Float Friday

It's been 2 months since I have seen my 6th grader SOZO Kids who are all "grown up" now and have moved on to middle school.  Some were fairly confident about what middle school would be like while others were nervous about what they heard upper classmen would do to 6th graders (reminds me of my thoughts about starting jr. high!)  

So when the opportunity came to attend the weekly "Float Friday" outreach (connected with SOZO and YFC) that happens at one of the local middle schools, I jumped at the chance!  Float Friday happens right after school in the gym and has a similar feel as SOZO Kids...games, crafts, a message and root beer floats to cap off the time.

I waited outside the gym doors with the Float Friday team for the final bell to ring and then was met by a rush of kids in green and khaki as they poured into the gym.  There are typically 75-120 kids every week who attend and more than 80% of the school has come and heard the Gospel.  God has been moving powerfully here and other public middle schools have been calling to see if they can have a team come and have a similar program at their school!

Immediately I began to see kids who had been a part of SOZO Kids.  I had such a rush of emotion as I saw each of them, hugged them and knew that they were continuing to be a part of something where they were known, loved and learning more about Jesus. 

Soon the gym was filled with kids talking, playing basketball and dancing...which, if you know me well, you can guess where I was :) There was a group of about 15 kids doing the "Cha Cha Slide" and I was in the middle of them!  One of the girls dancing with me was "Alisha", who I have known since I started SOZO Kids and she introduced me to her group of friends and then hung out near me for much of the afternoon.  

For part of the time we were split into stations and I was leading a game of Ultimate Uno and had a group of boys (who I had never met) playing with me.  Within minutes, one of the boys started sharing unprompted about how he is going to visit his mom for the first time this weekend.  Later, another boy melted down in tears because another wasn't playing the game right.  Wow.  These kids are so in need of what Float Friday offers...and they are just that--still kids.  

The rest of the time we had a large group game, they heard a message about the Prodigal Son (told in "urban" terms) and had their root beer floats.  It was so fun to be there (I think I saw at least a dozen kids I knew) and see what goes on.  I am eager to drop in again--hopefully on a monthly basis!

This past weekend, there was a national prostitution sting and 23 children (under 18) were arrested locally.  Of those, some were middle schoolers, as young as 12.  Hundreds more are suspected to be involved in our county.  (For more information on this story, click here.)  It is still very overwhelming for me to think about kids this young involved in prostitution...but it only puts a greater fire in my heart to continue to reach the kids as young as possible so that will not be an option for them.

Praise God for Float Friday, for the kids I was reunited with, for a team of people to serve with who are committed to these kids. 

Infinitely Beyond

Teaching weekly at SOZO Kids is one of my highlights.  It is my opportunity to share more about Jesus--the One who is more then they could ever imagine and who loves them with such intensity.  It is a rowdy bunch (50 elementary aged kids at 8:30 pm on a Friday night, rowdiness is inevitable!) and getting them to sit still for 15 minutes to listen can be a bit challenging at times :)

The last few weeks, however, it is as though they have been captivated afresh about who Jesus is.  We are working our way through the book of John and my prayer is that through knowing Jesus, they would fall in love and develop a deep trust that would enable a surrendered life--for keeps!  I have been able to share about Jesus' compassion with the death of Lazarus and how he wept...these kids ache to know someone cares when their heart aches.   They have heard about Jesus healing blind eyes and have heard testimonies from one of our student leaders who was in Cambodia this summer who saw many who were completely blind healed and now able to see! They asked question after question as Jesus was brought to life.  Oh, that the Truth would penetrate and transform!


In recent weeks I have read The Cross and the Switchblade (real-life story of Pastor David Wilkerson encountering gangs in inner city New York and the radical way God changed the lives of many youth) and Real Hope in Chicago (about a community transformed by God).  I also have been stirred to read journal articles studying the risk factors of gang-involvement...which highlight many things that happen in elementary aged kids that predict gang involvement.  To say I am "stirred" would be an understatement.


That's why this scripture leapt out at me this morning.  

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams)--

Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified version)

Not just some of what I pray for or dream about, but infinitely beyond.  Something in that gives rest to my soul today.  For the brothers that I see out and about at night on the streets, never with parents, but who usually somehow make it to SOZO Kids...infinitely beyond.  For the girl we had to call CPS and the police because of what she shared happens at home...infinitely beyond.  For the 5th graders who come weekly who will enter middle school in less than a year and who look up to those involved with gangs and drugs...infinitely beyond.  

Jesus speak powerfully through me as I teach and share about you.  May they be captivated by the Savior who gave himself for them.