July Newsletter | Prayers Needed!

Dear FaithWorks’ Friends, FaithWorks has had a wonderful summer filled with summer camps! Many of you provided scholarships for our fourth graders and teenagers to attend Summit Camp in northeastern Oklahoma. Darrell Haley, our children’s program director, has been the camp director there for many years. Going to camp was an exciting adventure for our children and youth because most of them had never been to camp or away from home! Marlene, our cook, and her husband were the camp cooks and some of our staff and college students assisted as sponsors. I think this story sums up their experience. Jorge, a soft spoken, shy middle schooler, expressed himself this way. He said, “Guess what?” “I was accepted.” Not sure of what he meant, Mr. G, our teen program coordinator, asked, “Into what?” After a confusing discussion, it was understood. Jorge had given his life to Jesus. How many times have we wanted to be “accepted”? How many times have we been “left out” due to age, gender, race, income, or talent? The list goes on and on. Jorge got it right. He was accepted. Jesus accepted him just as he is. I love the authenticity of our children. No churchy words, just true, honest words expressing what Jesus did. Gladix was asked how she felt after asking Jesus into her heart. Her response, “I feel fresh, clean and new.” Thank you for giving our students and staff this opportunity. We are excited to encourage and mentor these young people as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Changing the subject, I need your prayers. Oklahoma City Public Schools is voting on a bond issue, tentatively set for November 9th. Please understand, I am very supportive of any improvements that provide a better education and facilities for the children of Oklahoma City; however, part of the plan is to consolidate Shidler Elementary School and Lee Elementary School and relocate both in a new building at a location outside of the Shidler-Wheeler neighborhood. This relocation will be detrimental to our community, families, and FaithWorks. Through the community partnership of FaithWorks and the leadership of Principal Ayala, Shidler Elementary has nurtured our children and created community in a forgotten neighborhood. I have seen amazing, surprising and exciting changes in the way our families view education. Please pray that I will have an opportunity to meet with OKCPS board members and Superintendent McDaniel before a decision is made on the relocation. Pray for wisdom as we consider other options for saving Shidler Elementary. I sincerely appreciate your support and prayers for FaithWorks and Shidler Elementary School. Gratefully, Sally

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Upcoming Event: Please consider participating in the FaithWorks of the Inner City Annual Golf Tournament Monday, August 29th, River Oaks Golf Club Information and registration are online, register by clicking on the orange button below. This is our fall fundraiser and proceeds will support current programs and building projects.

Register Here!

October Update

This past week I received a vivid reminder of why our job at FaithWorks is so important. I think I sometimes see our kids, as just KIDS. For the most part, they seem happy and have fun participating in the activities and programs we provide. I knew during the beginning stages of Covid how important it was to keep our Center open, but I don’t think I realized the importance of staying connected.

Marco (not his real name) was a happy, fun, mischievous fifth grade boy. We all enjoyed his company. During his sixth-grade year, we didn’t see him very often, but he would occasionally come to our teen program on Thursday nights. By seventh grade he was gone! Last week one of our teens asked if we had heard about Marco. Marco is now fourteen and was arrested for murder. It seems he killed a thirty-nine-year-old woman during a break-in.

Now, I look at our group of fifth graders and think, who’s next? They are not bad kids, but kids with choices most of us will never have to make. They have lots of free time, not much supervision, no purpose, and a world that numbs violence and shows them what they are lacking—emotionally and physically. Marco’s story is a reminder that we must hang on to them for as long as possible by providing a safe place where they are always welcome. We must remember to reach out to them after they leave our after- school programs and continue to make our teen night something special. I am so grateful for Isaac Gallegos and Darrell Haley and their commitment to loving, playing, and teaching these kids about their value and the hope of Jesus.

Currently, there are twenty-two middle school and high school students attending our Thursday night “TNT” Teen Night Thursday Program.

We opened our Center on September 7, and we have gotten off to a great start. We are still limiting the number of students attending due to Covid. We have a wonderful, committed staff with the addition of three remarkable (former FaithWorks’ kids) high school students. Our Mommy and Me preschool is operating again after a year’s break. It is a blessing to drive up each morning and see the little ones heading to “school.” I am very excited about what Sara Gallegos is doing with our moms and college girls. She has begun a morning “Mom Time” for some of our mothers with younger children. It is a time of fellowship focusing on the struggles of parenting and using God’s word for encouragement. She is also hosting a Monday night Bible study for our college and older high school girls. They are focusing on finding their worth in Jesus. We have also continued the L.I.F.T. (Learning Is Fun Together) tutoring program for our elementary students. Natalie Stinchcomb has done a wonderful job coordinating this program and recruiting tutors; however, we can always use more!

Thank you for your continued investment in FaithWorks. Please keep us in your prayers.

Sally

Volunteers Needed!

It's that time of year again. We will open the center up to our students in just a few short weeks! We have many volunteer opportunities this year and we'd love to have you join us. Check out the options below to see if any of them would be a good fit for you.

• LIFT Tutoring (Thursdays, 3-4:30)

• Mommy & Me Volunteer (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday mornings 9-11 am)

• Shidler Ambassador (currently volunteers aren't allowed in OKCPS so it would start out as an "adopt a classroom" and support them through letters, meals, etc. but with the eventual hope restrictions are lifted and they can volunteer inside the classroom)

• Thrift Store Volunteer (anytime)

• Middle School Volunteer (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday anytime from 4:30 - 6:00ish, hang out with our teens in their art program!)

If you think you'd be interested in volunteering with us, fill out this form and someone will be in contact with you!