On Valentine’s Day, I was privileged to be one of the community members invited to read to a class at The Oaks Elementary as part of their “Sweet on Reading” day. The morning started with a reception and breakfast in their new loft above the library (a very cool space by the way). I visited with a number of community leaders and, of course, a number of teachers and administrators from The Oaks Elementary. During the reception, each time someone from the school asked me where I was from and I replied that I am the pastor at Atascocita United Methodist Church, they would begin gushing (no, really – gushing!) about how important the partnership between our church and their school was to them and to the students.
They spoke of our involvement in Kid’s Hope – the quality of the leadership for that program and the willingness and dependability of the mentors we send – and the impact on the students and the teachers. The counselor, Criscilla Hensley, spoke of our financial partnership through our Dynamic Dollars – and the impact those dollars have on her ability to provide items to the students most in need. She appreciates that she can also make a call to our church when there is a specific need and that need gets met. She appreciates the impact we have on some of the most vulnerable families through our grocery program of Saturday’s Child.
These conversations showed me, yet again, what an impact our church has on our community. Had I been at Timbers Elementary instead of the Oaks, I’m sure I would have heard similar gushing – Timbers is our other partner school for our Kid’s Hope and Saturday’s Child program.
Sometimes, changing a life is an instant in time – a baptism, a profession of faith, a new church attender who finds their place in our family. Sometimes, changing a life is more like being the salt of the earth, the leaven in the loaf – a little seasoning, a little yeast – actions here and there that, alone, don’t seem to be significant agents of change. But I was reminded today that all those actions, taken together by the folks who worship at AUMC, are making a huge difference in the lives of the young ones at The Oaks Elementary (and their teachers). I am so proud to be your pastor!
And, by the way, I read “The Armadillo from Amarillo” to a group of 4th graders and had a blast!
Keep on doing the good you do, AUMC!
Deborah Hawboldt, Pastor
AUMC Family since 2014
Thanks for sharing the good news. Our church is indeed leavening our community by sharing the love of Christ. Grace upon Grace. Made my day reading this story. Peace.
So happy that AUMC is still so involved with Oaks Elementary. It was a true labor of love to start Kids Hope at the Oaks and I am so proud that it is still so relevant in the lives of the staff and students at the school as well as the lives of the church members that participate or have participated in the Kids Hope program. Thank you for highlighting this wonderful program.