A little history lesson for y'all...
Way back when, we decided to split Joyland (K-3rd) and the 4th-6th graders (kind of like in elementary school too), so that we could better address the different needs of the older students. I was one of the 4th grade teachers back then...and Isaiah was in my class! (Makes me feel pretty...uh...blessed, yeah that's it!)
Anyway, we were trying to think of a hip new name for this 4th-6th grade ministry. But all the names we thought of somehow ended up being car names, SUV names to be more precise - Explorers, Discovery, Pathfinders, Trail Blazers, Navigators, Tundra (just kidding about that one).
So, folks, that's the story of how the name FTS came to be. It stands for... Fourth Through Sixth. No joke.
Anyway, Joyland is back to being K-6th, but one of the annual highlights of the youngters' years (in addition to Joyland Christmas Celebration) is the FTS Retreat. Many memories have been made throughout the years. Many students have made decisions to give their lives to Christ at these retreats. I was able to go to a couple of them myself, and pray with a couple of kids who wanted to make Jesus the Lord of their lives.
One year, I led praise and while singing "I Have a Maker" and looking out at all the kids' faces, thinking about how precious each is to God, I started to cry. Yeah, that was pretty embarrassing. I remember one of the younger boys stopped singing altogether and was just staring at me. I had to try to explain to the kids why I was crying...and of course, all the teachers throughout the room were trying really hard not to crack up laughing. Anyway...the memories!
This year, my friend John (of Homegroup 5) is going to be the speaker! Please pray for him, for creativity, energy, and for God to give him the clearest way to convey the amazing message of God's love and divine design for each of their lives. Also pray for safety, as they'll all be going on hikes and driving a long way with a bunch of kiddos.
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Posted By kimkim to Gracepoint Fellowship Church :: Berkeley Koinonia HG 7 [R.E.D.] at 7/17/2008 12:09:00 PM
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