Berry Miller – Salt and Light

I Love being a part of on Campus Christian Clubs! This morning was no exception.

You must understand that it is very difficult to find the clubs. That is challenge number one. Christian Clubs are a political hot button for a public school, so in general, they don't want to acknowledge that they exist. Usually, you just can't call and ask. It usually isn't on the website. The second challenge is to successfully make contact with the either the students or the club sponsor in such a way that you can be allowed to help with the club. (Not intrude or take over, but genuinely assist – Serve and help carry the load.)

Two weeks ago, I successfully found and contacted a Christian Club sponsor. (Insider tips are my best information! The Sponsor of an existing club told me that she heard about this club – Thank you, Sue!) I offered to bring snacks and pick up afterwards. The sponsor was very excited to get such an offer.

So, this morning, I brought snacks. I have left over starbucks pastries, but on Tuesday, Billy and Linda offered me some pretty Valentine cupcakes! Three Dozen – I thought that would be plenty. I emailed to ask the sponsor. He said normally, they have 40 to 50! Wow! I took the cupcakes, but I added 10 pieces of Starbucks.

Enough about how God opened the door! The club: It was an amazing club. They mingled and ate cupcakes to start with. The sponsor opened with a beautiful prayer. Then, the kids broke up into 2 groups – one group of mainly boys (3 girls) and one of all girls. Two different boys addressed the boys, one after another. The 2^nd boy told the boys this was just for boys, so the three girls got up and joined the girls. A girl spoke to the girls. All the speakers I heard were excellent. Both referred to their favorite verses. Both spoke confidently. It is hard to listen to two different speakers at once! But I was trying.

I also watched random acts of kindness: a girl crossing the gym for a paper towel to give someone else. A boy, leaving his cupcake on his books in the gym and returning with 2 or 3 friends (all girls!), picking up his books and cupcake and joining the boys group. I had wondered about that cupcake sitting on those books. Several students thanked me for the snacks.

I spoke to the club sponsor and he said that they rotate the speaking. The students decide who is doing what next. I told him I would bring snacks next week. I told him I could get him a youth pastor speaker, but that it seemed like they had a format that was working and I hate to disrupt that. He agreed.

I counted students: 35 girls and 28 boys.

I want you to be encouraged: In a world where you hear about young criminals and terrible crimes, there is hope! There are 63 students being Salt and Light at Berry Miller Junior High.

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?