There are 22 of these apartment complexes at Hunter's Park. Our team comes here every Saturday to evangelize. We break up into teams, knock on each door, and invite all the children to be a part of "Super Saturday"!
This is Tanya with my boys. We just love her!! She is our SWAT leader and has been doing this for years with her three boys. I love to watch her in action. She is a natural at evangelism and the kids are instantly drawn to her! She has taught us so much in the three seasons we have been involved in SWAT.
Although Tanya has been doing this for a long time, she had a new twist added to her truck this season: SPANISH! It is her first time having to work with interpretation. It adds a new dynamic to our SWAT program, but the Lord knows how to work every detail just right!
Two weeks ago was game day for SWAT. Basically it's just like it sounds...we play games with the kids. As our Operation Go leader, Pastor Jen, says, it's basically "controlled chaos". We do musical chairs, eating contests, races of all sorts and just take time to play and love on the kids. It's a great way to break the ice and develop a relationship with the kids.
This last Saturday was our first official SWAT complete with lessons, a short preaching and games. I past seasons, at another site, my job was the registration table. I would sign the kids in, give them a name sticker and get the water and snacks ready for the end. It's basically all the administration of SWAT and I really liked it. Maybe I enjoyed it because it was behind the scenes, and that's where my nature always pulls. This season, I am training Sandy to do this job.
Here's Sandy doing her thing, and doing it with excellence. She's a natural, and the kids love her!
The reason I am training Sandy is because I am stepping into another role. One that is on the truck, in front of the kids and with a microphone. Definitely not the Leslie I used to be (I was tired of her anyway!), and it feels great!
The picture isn't real clear, but you get the idea. Luis was interpreting my lesson, and then he had a turn teaching and I interpreted for him. It's really great working as a team with Luis. He is really easy to interpret for. I have basically learned the Mexican Spanish (yes, there is a difference!) and being together 16 years, we read each other so easily. This next Saturday I will be interpreting for our friends Rafa and Jetter from Cuba, so that will shake things up a bit. Joshua and Jonathan are usually actors with small speaking parts, and they have done a super job.
Last week, after the preaching time, Tanya felt to have an alter call of salvation and 12 kids and one parent came forward. What an awesome end to a great day! This is what it's all about!
SWAT is just one of the many ministries in Operation Go at our church. There is "Rescue Squad" that ministers to the homeless. "Adopt a Block" that goes into a community and builds relationships, helps to clean yards and gives people a new outlook on their life. "Night Flight" is a Friday night ministry for teens that is held at the gym at our church where they have basketball games from 9pm until midnight. It gives the kids a safe place to gather, with great mentors and keeps them off the streets. And then there's "Prayer Evangelism" which covers all of the ministries through intercessory prayer. There are countless other ministries that take place during the week as well, with hundreds of volunteers and staff that make it all possible.
And seeing all the kids' smiling facing and lives changed for eternity makes it all worth it!
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