The Kids Clubs at Village Oaks and Willow Pond are packed these days! What a joy. Suzanne and Rickey at Willow Pond report that daily attendance has essentially doubled versus last year. Homework help, tutoring, learning the character traits, Bible study and discipleship...what a joy! We have learned that grades are going up among many of the kids. Thank you Lord!
The other day a few of the kids wrote thank-you letters to some of our friends. One of the letters said: "Since I have been living in Village Oaks it has changed my life because Village Oaks is a good community and Village Oaks community makes us want to change our lives."
Another one: "When we didn't have a community center it was hard on family's that can't find anything for their kids to do on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Now that we have the community center it's easy on kids. Right after school kids go straight to the community center after school. While their at the community center after (school) they do their homework and have fun."
Another one said: "I like Village Oaks because it is a good place to live. They have a new park, a new basketball court where kids play on. Village Oaks is a great place to live. It's a big place. The community center is a great place too. The Learning Center is in the community center. You can get help on your homework there too."
Village Oaks is a great place to live, she wrote. Praise the Lord! The day after we closed escrow to buy Village Oaks we had a prayer service in the middle of the property. Our friend John Wallace made a declaration that day: "This is God's land!" Then he read from Isaiah 43. "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." The passage goes on "...because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise."
We proclaim the praise of the Lord today for all He has done, is doing, and will do.
For the decreasing of violence and crime.
For the friendships.
For the generosity of so many friends to bless the residents of Village Oaks.
For the sense of community that is growing.
For the dozens of men in the Real Men groups who have come to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
For the discipleship taking place in the Women of Wisdom and Real Men groups for younger boys and girls at both properties.
For the literal new garments being worn. And, as we talk about with our friends at Village Oaks...we thank God for the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
For the "oaks" of righteousness that are being grown in front of our very eyes. A planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
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Blessings on you, friends. We send you a hug in Jesus and thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
-- Behind Every Door Ministries
