Another Blessing: A great student leadership team!

One of God's other blessings at Pearland Junior High East: Their student leadership team!

This group of students is amazing. First of all, they handle all the announcements at the club like clockwork. The Connection Club does the food drive, Pennies for Patients and a tab drive for the Ronald McDonald House. Each student grabs the visual reminder for their announcement and just does it.

I remember last year, when, if you didn't prompt them, there were lots of big silent pauses. Now, they just breeze through them, no prompts necessary!

One girl has taken on the job of introducing the speaker. She goes up and says hello, ask him what church he is from and makes other small talk.

It's one thing to talk about the grace and ease they have with making announcements. That is a sign of growth, maturity and developing leadership skills.

There are 5 students on the leadership team: 2 boys, 3 girls or 2 7th graders and 3 8th graders.

But it is the other issues that I see them dealing with and their push to continue what they are doing is what I find really moving.

One issue: The 7th grade boy brings in his 8th Grade handbook and wants to know why the Connection Club is not listed in the list of clubs.

I watch this group take ownership. And offense. They talk about the problem. They look at me and the sponsor and you can tell, they would like us to fix this. We put it back on their shoulders. "Who will ask the principal?"

For several weeks, this comes up. What should be said? Who should say it? Who will go and ask? Suggestions. Discussion. Tentative plan. The next week: repeat.

But they are wrestling with this issue. One girl said she said something to the principal. The group realized they need to follow up and starts discussing who should say what.

And Last year, they couldn't make announcements!

The other thing I saw this morning was this desire to continue their club, their leadership.

This group will all go to Pearland High School. The 8th graders in Fall 2010, the 7th graders in fall 2011. So, they are so excited that there is a club at PHS. This morning, they are discussing how they can join the club at PHS. A 7th Grade girl says: I have this idea: How about we continue the Connection Club at the High School?

Much discussion. I let them know, I will be happy to help them at the High School - if that is what they want to do, but there is a club there - iPray, but they are all or mostly Seniors.

There is also discussion on See you at the Pole, See you at the Pole Training. One girl tells how she went to the Saw you at the Pole and it was so awesome. (and I was wondering if I needed to continue that . . . )

I hear a desire to continue this ongoing ministry. I hear them looking to the future: 8th Graders planning for High School Club and See you at the Pole. 7th Graders planning for next year's PJHE's Connection Club.

I am so moved at what God has developed in this leadership team.


There are several things I realize:
1) I'm seeing fruit. There are so many ministries where you never see Fruit and you move forward by faith. Just simply the belief that this will bear fruit and you just do it. Seeing Fruit is such a Blessing especially on this side of Heaven.

2) I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this.
And more of this.

3) What about Berry Miller and Junior High West? What are those kids missing out on because they don't have a club and can't be on a leadership team?

4) I need to do a field trip where I get the 5 junior highers from East to the 6:45 am iPray at Pearland High school. This is a little like saying you would like to take some Junior Highers to the Moon! But my mind is going: Could I get permission from the High School? Could I take them to McDonald's for Breakfast - How much could it cost to take 5 Junior Highers to McDonald's - better start fundraising. Could they ride the high School Bus to the High School and I will take them to their school After wards? How many permission slips will this take?

And last year, they couldn't make the announcements . . . What could they be doing next year with just a little more coaching?

God bless the Connection Club at PJHE!

God has blessed the Connection Club at Pearland Junior High East with some amazing things. And some amazing obstacles.

First of all, this club has an amazing adult support team: Patti Kachel and Linda and Billy Shaw. These are Grandparents that show up each week and just help. Help pass out snacks, help set up the room and then help get it ready for the class after wards.

But it is the adult contact that they give the students that is such a blessing. Patti comments on Juan's glasses. CJ tells Linda his birthday is in 7 days. Billy cheers on the football players and pats them on the back. Linda's granddaughter grins from ear to ear and goes to hug Linda. Patti greets the speaker. The list could go on about the small acts of kindness and love this team brings to this club and the 60 to 80 students that attend.

Remember many of these kids won't get this kindness at school from their peers. And too many won't get this kind of encouragement and kind words at home either.

I will write a second blog about the student leadership team - which is wonderful, but first let me address an obstacle.

Because everything has to be "politically correct", when the on campus Christian Club writes their announcements. Let's stop here and praise God that they can make announcements.

But their announcements can't include the words: God, Jesus, Prayer, Christian, Bible, the name of any youth pastor/speaker.

"The Connections Club will be meeting on Wednesday morning in the Art room and a speaker will address good citizenship. Snacks will be served."

Gives you a new perspective on Snacks - it's the only thing that isn't in code!

There are still students who are trying to start a Christian Club. They are shocked to find out that Pearland Junior High East has one!