by Jarrett Meek
It didn't take long after meeting Megan McDermott to realize that she had unique gifts, abilities and passions for working with inner-city Latino kids. Her experience as a teacher gave her a good handle on managing kid-dynamics. Her love for Christ served as the source of her love for the kids. And, her study-abroad experiences in Costa Rica had instilled in her a passion for building cross-cultural relationships with Latino people. We soon learned also that another critical element was also present: God's calling.
It came as no surprise to me, as our missionary team went around the circle last weekend mentioning the most impacting things God has done this year in Mission Adelante, that Megan coming on board as the Director of Kids Adelante was at the top of the list. In a very short period of time she has assumed the leadership role in a thriving and dynamic ministry that includes about 60 kids in a weekly outreach Bible study, 12 in a three-day-a-week leadership training program, and employs over 25 volunteers on a weekly basis.
Megan's capacity as a leader has been proven quickly. Her ability to manage multiple programs, relate with kids and their parents, and coordinate the efforts of volunteer teams is very strong. But these abilities only scratch the surface of Megan's impact. Working with inner city kids who are often hard to love requires a special perseverance, patience, and vision; perseverance to stay encouraged in light of ongoing crises and disappointments, patience to wait for God to work in the lives of kids in His timing, and vision to see beyond current circumstances to what these kids could become. Megan possesses all of these qualities, and one more: love for the kids. Even as Megan diligently fulfills her leadership responsibilities, she continues to demonstrate a faithful love for each child as an individual, often taking them out for ice cream for their birthdays and finding other ways to spend special time with them.
The kids, the staff, and the volunteer team of Mission Adelante are very proud of Megan and extremely blessed by her ministry in our community. To read stories and updates from Megan or to check out her recent video update, visit her blog.
In other news:
It didn't take long after meeting Megan McDermott to realize that she had unique gifts, abilities and passions for working with inner-city Latino kids. Her experience as a teacher gave her a good handle on managing kid-dynamics. Her love for Christ served as the source of her love for the kids. And, her study-abroad experiences in Costa Rica had instilled in her a passion for building cross-cultural relationships with Latino people. We soon learned also that another critical element was also present: God's calling.
It came as no surprise to me, as our missionary team went around the circle last weekend mentioning the most impacting things God has done this year in Mission Adelante, that Megan coming on board as the Director of Kids Adelante was at the top of the list. In a very short period of time she has assumed the leadership role in a thriving and dynamic ministry that includes about 60 kids in a weekly outreach Bible study, 12 in a three-day-a-week leadership training program, and employs over 25 volunteers on a weekly basis.
Megan's capacity as a leader has been proven quickly. Her ability to manage multiple programs, relate with kids and their parents, and coordinate the efforts of volunteer teams is very strong. But these abilities only scratch the surface of Megan's impact. Working with inner city kids who are often hard to love requires a special perseverance, patience, and vision; perseverance to stay encouraged in light of ongoing crises and disappointments, patience to wait for God to work in the lives of kids in His timing, and vision to see beyond current circumstances to what these kids could become. Megan possesses all of these qualities, and one more: love for the kids. Even as Megan diligently fulfills her leadership responsibilities, she continues to demonstrate a faithful love for each child as an individual, often taking them out for ice cream for their birthdays and finding other ways to spend special time with them.
The kids, the staff, and the volunteer team of Mission Adelante are very proud of Megan and extremely blessed by her ministry in our community. To read stories and updates from Megan or to check out her recent video update, visit her blog.
In other news:
- Our annual Missionary Team retreat last weekend was a fruitful time of reflection, evaluation, and brainstorming, especially on the topics of developing close relationships and discipleship within our church community.
- Jarrett visited the K-State chapter of Ichthus student ministry last Thursday to recruit for our 2010 summer internship.
- Thanks to generous donations from Christ Community Churches in Leawood and Olathe we have a majority of the winter coats, hats and gloves to meet the needs of neighborhood families this winter.
- Megan McDermott and 13-year-old Nayeli, an LIT student, will visit the Hope Center tomorrow on the East Side of KC, MO to observe their Teen Bible Study as we consider how to expand Kids Adelante to continue to meet the needs of our growing kids.
- Everardo and Laura are ESL students that visited our Worship Celebration for the first time on Sunday evening. Please pray that the connections they made there will give them a desire to return this week.
- Join with us in praying that God will stir the hearts of people to engage in the spring trimester as new volunteers, both in the Hispanic and Bhutanese outreaches.
- Pray for God's direction for David Stetler and his team's strategic planning for the Bhutanese ministry. They will launch their pilot ESL classes and kids ministry in January.
- Volunteers to spend a couple of hours this week or next week sorting clothes in our Resource Center. Please call Molly Merrick at 913-961-2984 to line up your time.
- Brown paper grocery bags for resource distribution.
- Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
- Monday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m.: All Volunteer Team Meeting