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21 August 2008

First Day of School! First Day of School!

I don’t remember being this excited about school when I was a kid. Do you? But imagine the thrill upon seeing both my 9 year old daughter and my 11 year old son pumped up about school starting back up.

Go figure.

Well, I know of a few more students and families who might be more pumped than ever about school, and it’s all because of the generosity and love of many of the folks who are part of the Southbrook family. In all we purchased and filled (with school supplies) 150 back packs for the elementary students at Benton Heights Elementary School. In addition, families from Southbrook sponsored about the same amount of school uniforms.

Who wouldn’t want to pastor a church like this?!

Well Southbrook, our Monroe Campus (meeting at Benton Heights until renovation is complete on our permanent facility) is in full swing. And I wanted you to know that your generosity is making a difference. In case you missed it 2 weeks ago, here is part of a letter the school principal shared with us:

“Dear Southbrook Church Family,

Allow me to share one of the events that took place during the first week of school:

On the first day of school a mother, son and daughter came to Benton Heights Elementary for their first day. The mother has been relocated to __________ (I will leave this unnamed for her protection — but it is a battered women’s shelter), after fear that her estranged husband had found out they were living in another shelter. With no income, you can imagine the anxiety this family must have been going through starting a new school and a new school year. As the counselors and I worked with this family to give them new book bags fully stocked with school supplies, and uniforms to get them on their feet, we were overcome with the spirit that God and our Savior Jesus has shared with all of you and that you have now shared with us.

The 2008 – 2009 school year at BHE School has launched off to an incredibly promising start. Through your generosity we have been able to give away over 150 backpacks with school supplies and 150 uniforms to the students of this school and this community. This kindness has eased the burden for many of our families. It has also warmed the hearts and lifted the smiles of many of our students…”

Love and Blessings,

Michael Harvey

Principal Benton Heights Elementary School

You see? You are making a difference!

And I hope many more of you will join our launch team already attending Southbrook Monroe. The needs are great and we need everyone who can to go forth as a light to that community.

Let me close out this post by encouraging everyone to INVITE, INVITE, INVITE this weekend. The gospel message will be given in a plain, powerful and straight forward way. And God has always moved when we have been faithful to do this.

Cya this weekend!

Share and Enjoy:

4 Comments currently posted.

uplifted says:

Rob, that is soooo wonderful. I know that many mothers and children where touched by all of the generosity. I too was once an abused mother in a shelter, the feelings of hopelessness are very real and its a scary place to be alone. Are there other outreaches in Monroe for such places? this is where some of our older woman could be the most inspirational, talking to these young woman in need. They need a friend and hope, and most don’t know Jesus, or he is the furthest from thier minds.
God Bless you all for everything you have done in our lives and more lives to come for God’s Glory.

Mike says:

Rob,

Thanks for sharing the letter and thanks again to all the wonderful people of Southbrook.

Mike Harvey

diane infranca says:

good morning pastor rob and church…….this morning my 2 little children went off to school..my little girl christina was crying i asked her why she was crying in the past she never had a hard time going to school. she is a great kid and loves school….but she is now 7yrs old and saw her 18yr old sister go off to college last week…she is going through alot of changes….well anyway christina answered me about why she was crying….she said…she didn’t want to grow up because that ment it was that much closer to daddy and mommy dieing….ya see we as parents have to take time and listen. we do have to teach but we do have to listen also…she was feeling alone..i wouldn’t have known that if i didn’t see her crying..as parents we have to learn to slow down and remember the litte things because they count…as much as the big things..i reminded her again she is not and will never be alone that JESUS is always with her.. thank you southbrook for such a wonderful childrens ministry……christina loves JESUS and going to church. i wouldn’t be surprised if she asks to be baptised soon she is very interested…….thank you southbrook for all that you do…..diane

russ says:

I did not enjoy elementary and secondary school, partly because the teachers often acted like it was a chore for them to work, and with all the disciplinary work they had to do, it was often a chore I imagine.

It is good to see that there are some educational institutions today that reach out to children in order that students will want to return for the next year.