July 24th
Women Bar -B-Q
Benefitting our annual Women's Retreat

August 1st-7th
- Reach Brazos Valley

Lawn Service
Tractor with a shredder, weedeater and a push mower.

Nursery
Books, movies children c.d.'s and games for 3 and up kids.

The one thing no one wants to do and the one thing I was running so fast from was being the nursery director. Our automatic reaction when we are asked to do nursery is to say, "No I don't want to be in there for hours with all those kids crying, screaming babies, having to change their diapers, etc." And you know what it is? All of that and more, plus hugs, kisses, the smiles on their faces when they see you, love when you least expect it and much more.

When I said, "yes" I was so scared of what I had just gotten myself into. Usually it's when your scared of it that you know that's where God is calling you, and usually where you don't want to be is where you are supposed to be. This is something I found out very quickly.

When I first started we didn't have enough volunteers but one thing we did have were the children. As director I worked nursery every Thursday and some Fridays. I was missing out on couples class and Friday night service. I began to pray that God would send volunteers and as the volunteers started coming others left. Now my prayers are for us to have volunteers that would come every Thursday or Friday so that the children would have some consistency. I know that the volunteers are out there, it's just a matter of hearing from God.

Being In the nursery every Thursday I grew a very strong bond with each of the children, a bond that I could never have formed by just seeing them in the hallway or at Friday night service. I want the volunteers to know that they are always in my prayers and how much I appreciate them.

I strongly urge every nursery volunteer to see this as an opportunity to enjoy Gods children, to spend time with them and to show them Gods love. We have now started doing small lessons with the children. They will have an activity, story and bible verse every week, along with other things. I enjoy getting the lessons together for the children, knowing they will enjoy doing them. God's word says "Unless you become like children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven" (Matt.18:3)

So when you're in the nursery let some of the child in you come out. Dance with them, sing, play games, do whatever you can do to keep them entertained and most of all bring God's word alive to them.

In His Love,
Tracey Savala

Growing up, I heard the word destiny tossed around in everything from movies to television commercials. I believed that destiny was something that only certain people could obtain. I thought that you had to look a certain way, have influence, or be financially secure. I never thought that a roly-poly fat kid like me could find or even have a destiny. I did know that ever since I could remember holding a pencil. I always loved to draw. I drew cars, Mighty Mouse, super-heroes, and whatever I could put down on a piece of paper. I always dreamed of drawing as a career.

When God started drawing me to Himself early in my college years, I was asking people why I had the drawing abilities. I got all sorts of answers, but not the one that I needed. I knew that I could draw and there was a reason. I wondered if this could be part of my destiny. After I surrendered my life to Christ, I still sought the answer to those questions.

As college got closer to completion, I learned that when bad things happen to you, we tend to lay down our dreams and destiny for the sake of the easier and the comfortable. I went through a relationship break-up and major financial difficultly with seminary. I was comfortable working at Wal-Mart for the rest of my life. There was still the question in me, "Why can I draw and what am I supposed to be doing with this ability?" I was so "comfortable" that I sought man's thoughts instead of God's about my question. I still drew, but was convinced that I was just drawing for my enjoyment and that God was pleased. I found out how wrong I was when my emotional stresses brought me to S.O.S. Ministries Men's Home.

After a period of time at the home, I was challenged to pray and fast about what I was dealing with. I spent some time doing that. God began showing me a picture of what my destiny is. I saw a studio with other artists coming together to minister to the world around them. I saw a place where drama teams could be trained to minister to the Body of Christ. I saw a place where people could create music that would reach those who need Jesus and those who need encouragement. So then the big question came, "So what are you gonna do now?"

As of the writing of this article, I am working my last week as the Assistant Men's Home Director. I have found my destiny. I still have a lot of planning, rearranging of priorities, and growth to get to it. I know that I have to walk towards it willing to face whatever giants in the land I have to face. I know that God has truly given me a destiny that both let's me do something I enjoy and that scares me to death. I also know that God is bigger than any giants that I face. I know that He who began a good work in me is faithful to finish it in me. So I have to walk away from a place like S.O.S. Ministries that has been home to me to walk in the unfamiliar.

All that I can say in closing, is that I have a destiny to get too. S.O.S Ministries has helped me to see that. I can share with you that you do too. I pray that God will show all of us our destinies in Him. When we walk in His calling, He is glorified and He continues to use us. God created us for greatness. The kid who thought he did not have a destiny has grown into a man who knows better. Let's go after our true destiny in Him.

Will Holland