When I was just starting on the pathway of doing children’s ministry at Council Road Baptist Church, I encountered that quote. As I remember, it was credited to a man who was a famous actor, singer, dancer and comedian. His name? Danny Kaye. Now I don’t know if he was a particularly wise man, but I do know that he realized a truth about children: they are a treasure of great value and it is imperative for the future that we protect, nurture, guide and love them.
Every Tuesday, our Whiz Kids and their tutors fill the Cube with energy and more hugs than you can count (and most recently, a lot of 4th grade drama). Every Friday, our Celebrate Recovery meets for dinner and 12-step groups, passing out chips to celebrate markers of sobriety and life change. Our partners around the city are faithfully serving, loving and sharing the gospel in a variety of spaces including education, recovery, vulnerable families, outdoor ministry and food insecurity. Our deacons and bereavement team serve our church every single day in meaningful ways that impact every single person in our church, whether they know it or not. Our groups are accessing the Care Portal and meeting the needs of families in our community. We have had adoptions finalized, babies come into loving foster homes and biological families strengthened. Around the world, we have partners living out their calling to move overseas, plant gospel-centered churches, train pastors, provide clean drinking water, bring kids out of street life into a life of purpose and provide quality education. This is just the beginning of all there is to celebrate in the life of our church.
Pssst, over here. Hey! You there! Person who isn’t quite sure where they fit in when it comes to serving at our church, I’m talking to you! I am here to secretly fill you in on a few things behind the scenes. You see, I live with 2 of our CRBC staff members. Tough, I know. Makenzie Magnus is my sister (and landlord) and Hannah Hanzel lives in the room across from me in our upstairs “Tenet’s Quarters',' as we affectionately call it. A girl hears things and learns things living day-in and day-out with two church staff members and I’m here to spill the beans. Wondering how to get out of serving at our church? I got you.
I didn’t grow up paying much attention to Pentecost, but embracing sacred seasons like Advent and Lent (celebrating, meditating on and mourning key events in Jesus’ life) as more than a single event holiday has become a special part of my entire year. Honoring these seasons are not forced out of legalism, but given to us by God’s grace. In His sovereignty, God knows that we need intentional times of quiet reflection and regular reminders of His faithfulness, otherwise one day flows into the next month, into the next year.
Andrea serves on the Executive Team of the High School ministry of CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), along with her husband of almost 18 years, Tyrone. They have two amazing kids, Isabelle (or Izzy, cutest nickname ever!) who is 8 and LT who is 2.
Find out her advice on connecting with teenagers and what her calling to ministry looked like, as well as her story with infertility, race and ministry...and of course, what books are on her nightstand!
Sarah recently moved to Southeast Asia as a church planter with her husband of nearly 16 years, Sam, and their 3 amazing children (ages 13, 11 and 4). She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and hosts the Red Button Podcast which focuses on sharing real life stories with a Mental Health Practitioner. They also welcomed a new member of the family into their home a few weeks ago...an adorable and fluffy puppy! I have changed their names and won’t be showing any pictures of their faces to protect their ministry, but I think you’ll love getting to know “Sarah” through her voice and perspective.
Morgan Shillow is the Head of School at St.Paul’s Community School (SPCS), a new school and CRBC Mission Partner that provides an accessible, affordable and classical Christian education on the south side of OKC. She can actually see the school from her house, where she lives with her husband of 7 years, Chauncey, and their two boys, Joshua (4) and Malachi (1).
