Growing Into 2020

As 2019 comes to a close, we’re marking Community Kids’ first year as a 501(c)(3) “for-cause” organization. This year has been a year of growth. The number of kids coming to our weekly programming doubled, families who went to family camp doubled, and we even doubled our team of full-time staff members from one to two!

My role has changed from Executive Director to Mission Vision Director, and I’m excited to introduce you to Rob Summerfield on the following pages, who will take on the ED role. Now, my role is to guide Community Kids’ mission. I’ll accomplish this by continuing to prioritize spending time with the kids, neighbors, and their families. Why? Because that’s where God has spoken to me most clearly over the years -- from a neighborhood elder saying, “Something needs to be done for the kids around here,” to a kid saying, “Can we have another Bible study?”

When I meet kids where they’re at, God begins to reveal to me what they truly need. In the neighborhood context, I’m able to see the struggles kids face when their parents are in jail, hear the stories of teen parents who had to grow up fast and be one of the first people called during a traumatic situation.

Because our team is present in these situations, we are able to help and allocate resources more effectively. If we hear a young girl explains how a boy asked to send her nude pics, we can host an internet safety class at Bible Club. If we hear a 10-year-old boy share that a girl at school asked to have sex with him, we can host a six-week series on God’s design for sex.

Even with these resources, kids struggle the most to choose the right path when they leave the confines of school, church, camp, or Bible Club. That’s why we want to provide long-term, life-changing relationships led by Christ for the kids to look to in the places and times they need it most.

2020 marks the 10th year I’ve served in the neighborhood. In the following pages, you will see how the original mission God sent me 10 years ago continues in the lives of kids today. When it was just me and a few housemates developing relationships with a handful of kids, I never imagined how God would cause the ministry to grow. Thank you for being part of this journey.