some of the things that made Whit-Vegas THE site to be at. Thank you members of Calvary Church for giving your all and sharing your craziness, energy, and ministry with the kids and with Street Reach. The Whit-Vegas songs and chants have been the loudest and craziest yet. -Josh

JOHNSON

    We had a great week with Calvary at Johnson! The weather was beautiful this week, and the kids were very excited about coming out to club. The kids learned a lot this week as they heard about King David in the Bible story. They were able to see how they can trust God in every circumstance. Many Street Reach classics were enjoyed by the kids this week in games and songs such as, “Duck Duck Goose,”  “Mr. Bear,” Little Red Wagon,” and “Bazooka Bubble Gum.” There were many kids that attended Bible Club this week with the biggest day brining 82 kids! God’s love was experienced this week by many kids, and the hearts of the Calvary team were broken over the lives of the children. A big thank you to Calvary for all of their hard work, and their willingness to be used by God last week! We are looking forward to them returning next year, Lord willing! -Alice

KENDRICK

   Third week was awesome at Kendrick! Returning group Yadkin Baptist Church from Patterson, North Carolina rolled into town and had an great time at bible club. They were filled with lots of excitement and rounded up a high for the week of 51 kids on Monday! The kids had lots of fun from games and songs, to making crafts and memorizing the daily verses from bible story. Also, I think the team equally blessed by getting the chance to show love to the kids as the kids did receiving it. Friday was hard saying goodbye but, the Yadkin team left a lasting impression at Kendrick through their service. Thank you guys so much for such a great week and im excited to see what is coming up in the weeks to come! -Logan

GUERNSEY

    The Calvary Senior High Students from St. Louis, Missouri returned to Guernsey this week and did a great job!  The Pope site was closed, but the Pope kids still got Bible Club by combining with us over at the Guernsey site! We started the week off with 74 kids and the team had a blast getting to know them. Throughout the week we had drum battles in songs and intense games of “Mr. Bear” and “Sharks and Minnows” in the recreation group.  I think the kids’ favorite craft all week was the salvation bracelets that they made on Friday, and I loved getting to talk to the kids about the different colors while explaining the gospel.  Many of our kids learned a new Bible verse each day thanks to the enthusiastic Bible story group and their cool dance moves while teaching the kids scripture.  Overall, it was a great week at Guernsey, but Friday had to be my favorite because of the insane amount of energy everybody had on club site.  While I went back out to find more kids for club I could hear our kids reciting Bible verses and singing songs from way down the street… It was AWESOME!  Thanks for a great week Calvary-- can’t wait to see you next year!  -Kacie 

ROSAMOND

    The high schoolers of Calvary Baptist from St. Louis brought a lot of heart and energy to Rosamond this week! The children are beginning to love coming to Bible club and wait in front of their house to be picked up and they are asking for specific names of people from teams from this summer! Everyone who has worked at Rosamond has not been forgotten and God is still at work in the lives of the children. This week Calvary was able to spend some one on one time talking with the children about their faith. We saw a little boy smile for the first time at Bible club (see picture!) The kids played kickball, made autograph books, and learned about the life of King David. This was our first hot week in Memphis, so please be in prayer for Rosamond for the rest of the summer as it just gets hotter! Miss Justine, Olivia, and I had a lot of fun working with you, Calvary! “ROSAMOND ROSAMOND, We don’t have to drive, all we have to do is walk outside!” –Kimberly 

Week 2- Arcadia Baptist, Iantha Baptist, Broad River, New Hope, McMinnville Baptist, Life's Journey, and Collierville Baptist

POPE

     Pope was able to run on the actual site this week and it was such a blessing!  We reached 49 children on Wednesday who were ministered to by a combination of churches.  Arcadia Baptist Church and Iantha Baptist Church rocked club this week!  Having to recover from a rainy and wet Tuesday, their last half of the week was a blast!  It was such a blessing to watch all the smiles and laughter of the kids throughout the week.  One of leaders from Arcadia did an incredible job keeping all the ages interested and focused during bible story.  All the kids made beautiful crafts, had loads of fun at games, and the older kids loved the song station. I cannot wait to see what the Lord’s plans are for the rest of the summer!

“Train up a child in the way he should go” Proverbs 22:6a  
-Aimee 
             NATIONAL

   Paul in Acts 20, goes back to the words of Christ himself when he says: "it is more blessed to give than to receive." McMinnville Baptist and Iantha Baptist Church gave themselves fully to the work of Christ this week. God sent his blessing when our numbers grew each day ending with 91 kids, which is the most we have been able to witness God's lights and shower with his love so far this summer. With that, these churches worked together for the goal of Christ and everyday seemed to run smoothly even with the rain on Tuesday. On the last day of Bible Club, we had a boy accept Christ. Continue to pray for pursuit of that relationship and for other hearts to be cracked open. It was evident that these people worked among the people of this community and gave themselves to serve as Jesus' very own hands and feet. Thanks for a wonderful week McMinnville and Iantha.  
-Gaby

                                                          LEAHY'S

      Week two went great! Our team this week from Life's Journey brought puppets, which was a huge hit, especially with our younger kiddos. We had some rain on Tuesday, but were still able to have Bible club and have lots of fun. Not as many kids were able to come out that day because of the scattered showers and such, but by the end of the week we were back up to 37 kids. There were also several new kids that came this week, some from the side streets just outside the trailer park and some from inside Leahy's. 

     In addition to bringing the puppets, the Life's Journey team did a great job this week. They came prepared, and had all kinds of fun stuff for the kids to do--from fun crafts, to new games that the kids just loved, to songs and Bible lessons that the puppets helped out with some of the time. Things ran smoothly, and I think kids and team members alike had loads of fun this week. Goodbyes were hard, but kids, team, and staff were all so blessed to have spent this week together.  

-Kala

 

                 JOHNSON

    We had a fantastic second week at Johnson.  Our team from Broad River was very prepared, and poured Christ's love into the children at every opportunity.  Tuesday was rainy, but the team was energetic, and the kids still had a great time.  We learned that bubbles are still fun even in the rain! Broad River focused on reaching as many kids as possible; the time and energy they put into Bible club this week really showed on Thursday when 94 kids came!!!!!!!  You could really sense the Lord's presence and see the children light up as they were shown love and given hope.  Thank you Broad River for doing such an awesome job and loving on our kids! We are looking forward to seeing Christ continue to work at Johnson throughout the rest of the summer.

 -Alice

                                            WHITTIER

What an amazing time we had at Whittier this week! The seasoned veterans of Midway Baptist Church from Gaffney, South Carolina came in excited and prepared to reach the children in our area! They fought through a chilly rain on Tuesday but that didn’t slow them down one bit. I believe they all thoroughly enjoyed the rain! We had a high of 57 kids on Thursday… Wow! They all came out to enjoy a fun-filled day of crafts, bible stories, and water games! It was awesome to see God work through this team, they all have such a passion for this city and what they are doing here. Their time and preparation for Bible Club definitely proved itself as the week progressed! The summer has only just begun, and we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for Whittier!  -Cassie

 KENDRICK

     Week 2 at Kendrick was awesome! First-timers Good Hope Bastist Church from Dalton, GA were in the house and ran things like they had been coming here for years.  These guys really dug in and helped these kids play games, make some really cool crafts, and some great times of Bible story. Good Hope really fell in love with the kids this week and were able to show God's love through them. I coulnd't believe it when they went out and got 33 kids on a wet and raining day like we had on Tuesday and went on to have 47 kids on Thursday! Thank you guys so much for coming and loving on the kids over at Kendrick!

 -Logan

 GUERNSEY

       This week was definitely full of energy and excitement! Collierville First Baptist Church returned to Street Reach, bringing a new twist to Bible Club. The week was filled with engaging group activities, such as new songs, as well as exciting dramas for Bible story. The Guernsey kids loved getting to praise God through movement during song time, and getting to dress up and act out the Bible stories each day. Kids acted out the parable of the lost coin, the story of the prodigal's son, and much more. These stories led to questions and further investigation of God's love for us. Even through both drizzling rain beginning the week and high temperatures ending the week, Collierville students were determined to reach out to more and more kids each day and pour out the love of the Lord on them. By Thursday, Guernsey reached 64 kids, the largest amount for weeks one and two. Kids were eager to return each day, ready to take part in the fun and creative activities. It was a wonderful, successful week, and we are excited to see Guersey grow, due to the fantastic efforts of Collierville First Baptist!  

-Emily

 ROSAMOND 

      Broad River Baptist Association rocked Bible club this week! They had such a heart and passion for the children of the community and wanted to impact a child’s life for Jesus.  Even though it rained on Tuesday, Broad River still had Bible club under their tents and the older kids really enjoyed playing Connect Four and Uno.  The younger children got to play with puppets during Bible story and make necklaces for crafts. The older kids at Rosamond responded very well to the Bible stories and more kids came every day.  Thursday we ended up having 57 kids and they were both new faces and familiar faces from the previous week.  Broad River gave the children snacks to take home with them every day and on Friday they kids received Broad River t-shirts to take home.  The kids were very excited on Friday and they are ready to come back on Monday! 

 -Kimberly