July Update

Dear Family and Friends,

In my life I have moved only a handful of times. There are so many benefits in making a home in one place for long periods of time. It gives you opportunity to get to know your neighbors, learn street names, join a church fellowship, and feel a sense of community.

However, in North St. Louis, it seems families are always on the move. My next door neighbors moved in during the month of January and were talking about finding a new place by May. In fact, there seems to be a continuous turnover in my neighborhood. The reasons vary by situation, but are often based on economic factors: someone loses a job, a landlord will not make needed repairs, gas prices rise so people cannot afford heat, and many other reasons.

Trying to minister in such a transient atmosphere can be really difficult. Since last summer we have had a nearly 100% turnover in our children’s programs. That means we are constantly making an effort to meet and invite new youth to activities and continuously establishing new relationships with them.

By March of this year we had a steady group of about 10 children who became our “regulars.” Many of the children do not attend church and know very little about the Bible so we began teaching them the basics of Christianity, little by little. This was really exciting to me as I began to envision opportunities to make a longer-lasting impact on their lives and to go deeper in God’s Word with them as their understanding grew.

Sadly, by June six of those children, in two separate families, moved away. Thankfully, we were told about each move before our last days with the kids. Knowing that our regular interaction with them would soon end put an incredible sense of urgency on my heart to be sure that each of these precious children had been told about the love of Jesus and His great sacrifice for them.

It is really difficult to spend so much energy getting to know a child and then all of a sudden lose touch with him or her. I rest in the fact that God knows where they are going next and I pray that He continues to place people in their lives who can point them to Him.

Will you pray with me for these children who have moved away and that the seeds we have planted will grow each of them into devoted followers of Christ?

Serving in the City,
Beth

www.worldimpactstl.org