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{Guest Post}: I Never Imagined – Inner City KidMin (Part 2)

Kathie Phillips

Note from Kathie: I met Colleen Smith at an Orange-sponsored Chick-fil-A meet up last year and I was so fascinated by her story. I knew that one day, I’d love to share her story with others. Colleen shares her story of inner city Children’s Ministry today in the second of 3 parts. You can read Part 1 here. I pray you’ll be both blessed and inspired.

Over time I began to form even deeper relationships with Baltimore’s Homeless population, fall in love with prostitutes and deepen my fondness for inner city kids. For nearly four years I worked in West Baltimore–where I loved the people in what some would consider the worst parts of this city like Jesus loves me–with no boundaries and no conditions. Within that four years I still felt that something was missing in my heart. Night after night I would drive out of the neighborhood, cross over a few streets and be in my cozy and comfortable neighborhood, where it was “safe.” That wasn’t what I desired in my heart, and after much prayer I quickly knew that wasn’t what God desired for me. Life began to change. Things were happening that made it clear there was change about to happen in my ministry life, a hard one–one that ended with me wondering what exactly it was God desired for my life. After three VERY long months of praying, it was evident that God desired for me to live in East Baltimore, in the middle of one of Baltimore’s “tough” communities. It was a place where most people wouldn’t bother to come, a place that as most people drive by they double-check their locks and sped past without batting an eye.

But for me this little home in the middle of Luzerne Ave has become home for me. It’s become a safe place. It’s become the spot for the kids to hang out. It’s become a home full of love, prayer and Jesus. This community has become my family. This is the place Jesus intended for me to be His hands and feet. This is the place where I would have my house raided by the police at 6 a.m. on a July morning. This is the place where I would pray every night for three young boys who attempted several times to break into my house. This is the place where I would find out that a ten year-old boy who I loved dearly committed suicide. This is the place where I would find love and give love. This is the place that God has not just called me to serve, but to live, to become a part of a community, to allow people to watch my life, to be involved in my life and to hear about the love of Christ. This is the place that I call home. This is the place that I am continuously challenged to grow in my faith, to continue to love people even in the worst of circumstances. This is the place where I get to lead people to life with Christ and cheer them on as they grow in their walks. Never did I think when I boarded that place in March of 2001 would my life be what it is today…and never would I ever change it.

Colleen Smith headshotOriginally from Wichita, Kansas Colleen Smith moved to Baltimore in 2001 to become a nanny. In 2003, she accepted Christ and her heart for the inner city began to develop. Over the past few years she’s quit her full-time job and raised support as a missionary to Baltimore City. These days you can find her living and serving in East Baltimore as the local missionary for Captivate Church (captivatechurch.com) She can be found online at www.colleensamantha.org as well as Facebook & Twitter. If you’d like more information on her ministry she can be contacted via email colleen@captivatechurch.com

{Guest Post}: I Never Imagined – Inner City KidMin (Part 1)

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

Note from Kathie:  I met Colleen Smith at an Orange-sponsored Chick-fil-A meet up last year and I was so fascinated by her story.  I knew that one day, I’d love to share her story with others.  Colleen shares her story of inner city Children’s Ministry today in the first of 3 parts.  I pray you’ll be both blessed and inspired.

I never imagined being a “white girl” from Kansas who would move 1254 miles from home and live in one of Baltimore’s roughest neighborhoods.  I never imagined that I would witness shootings and watch someone die of a gang beating.  I never imagined that I would love the homeless, street prostitutes, drug dealers, gang members and inner city kids the way I do. I never knew that God had a plan for me.  In fact when I packed my bags almost 13 years ago and boarded a plane to Baltimore, MD (all because I was mad at my mom and knew I needed a change), I hated God, I was angry, I was frustrated and quite frankly there was no room for Him in my life.

However, almost a year later, my life changed completely.  I had been hanging out with a Youth Pastor who was my neighbor, attending youth group, volunteering and getting to know–what I referred to at the time–“Jesus Lovers”.  Little did I know that those “Jesus Lovers” would become some of the most influential people in my life, some of my best friends and my sisters for life. You see when I turned 22, I accepted Christ, and my life began to change.

The love I have found for the inner city life didn’t just happen over night and it didn’t just happen because I woke up one day and decided to venture into the “ghetto”.  It happened because I allowed God to have a place in my life. I had influences in my life who believed in me, who challenged why I didn’t love God, and who were living testimonies of how God worked in their lives. It happened because I was ready to accept that Jesus Christ lived and died for me on a cross!

It was not the easiest decision I ever made.  In fact it was one of the hardest, but the way that God has worked in my life–the way that He’s allowed me to begin the healing process of my own hurt and pain, the way that I have been able to clearly see my calling in life–has been nothing short of amazing. About six years ago, I decided to quit my full-time job with benefits (including a furnished home to live in) to become a part-time nanny and pursue my calling to serve the inner city.  I packed up everything I had, stored it and lived on the couch of a friend for nearly a year. Finally I moved into the city, but a nice part of the city, and commuted for a nanny job.  I loved the kids and the family but I knew I wasn’t happy.  Soon after I felt like it was time to completely allow God to work miracles in my life so I quit my job to raise support and work full-time as an inner city missionary. I was a white girl who loved the ‘hood!

Colleen Smith headshotOriginally from Wichita, Kansas Colleen Smith moved to Baltimore in 2001 to become a nanny.  In 2003, she accepted Christ and her heart for the inner city began to develop. Over the past few years she’s quit her full-time job and raised support as a missionary to Baltimore City. These days you can find her living and serving in East Baltimore as the local missionary for Captivate Church (captivatechurch.com)  She can be found online at www.colleensamantha.org as well as Facebook & Twitter.  If you’d like more information on her ministry she can be contacted via email colleen@captivatechurch.com

Every Child Matters

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment

lifecounts

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous–and how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Last week, my children (ages 16 and 13) attended the March for Life rally in Washington, DC.  I was so proud of them–their desire to attend and brave the frigid temperature and snow, all to make a stand for life, which is precious in the sight of God.  As I watched the rally online, I was awestruck at huge number of people (estimated at 500,000) standing up for the unborn.  I was reminded of how precious children are to God and how each and every child is valuable.

As a Children’s Ministry leaders, may we never forget that every child who shows up for our weekend and weekday programming matters to God.  Children from traditional homes and children from non-traditional homes.  Children from the suburbs and children from the inner city.  African-American children, Asian-American Children, and Caucasian children.  Children born in America and children born in a foreign land.  Rich children and poor children.  Children with special needs children.  Well-behaved children and misbehaved children.  Prodigal children. Children born to teen moms.  Children born to a single parent and children born to two parents.  Adopted children, abandoned children, orphaned children.  Well-educated children and uneducated children.  Children who come to church in a fancy car or SUV, by taxi cab, by bus or by foot.  Thin children and pudgy children.

Every child matters.

Help Children Love (and Use!) God’s Word

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

This past Sunday, my heart was filled to the brim when I presented a 5th grade girl with her very own copy of God’s Word, the Bible.  She has never had her own copy, so to say that she was delighted is a gross understatement.  Seeing her clutch her brand new Bible to her chest and then run to show her Mom was a moment that I will treasure for a long while.  When you think about all of the things that children today receive, it is so refreshing to see them desire their own copy of God’s Word with the same enthusiasm as receiving the newest electronic gadget.

If you’re like me, you may own at least 10 different Bibles.  I own Bibles in just about every translation and paraphrase, devotional Bibles, leadership Bibles, children’s Bibles and study Bibles.  It’s hard to imagine that many people, particularly children, do not own a copy of the Bible.

Our Children’s Ministry formally presents Bibles to preschoolers, kindergarteners and 3rd graders.  We also keep Bibles on hand for older children (4th and 5th graders).  Here are the Bibles that we present to each age group:

Preschoolers (3 year-olds):  The Jesus Storybook Bible

Kindergarteners:  The Early Reader’s Bible

3rd Graders:  The Adventure Bible (NIV)

Preteens:  The Realife Devotional Bible (one for boys and one for girls)

Photograph courtesy of iStock Photo
Photograph courtesy of iStockphoto

Once you place God’s Word in the hands of a child, help them discover the precious truths hidden within its pages.

Teachers, you can help students use the Bible each week in class by:

  • Opening the Bible.  For younger children, read the story directly from the Bible and show the corresponding pictures.  For older children, have them follow the text (or read it aloud) as you teach the day’s lesson.  Help them understand that the story isn’t just any story; it’s from God’s Word.
  • Helping them navigate the Bible.  Help them understand how the Bible is divided (Old Testament or New Testament; chapter, verse).
  • Helping them become Bible-literate.  Help them discover who wrote the book; background history, maps/timelines, etc.
  • Marking the week’s memory verse, if parents allow children to mark in their Bible.
  • Providing daily devotions that include a Bible verse to continue the learning at home.

Parents, you can help your children use the Bible at home each week by:

  • Having your children retell the Bible story presented in class.  Help them locate the scripture passage in their Bible and retell the story in their own words.
  • Using take-home pages to continue the learning at home.
  • Directing them to God’s Word when they struggle with a particular area (i.e. What does the Bible say about obedience?  Justice? Self-image?)

Let’s not just give children a Bible.  Let’s help them love it passionately, read it daily and become a useful tool in growing in their relationship with Jesus.

Do you or your child have a favorite Bible?  Tell me about it below!

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