Day Center

As part of our KONNECT program at LifeChurch.tv, our kids have an opportunity to earn a patch for participating in a micromission. Last Friday, 18 of the Tulsa KONNECT kids, and 41 adults went to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. We took tons of fried chicken, biscuits and all the fixins and fed the homeless.

To say I was apprehensive about how the kids would handle this experience would be an understatement. Truth is - I was terrified! How would the kids respond to the homeless clients? Would they stare? Would they run scared? Would they refuse to even go into the place? And would they be able to hold out and not eat the chicken and biscuits themselves?

As usual, God surprised me! We set out the ground rules before we reached our destination: Stay with an adult at all times, no wandering around the center by yourself, don't eat the food because it's for those less fortunate, and...no staring! The kids walked in and it was obvious that God had prepared their hearts. Their job was to carry full plates of food to the clients who could not walk to the food line. Well, the kids were so amazing that they served every client - so no one had to serve themselves. Also - we had more than enough food - so the kids began carrying plates full of chicken and biscuits, offering seconds and thirds. Some even went around "taking orders," then rushing back to the kitchen and shouting them out like a short-order diner! It was awesome!

Best story of the event - one of our 7 yr olds went home to Mom and Dad and asked if they could invite a different homeless person to come to their house every night for dinner and to sleep. When asked where the homeless person would sleep, the child said he would give up his bed. When asked where he would sleep, he said "in your bed Dad." How stinkin' cool is that?

If you are in children's ministry, have you taken kids on a community mission? What has been your experience - I'd love to know!