Ripples of Faithfulness

Bob and Shirley are a retired couple who bring several kids to church each week. When the kids can't make it to church, Shirley still comes by the kids area to pick up papers and verse cards for them. She always has an encouraging word for me!

It started about ten years ago with Leah, the daughter of Shirley's former student who she had kept in touch with. Then quite a few years later Leah's two little sisters began attending. Soon after that a pair of cousins joined them. Most recently we met cousins of the cousins, from the other side of the family. We're talking three different families and eight kids!

We've had some sweet moments with their bunch. We've given the kids Bibles. We've been there when they've chosen to accept Christ. We've provided discipleship materials for Shirley to use with the kids. We've been honored to minister to the kids in some special ways - praying with them about their sick dog, delivering precious lost Heelies to their home!

I don't know where their parents are spiritually. We don't see much of them. In fact when Bob and Shirley go south for the winter, we don't see the kids either. But something changed this year. This year we're beginning to see some more ripple effects of Bob and Shirley's faithfulness.

This winter, one of the moms decided that she would get the kids to our club program on Wednesdays. She picks up the kids from their Catholic religious education class, then brings them to our church for Kids Club. She's there every week for drop off and pick up, so I've been able to get to know her a bit.

It all started with the faithfulness of one couple. A couple who isn't even biologically related to any of them! I can't wait to see how God uses the actions of Bob and Shirley to create further ripple effects in the lives of these kids and their families.