Big Things In a Small Space
Colleen Williams

Creating Colorful, Theme-Filled Rooms

When we arrived in Giddings, our hearts burned with a vision that a small city some saw as a “burned over field” could see great things for God.

One of those great things was a children’s ministry that would make a huge impact on the schools and in the lives of the children and families. With limited space, resources, and an all-volunteer staff, we set out to develop a plan that would work with those we had and reach for those we didn’t, the un-churched.

We developed a plan for Wednesday night club and began to implement it. From six children at the first meeting, the club has grown to more than 70 boys and girls each week.

We wanted a club that would be strong in the following areas:

• The Word of God as the central theme of everything. Psalm 119 tells us to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we do not sin. This is the primary goal of all our meetings. We aim to help each young person not only hear the Word of God but truly understand it and know how to live it.
• Helping get the Word into the home of every child. This happens through handouts, assignments that parents need to sign, etc.
• Providing a time for all leaders to reach out and minister in the small groups. This is limited to about 20 minutes per meeting, but it is a time all leaders get to pray and guide questions and Scripture into real life examples.
• Prayer time for children to really seek Christ and the Holy Spirit. We want to encourage and give them opportunity to ask God and receive power to live out the lessons they are challenged with weekly.

Meeting these goals has been quite a struggle, but this year we have discovered a new and effective resource. We implemented HighPoint, the anytime children’s ministry material from Gospel Publishing House.

It has met all the above requirements and, to our delight, the children have loved it. Each week they are challenged to take biblical truths to heart. HighPoint is proving to be a true high point in this ministry, in my life, and in the lives of children where God is doing a big work in a small place.

Giddings, between Austin and Houston on US Hwy 290, has a population of about 5,000.

Colleen Williams
Children’s Pastor, Giddings