It’s incredible to see what God can do in a year!  Feeling that God was clearly leading us to put all of our “anchor cause” energy into the amazing ministry of Rose City Kids, we jumped into action one year ago this month.  This meant launching a new Parents Night that was aimed at creating a fun and healthy community where the Rose City Kids parents can learn and grow together.  It meant creating a Junior Leadership program that was aimed at making sure that the kids who “graduated” from the program have a place to continue in their Christ-centered leadership development.  This meant moving the Southridge junior youth program (RIOT) to the Rose City theatre, so that the Rose City Kids program can extend itself to a wider age bracket of kids, and that no kids fall through the cracks.  And most of all, this meant infusing the core Saturday program with lots of Southridge volunteers so that the program could reach out to more kids in need, and provide each of them with healthy role models and friends.

Recently we celebrated the story of “Kara”.  Kara is eight years old and was diagnosed with functional muteness at a young age.  She could speak at home, but not in social settings or in front of non-family members.  As a result, Kara had not spoken outside of her home in six years.  After attending only three Saturday programs at Rose City Kids, she is now speaking in public.  Her family can’t believe the change and healing that has occurred in Kara.  Her parents express over and over the gratitude they have for Rose City Kids and the significant role the program has played in their daughter’s life.

Kara is one child out of hundreds that has experienced love, healing, growth, and success through relationship at Rose City Kids.  The best shot that so many of these children have at breaking free from barriers, and realizing the life God intends for them, is through the services, teaching and volunteers of Rose City Kids.  And as God continues to grow our team of volunteers from Southridge, our church community has the privilege of being the hands and feet of Christ for Kara, and so many other kids in need in the Welland community.  I’m excited to see where we’ll be a year from now, and how many more “Kara’s” we’ll be able to reach.