IMPACT STORIES - DEBBIE

Last Spring, when we were at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, I was feeling a little at a loss as to what I could do as a ministry since we were unable to attend in-person church. I usually serve in the Toddler room twice a month at church, and I knew I was in for some serious withdrawal not being able to see those precious faces. While I was contemplating this, Kelly Swaleson emailed me asking if I would consider doing a Zoom small group for school age girls for 6 weeks. Prayer answered! I could do that!

A couple weeks later Kirstin Stave contacted me. She asked if I would take the class of  8-9 year old boys instead of girls. Okay, a little out of my initial comfort zone (after all, boys are much more rowdy, right?) but hey, 6 weeks, I can do that. Then she tells me my partner would be Cathy Siems. Now I was really in! I’ve worked with Cathy before and I love her! It was the start of many ways that I could feel God putting something good in play.

I have to admit, I was pretty nervous before that first Zoom meeting. I spent lots of time in prayer over it and left it at Jesus’ feet. I knew He called me to do this, so He was going to have to take over and do His will with it. Once we jumped in…Oh my goodness! What a great group of boys! At first it was hard to get them to converse about the lesson, answer my questions, or volunteer to read out loud, etc. But gradually they came to discuss the different Bible characters, how they would react in the same situations, etc. and read and pray out loud. Not a lesson goes by that something isn’t said that causes Cathy and I to laugh out loud or marvel at their insight. Did you ever think that arranged marriages in the Bible are a lot like being a rescue dog? I can truthfully say I had not ever thought of that, but it makes sense! You never know if the relationship is going to be abusive or not. I love it.

Needless to say, things were going so well after the 6 weeks that Cathy and I agreed right away that we would keep going until school started because there was no way we would take this time away from any of these boys. We had such a good time that when school was about to start, the boys started coming up with solutions as to when to meet to not interfere with school time. They just assumed we were going to keep this up each week! I talked to Cathy, without any hesitation, we said there was no way we could stop after seeing the boys’ excitement. 

We are still meeting every week and enjoying every minute of it. God get’s all the glory! He showed us how He works all the little details to grow something so wonderful and satisfying. These boys like to say we are family, and I have to agree with them: I’ve grown to love each of those faces on that screen.