AWO Christmas Party 2015

I cannot believe another Christmas is here! Time flies, and even more quickly when you are walking in the things you are most passionate about! We were able to host the kids at The Party Place for their very own private Christmas party this year (thanks to State Rep. Dexter Sharper!). We started the day with separating out the boys from the girls, where each was taught a Bible lesson and asked to participate in a related activity. I spoke to the girls about Esther, and how she rose from an orphaned commoner to QUEEN, who ultimately was given the task of saving the Jews. Andy spoke with the boys about David and how he was raised from a lowly shepherd position to KING, and how he was mighty in God but still failed in some big ways, but was ultimately redeemed. The overarching theme was that God has purposed you for a cause, no matter your station in life, and if you allow Him to He WILL use you and elevate you to where He needs you to be.

Sheba Phillips (The Carpenter's Daughter) then conducted a worship dance workshop of a song and dance related to this lesson, teaching me and the girls a beautifully choreographed expressive dance. The girls so enjoyed this, and (even though I was a little off in my timing) so did I! Andy simultaneously wrote a song in collaboration with the boys about David's journey. We all then took a break for lunch, where the kids had pizza, cupcakes, cookies, chips, candy (donated by Highland Christian Academy's 2nd grade class), and spent some time fellowshiping with each other. After lunch we had a time of entertainment, where the boys performed their song for all of us, and the girls performed their dance, as well. I think everyone there had an absolute blast! Finally, just before leaving, each child received gift baskets and goody bags. The looks on their faces were priceless! I have to thank you again for helping me reach this point, for supporting and encouraging me along the way, and especially to all the people who personally contributed to make this day possible. Today you made a difference in a LOT of lives! :) May YOUR Christmases be Merry and Bright! Blessings to you in this Holy season!

Positive Changes in Ministry

I've long prayed for God to send godly men to disciple and pour into the young men involved with Arms Wide Open. In 7 years of ministry, not one man has been willing to spend consistent time discipling these young men. This year, in 2015, God has sent Andy Dow to not only teach them, volunteer and help chaperone, but also to individually disciple, these boys. Andy was discipled himself by a pastor at the Fishermen of Valdosta and is passionate about discipleship being an integral part of our Christian walk. He started teaching The Purple Book Bible study to our kids in August and recently began individually discipling a young man who a few people have told me to "give up on" over the years. I always knew it was not God's will for me to give up on this young man, and rest assured, God's calling on me in this area is so strong I will NEVER "give up" on any of my kids. I am so glad I stayed faithful and continued pursuing him and reaching out to him over the years, because he went from being a disruptive, cart-wheel turning (IN CHURCH) teen, to a regular church-attending, Bible study soaking, prophetically GIFTED young man who very much enjoys his weekly meetings with Andy, where he gets to break bread with him over scripture. I see that God is doing new and wonderful things with Arms Wide Open, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for 2016!!

AWO's Summer Camp 2015

     So our 7th year of ministry is closing and summer camp is finished. As I have experienced year after year, the weeks before camp were full of attack and opposition but God did prevail and camp was a wonderful success! It started out by vehicle issues that are still not fully resolved, a swollen liver, and finally severe abdominal pain that had me visiting the doctor the day camp was to begin. My goal was to be given the "ok" to continue on with camp and I was given that (appendicitis was suspected but I trusted God to get me through if that was the case). I was physically under attack and in tremendous pain BUT God sustained me and camp was not affected.
     This year our kids have been taken to church every other Sunday and those that wanted to participate in the school of ministry were also discipled and taught that material (thanks to Kingdom Equipping Ministries and Terry Shiver's church for helping sponsor this). They learned hands-on ministry of praying for people on the streets and in the marketplace and witnessed some miracles firsthand! This year our camp was held at Reed Bingham State Park and they got to experience camping OUTSIDE in tents for the first time. We had a tent malfunction right at the onset of camp and fortunately someone came to our rescue and loaned us tents before the park gate closed (thank you so much Andy Dow!!). That was God sending rescue literally at the 11th hour....without that we would have either had to cancel our camp out or sleep on the ground with no cover! But as always, God provided for all of our needs. This was a wonderful example for the kids to see how, when you walk in His ways, you will encounter struggle and difficulty but He always makes a way!
     I was led to teach them out of Psalms and Matthew and we learned why Jesus instructed us to pray in the manner of the Lord's Prayer. We also incorporated some inner healing prayer during our hike. We finished Saturday off by watching fireworks and celebrating America. When asked what they have learned this weekend they replied "how to survive in the wilderness," "the Lord's Prayer," and "how important it is to forgive others." Thank you to all who prayed for us and supported this time of ministry. What a wonderful weekend it has been!!