Written by Phul Maya Rasaily, Ministry Apprentice
Leading Arts Community has been a huge learning step for me because I had never led anything before. Getting out of my comfort zone was not as bad as I thought it would have been. After realizing how much I have gained from trying something new, I knew I wanted to encourage my volunteers to do the same. Now, I am learning to encourage my volunteers to lead alongside me. Below, one of my volunteers shares about teaching a Bible lesson for the first time!
Getting ready for a big performance!
“My name is Marlena and I am a dance teacher at Arts Community. On February 3rd, I taught my very first bible lesson to the kids. I was going to be teaching about when Jesus healed a paralytic at Capernaum. Asking my friends and colleagues at Mission Adelante for resources and help on how to best present this to children from 3 to 18 years of age, was weird for me. I usually tend to listen rather than present in religious circumstances. Phul Maya was kind to give me a couple of sources so I could begin to plan how to present.
Treats and smiles after performing!
Planning my lesson was the most challenging part of this experience. A big question came to mind: Would anyone be offended or would it be enjoyed? I wanted the students to focus on more than just remembering to be helpful. I wanted them to see the story for what it was about: love, trust, and having faith. Having the students participate in the storytelling is always fun and tends to be memorable. I was glad to see that the students didn't mind me playing Jesus (me being female) and didn’t mind my pet lovebird playing the paralyzed person (who did great by the way).
I was afraid that this way of telling a story would be a bit unorthodox, but the beauty of children is that they are pure of heart. They are full of innocence, something that us adults either lose, tend to forget, or both. Seeing their reactions and how they take on the story gave me a sense of comfort. My personal thoughts and perspective didn’t matter to them. What mattered most was that this lesson was accepted by them and it was something that I had enjoyed! This lesson ended up having more value than even I could have imagined! This is an example of what some may say is to just have a little bit of faith. It's a reward within itself!”
I am excited about what God is doing through Marlena in Arts Community. I hope that her first experience teaching a Bible lesson will inspire others to do the same.
Laxmi and Marlena smile for the camera before Arts Community begins.
CURRENT NEEDS:
Adelante Thrift is looking for a summer social media intern! This intern will work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and will create content showcasing their volunteers and volunteer activities. Applicants must live in Kansas City, KS and be a high school student in good standing. The application deadline is April 30th. Apply here: https://forms.gle/EMGEMNeCS49SHfna9
Thinking about serving at Mission Adelante? Join them the first and second weeks of March for observations! Come find out what services they provide for their community and what program would be the best fit for you! Pick a date and sign up to observe here: http://www.missionadelante.org/observe