From Cherry Brewer...

Tim and I missed church on Sunday due to several different circumstances.
Today, however, I went to volunteer at Meadowview in Jeremiah's class. I was out on the playground and little first grade Bailey (can't remember her last name) saw me and came running up calling, "Mrs. Cherry, Mrs. Cherry".
She said she had missed me yesterday and had seen me at lunch and hoped she'd see me outside because she had something extremely important to tell me. With this big grin she said, "I'm ready to be baptised and will be doing it on Feb. 17th. THIS COMING SUNDAY!!" I just bragged on her and told her that I was so excited for her but she wasn't finished. She said that the reason she wanted to see me was to tell me that when she made her video she wanted to thank her parents, but she told them that she really wanted to thank me too for talking to her at church. So then with a big grin she said, "So thank you Mrs. Cherry." Then she hugged me and ran off to play leaving me speachless and so blessed for seeing God move in the children at Westwood. I am so overwhelmed by the fact that He uses little old (and I feel older everyday) me.

See Andrew Wash's Habits Testimony

Andrew Wash is a youth helper in Older Kids Drama at 11. Go to the Area 51 blog to see Andrew's testimony about memorizing Scripture, including him reciting Psalm 51. http://westwoodstudents.blogspot.com

What a great example for our kids. We are blessed with students who model a real relationship with God. Thanks Andrew!

First Time Visitors' Response

Jay shared with us a response from a "first time guest survey". I met this family on Sunday. They indicated that they were not a member of a church. They had a 3rd grader, 4th grader, and a 5th grader who attended Journey. Here was the family's answer to the question, "What did you like best about your visit to Westwood?":

"We enjoyed every minute of it but my children have still been talking about their experience"

To God be the glory! That is what we want! Great job!

A Conversation with a Mama

The mama of a fourth grade girl called me yesterday to discuss her daughter's interest in baptism. She was very complimentary of the ministry in general, but there were two things she told me that really stuck out.

She told me that it is obvious her daughter is learning alot. The example she gave me was that they play an "ABC" game in the car. The other day her daughter suggeted that they use the Bible as their subject. The mama was so impressed with her daughter's knowledge and noticed that she was referencing stories that she did not remember teaching her. She knows those are things that her daughter has learned in Journey.

My favorite part of the conversation was when I asked if she thought her daughter would have a preference of who in the ministry talked to her about baptism. The mom said that her daughter really liked the computer teachers and felt close to them because they used to be her shepherds. Gene and Cynthia Talley were her shepherds in second grade. How awesome that she still feels connected with them! Cynthia will have the privilige this Sunday of talking to her about her decision. The Talley's do a great job in getting to know the kids and connecting with them. Good work!