Everyday Miracles
Mark 10:15
”Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
I work at the elementary site at the Wesley-Rankin Community Center in West Dallas. One of the biggest joys but also biggest trials for me is leading the daily Bible Lesson for our youngest kids, the “Dinosaurs” (our 1st and 2nd graders). Many of these kids have not yet had much experience with Bible stories, or with talking about spirituality. Because they are so little, and have such short attention spans, I’ve had to get creative with how I conduct daily Bible lessons.
This past week, after weeks of trying to get the kids to pay attention, and really get something out of Bible lessons, I finally made a breakthrough. Our lesson plan for the day was to tell the story of when Jesus walked on water. The other groups read the story in its text form to their kids, but I knew that my little ones would lose interest in a simple reading quickly. Thinking on my feet, I began with, “It was a dark and stormy night…”
Immediately their eyes shot to me like I just announced that they would be receiving free candy. I continued with my haunting story of the howling winds and the waves that I imagined made the miracle of Jesus’ nighttime stroll on the water seem more eerie. As I went on, the majority of the kids did not move their eyes from me, fascinated by this scary story. I then told about Jesus walking on water, just like it was a normal sidewalk. The kids were amazed. Their eyes shone with wonder, and with possibility. I imagined that they were thinking, what if they too could have walked on water?
This caused me to think about how casually I’ve viewed Jesus’ miracles. How many times have I just thrown out examples of miracles, raising my hand in Sunday School and saying “loaves and fishes, calming the storm, healing the sick,” in the same tone as saying, “two times two is four.” I have stated them like facts, as pieces of knowledge that one just has as a Christian, and doesn’t question. When looking at the faces of my Bible lesson group, I knew that these past reactions to Jesus’ miracles lacked in the awe and the wonder that I should experience in the face of the amazing acts of Christ. As I looked at the awe-struck eyes of these kids, I too felt awed at God’s power and mercy. If we have a God who can walk to us on water, reach out to us, and say, “Do not be afraid,” I feel that in the face of all of life’s struggles and challenges, I don’t have to be afraid.
A few weeks prior to this lesson, a child asked me, with great frustration in his voice, “WHO IS GOD?” I did the best I could to explain, asking the other kids to chime in. They spoke of God’s creation, and God’s love. Clearly exasperated with our answers, this child said, “Well, WHERE IS HE?” I struggled to explain a God who is both in heaven, and on Earth, living in his Kingdom wherever his followers are. This child was not satisfied with my explanation, and said, “Ugh! I wanted to SEE him!”
Looking around at my captive audience that was filled with amazement at God’s miracles, I thought back to this discussion. Whether they realized it at the time or not, my kids were seeing God through this story. He was here, right in front of them, holding his hand out while standing on the water, telling them to not be afraid. This was a moment of Project Transformation’s purposeful ministry; at this moment, God was using me to show these kids His power, His mercy, and His amazing love. I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful ministry, for many reasons, but most of all, because I get to be someone who shows who and where God is to a wonderful group of children.
Stacey Porter
PT Intern 2011
Southwestern University
Leave a Comment
Small Blessings
I never expected to work at Project Transformation during the summer following my college graduation and yet God had an alternate plan for me this summer. Throughout my experience I have God work in countless unforeseen circumstances; though I cannot pinpoint one moment and declare it to be the zenith of this job, I can identify several aspects that have made PT the rewarding and challenging summer it has been.
Although I anticipated a highly diverse population among the children I serve, I did not anticipate the disparate backgrounds of my fellow interns. Everyone here at PT truly brings a different perspective to our mission. It seems obvious that differences can threaten to divide the link between different people, but I have seen that our repertoire of skills make us successful in what we have to offer at our worksites. The body of PT interns is not a mystical body bending backward to be the mystical body of Christ by serving in different ways despite our similarities; rather, we are a group of young people with a wide variety of gifts and talents striving to act as the body of Christ for the world so that through our differences we convey our common mission.
Moreover, each week we interns have the opportunity to go into the home of one of our children to spend time with their families. Though some of the children struggle with a great amount of adversity in their home environments, it is rewarding that some of these families function as a model for what a close family can be. Families have come together to prepare meals for us and others have discussed the plans for their children to attend college and be educationally enriched. Each of these “home visits” has been enjoyable to me and each family has shown me Christian love and hospitality.
I have found the weekly worship services to be spiritually renewing also. Each service hinges upon a different theme and features an accompanying guest speaker. I really enjoyed one week in particular when Ms. Sarah Wilke, CEO of The Upper Room and co-founder of Project Transformation spoke on the areas of our life which are spiritually dormant, areas of our life in which we negate God’s ability to powerfully transform us. Her sermon really conveyed the mission at the heart of PT: despite our stubbornness God fully works to undergird transformation in our lives when we yield to Him. I have come to realize (with resistance) areas in which I behave pridefully in my beliefs and areas in which God beckons me to change.
Work at PT does not come without its challenges. The job is demanding, tiring, and sometimes stressful. Tension does arise when such a large group works in such a close-knit environment. When perceived holistically, however, it becomes obvious that the hand of Jesus weaves together many small blessings in a mighty way here at Project Transformation.
Matt Peisen
St. Marks Summer 2011
University of Dallas Graduate
Yaay for Year 3!
Year Three. That is what keeps on running in my mind. I was not suppose to be back this year. That is how I left last summer and then sitting at the door about to welcome 85 campers into PT Trinity on the first day of camp knowing a good amount of the faces feeling so much joy that I just had to go to the back and cry, proved to me that Gods plan is bigger than mine.
Returning this year as reading coordinator has been such an exciting experience. Having some of the children run in and the first thing they wanted to tell me was about how well they read this past year because of reading last year at PT Trinity. When looking at just the results of these last few weeks at PT Trinity and seeing the camper’s scores already rising, it makes my heart happy. This is something that a lot of the children would not be able to have happen for them if it wasn’t for the fact that this year at PT Trinity, we have had so many volunteers that the campers get to have that one on one reading attention that they need. It is because of the amazing volunteers that I, as well as the other interns on the reading team have been able to really work with some of the campers on regular basis. With the help of the volunteers and the hard work of the reading team, some of our campers who were reading at the very lowest level just three weeks ago, are now reading at the level they should be at for the fall.
It is because of things like this I see the term community really come into action. If it was not for Trinity United Methodist Church opening their doors to these campers and these volunteers seeing that what is going on within the doors of Trinity is so important, that it leads them to give their time to sit and read with children that they normally would not come into contact with, these children would not have had the experiences they have had. Some of them would not get to hear everyday how beautiful and special they are or even, that someone loves them. It is because of all the love that is shared within the community of PT, that these children really get to see what Christ’s love really means and with that I am forever grateful.
Christina Hannan
PT Intern 2011
Tarleton State University
Collision of Hot Wheels
I love when God places someone in your path at just the right time. It is like when I was little and I would get hot wheel cars and crash them into each other. Those hot wheel cars always ended up alright, but if that were to happen in real life and with real cars then they could never be the same. That is what has been happening to me ever Tuesday night at worship service. God’s ideas have been colliding with my ideas and I can say it has changed me. Every service has been unique but they are unified in the fact that they expand my view of worship. We have had services ranging from outdoor worship that focused on God’s gift of nature all the way to this week’s service, the first ever hip hop service. Because I am so gangster (not really) I was obviously one of the top choices as a participant. I gladly accepted because I was able to play music and do a reading alongside two of my teammates and friends Larry Randolph and Josh Caraway. Participating was fun by that did not impact me as much as the speaker.
He presented God as someone who gives us the power and the commandment to change culture. He incorporated this idea by using hip-hop as his example. Hip hop was born as an art form in the Bronx, but what was once a local art form is now worldwide. It has changed the way the world is viewed and it has had an impact on society. In that same way God has given us the ability to change society. Throughout the bible this thought is recreated with different characters. Everyone who God calls upon to do something ends up having a huge impact on the culture of the world. Jonah impacted Nineveh and helped recreate a more righteous city. Moses took the slaves and made them into a nation. Noah helped repopulate the earth with people who knew, feared, and trusted in God. Think about every person in the bible and how they have made an impact. This is a crazy idea. We are called to impact our culture. We are called to start something that spreads like a wildfire. We are called to be society changers. The other interesting thing is these were ordinary people just like you and me. They weren’t millionaires and they weren’t famous. Some ran and God showed them another way. Some, like Noah, believed and did like he was told. In the end, the final result was an impact on society.
As he spoke I sat there captivated because I have been wrestling with my role in the world. How can I make an impact? As I thought about this I began looking for examples of people who saw a need in the world and did something about. The first person I could think of was Blake Mycoskie the owner of TOMS Shoe Company. If you are not familiar with TOMS, a pair of shoes is given to a child in need for every pair of shoes that is bought. His abbreviated story goes like this, he was traveling and he saw a need in the world. Kids were living in some of the worst conditions without shoes. So he returned back home and decide to start a company that would provide these children with shoes. This is what I want, to find a need in the world and fill it. What that need is I am still searching but I am sure it will come up. I want to change culture. I want to have an impact. I also feel like this is a human desire that everyone has, even if it is on a small scale. So as you go about your day look for a need. Maybe even write it down. It doesn’t have to be anything huge. Next, find a small thing you can change to positively impact that problem. Your effort could create a change in someone and that person might have a bigger impact later on in their life. You never know. As you think about this idea, I want to end this post with a quote from a very famous person who was a society changer, her name is Mother Teresa. She said, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”
Things to think about:
What problems do you see in the world?
What are some small steps you can take to start changing them?
Cool website with ideas of how people saw a need and they used fun to create change:
http://www.thefuntheory.com/
Andrew Wilson
PT Intern 2011
New Images
Living in a community of believers for the last six weeks
Within the first week of Project Transformation, I met believers from many and various backgrounds that had developed their own, unique perspectives on God. Their goals were not the same as mine, but they all
Now, just past the midway point of the summer, I can’t imagine loving any of my youth more than the other. They are equal in God’s eyes, and dearly loved in mine. I have earned their respect and received a good
Not to say that the frustrations have ended, because we live in a world of sin and conflict. Every day God challenges me with a new situation, challenges my heart, my contentedness and peace in Him. But His joys
Genesis 1:27a – “So God created man in his own image,…”
Living in a community of believers for the last six weeks
has radically transformed and expanded my perception of God’s Kingdom and who a true follower of Christ is. Coming from South Carolina, a state smack-dab in the middle of the so-called “Bible Belt,” with more churches than I could ever hope to count, I had developed a false understanding of what constitutes a Christian. I witnessed hypocrisy, immaturity, and overall apathy from this generation of believers; and I honestly considered my style of Christianity – one of
passion, zeal, and constantly seeking after more – to be the gold standard of the Christian walk, one that everyone should aim for and that I was called to impose on the rest of the world.
Obviously, God had other plans for me.
Within the first week of Project Transformation, I met believers from many and various backgrounds that had developed their own, unique perspectives on God. Their goals were not the same as mine, but they all
pointed toward heaven and the God who created it. Their worship was not my norm, but it was undoubtedly heartfelt. And they were not Evelyn Maris, but rather Lexie Vriend, Kaci Brasher, Anica Leitch, Larry Randolph, Andrew Wilson, Erin Morris, Rico Dickerson, women and
men called by God to embody only one tiny and set apart, holy, aspect of God.
Of course they shouldn’t be the same as me! God cannot be limited.
By week three, I had learned to accept God’s infinite personalities within the bodies of my PT friends. God’s grace is abundant, and I knew that He expected me to extend that same grace to His creations. After that realization, it was beautiful and effective in strengthening my friendships on SMU campus.
Then I received a new command: to love my youth unconditionally; to not show favoritism at Wesley-Rankin; to form mentor relationships with the difficult to like; to view each one as a distinct creation of God, much as I had done with my Christian friends.
As the youth arrived each morning with all their hurt,frustration, and attitude, however, I found this expectation foolish. How could I focus on each kid equally, with the same level of concern and sympathy?Shouldn’t I exert the most energy on the youth who liked me and sought me out withtheir questions? I enjoyed teaching Aaliyah how to play viola, straightening Ali’s hair and offering advice about relationships, drawing pictures with Israel and gradually bringing him out of his quiet shell. Wasn’t thatsufficient?
Absolutely not! And God called me on it. Because by the end of week four, He had shown me the depth of the youth that projected negative emotions. Fausto actually loved to read, but didn’t want to seem too interested for the sake of popularity. Elda was passionate about dancing and wanted me to learn her style, not teach her mine. Sebastian gravitated toward me because I was positive in my guidance and discipline of him. Nathaly, normally quiet, simply wanted to sit with me and venture careful questions about middle school crushes.
Now, just past the midway point of the summer, I can’t imagine loving any of my youth more than the other. They are equal in God’s eyes, and dearly loved in mine. I have earned their respect and received a good
deal of grace that I should have shared with them from the beginning.
Not to say that the frustrations have ended, because we live in a world of sin and conflict. Every day God challenges me with a new situation, challenges my heart, my contentedness and peace in Him. But His joys
are new with each morning, and I know that my summer will not be in vain, at the very least, because I am living out His will for this season of my life.
Whatever I do for the least of these – and the Wesley-Rankin Community Centerrests in one of the poorest neighborhoods in West Dallas – I do unto Him. I am serving God, quite literally, and I possess the same unmistakable joy as I did when I arrived in Dallas five weeks ago, with one important change: my joy has increased.
Evelyn Maris
PT Intern 2011
Wofford College
Some Kind of Wonderful
My time here at PT has been nothing short of wonderful day-in and day-out. Even on my longer days, there’s always something or someone to make my smile a little longer than the day! From the random compliments my children on site to the daily ride from site singing “Firework” by Katie Perry with my teammates. All the amazing people here make it hard not to have awesome days. Not to mention the magnificent worships that we have! Each week has been a new and renewing experience!
This past week the theme at my site (Chapel Hill ) was “Time Machine.” The daily themes were the Renaissance, the 1920’s, the future, and the dinosaur age. The week was a definite blast from the past and future. All the tedious planning for activities, games, and decorations paid off at the end of the week for Family Fun Night. I’m certain the kids and their parents had a great time on site, whether they were watching or participating!
Thus far, the summer of 2011 has been one of the most memorable and life-changing seasons of my life. I’ve gotten to know so many different people with similar aspirations and I’m over-flowing with excitement and anticipation for the second half of this summer! Every day I experience as an intern with Project Transformation makes me wish the world were more like this place.
Rico Dickerson
PT Intern 2011
Career Week!
After a few weeks of working with our young campers from South Dallas, we knew that we wanted to dedicate an entire week to Career Exploration, so that is what we did during our third week of summer camp. Growing up, I always remembered having a firefighter visit class, and police officers would stop by, too. We would learn about doctors, lawyers, teachers, even the president of America. For this week, we tried to reach out of the box as best as we could when we explored different careers. On the first day, we introduced the topic and explained what careers we, the interns, were pursuing. The second day, we had two police officers and a sergeant (all three are women who grew up in the area!) come in and talk to the kids. The next day, my teammate Destiny’s mom came in to present about her job as a lab technician. She even drew blood from a fake arm! Finally, a personal trainer (he grew up in the very same neighborhood as these kids – Pleasant Grove!) came in on Thursday to teach the kids about his job. I have never seen these kids work so hard to exercise, without complaining! This last one was the most exciting for me because Ade, the trainer, offered his services for another time during the summer. He explained that he runs a program called Rockstar Fitness, and they hold a week of camp for troubled youth. We are all so excited to see him again!
Project Transformation has been a wonderful experience for me so far. I have gotten to know my teammates very well day after day, and they are such beautiful, young people who are all going to do great things for the world. The kids that we work with are inspiring and encouraging. They are what keep us running on empty, knowing that we only have four days to be with them each week, so we better make it an amazing four days. What I hope for the rest of the summer is to grow even closer with the people I am surrounded by, and to continue spreading God’s love to these children who deserve it so much.
Shelley Gudobba
PT Intern 2011
Bowling Green State
How may I serve you?
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
One of my greatest joys is being there to address the needs of our kids, interns, and volunteers. Once the clock hits 9:00am, I get to open up the doors to our kids and youth and start a new day with them in expectant joy.
The best advice and training I’ve received thus far has been ‘intentionally.’ Throughout each level of our program, whether it’s about programming, cooperative work with interns and LITES or relationships between the church and the families we serve, building in relevant and reachable goals has really boosted our program’s impact as well and united our team’s effort.
Stephen Cottingham
PT Site Coordinator 2011
Reading Rocks!
