This year at school I have the incredible privilege of being on University Ministries as one of the Community Outreach Co-Chairs. We have a homeless ministry, a grandparents ministry, and my children's ministry at Clifford Court! These ministries exist to give Judson a chance to serve and get involved in the Elgin community. Clifford Court is small community of government housing that consists of 28 apartments. Most of these families are single parent families or the father just isn't ever around. There are about 30 kids living in this community from ages 2-18. My ministry focuses on the younger kids, but when the older kids show up we'll talk to them and give them a snack. I'm in charge of coordinating a children's ministry on Monday afternoons for the kids. I have as many Judson students as possible meet me in our commons and we walk over to Clifford Court. We have a snack time, large group games and lesson, songs and chants, dance battles, small groups, and crafts. The small groups are something that I have made new this year, and it's been great! The girls answer questions and get to know the Judson girls, and the boys don't really pay attention, but they get fun positive male attention from the Judson guys! It's great! This last week I was teaching about Jonah and how God was kind to the people of Ninevah and forgave them when they repented. We asked the kids if they thought they could do something bad enough that God would not forgive them. They all said "yeees." So, we explained to them that there was nothing they could do that God wouldn't forgive if they were sorry. One of the little boys said "Hhmm ok I think I understand now." That melted my heart. The Judson students are also really getting into this ministry and that makes me very excited as well. During the summer, the kids at Clifford Court get to go to a summer camp called Riverwoods. Several of the students who have come to Clifford Court and fallen in love with the kids are thinking about working at this camp over the summer! Overall, this ministry has been slightly stressful, but it has been a huge blessing!
This year at school I have the incredible privilege of being on University Ministries as one of the Community Outreach Co-Chairs. We have a homeless ministry, a grandparents ministry, and my children's ministry at Clifford Court! These ministries exist to give Judson a chance to serve and get involved in the Elgin community. Clifford Court is small community of government housing that consists of 28 apartments. Most of these families are single parent families or the father just isn't ever around. There are about 30 kids living in this community from ages 2-18. My ministry focuses on the younger kids, but when the older kids show up we'll talk to them and give them a snack. I'm in charge of coordinating a children's ministry on Monday afternoons for the kids. I have as many Judson students as possible meet me in our commons and we walk over to Clifford Court. We have a snack time, large group games and lesson, songs and chants, dance battles, small groups, and crafts. The small groups are something that I have made new this year, and it's been great! The girls answer questions and get to know the Judson girls, and the boys don't really pay attention, but they get fun positive male attention from the Judson guys! It's great! This last week I was teaching about Jonah and how God was kind to the people of Ninevah and forgave them when they repented. We asked the kids if they thought they could do something bad enough that God would not forgive them. They all said "yeees." So, we explained to them that there was nothing they could do that God wouldn't forgive if they were sorry. One of the little boys said "Hhmm ok I think I understand now." That melted my heart. The Judson students are also really getting into this ministry and that makes me very excited as well. During the summer, the kids at Clifford Court get to go to a summer camp called Riverwoods. Several of the students who have come to Clifford Court and fallen in love with the kids are thinking about working at this camp over the summer! Overall, this ministry has been slightly stressful, but it has been a huge blessing!
