children Resources

In August, we watched the Olympics.  We watched some of the world's greatest athletes compete to win gold medals and beat world records.  How exhilarating it was to see Michael Phelps win the gold by a 100th of a second, and Usain Bolt of Jamaica run so fast that his competitors didn't seem to stand a chance!

The competition got me thinking about the race we're participating in.  No, there is no gold medal at the end, and there is no world record to beat.  In this race, there is seldom fame and product endorsements that will ultimately pay out big. 

Here's Life Inner City, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, equips urban churches to operate youth after-school programs called SAY Yes! Centers (Save America's Youth Yes!).  Here's Life Inner City (HLIC) provides training for how to start and run a center, as well as Bible lesson curriculum, tutoring resources, and ongoing support.  There are SAY Yes! Centers located in cities across the country and every SAY Yes! Center looks quite different, as it is operated by the local church.  Some programs are big, serving 100 or more kids.  Some are small, serving a handful of kids.  Some operate 5 days a week, some operate one day a week. 

Yeah, Heaventrain," one child yells as she runs to be the first in line for the bus. I  look for the two-year old little girl whose hand is tightly clasped to her four-year old little brother's as they walk across the field toward the bus.

A small child goes up to one of the staff,"Can I have a duck hug?" An unusual question to some but the staff replies, "Small, medium or large," the small voice replies,"Large." The child is then swept off his feet and the staff proceeds to march around in a circle quacking like a duck. Ripples of laughter burst from the small child.

One of the Heaventrain staff works 3rd shift. So she usually goes home for a couple of hours to sleep and then meets us at the third stop...this is her story

I was hungry and on my way to work on Heaventrain. I went to the grocery store and picked up some cheese, bread, and mayo to make a sandwich. After I got back in my car..I thought to myself..that was stupid I don't even like CHEESE!