From Our RHK Executive Director: A Fresh Start

Do you remember getting ready for your first day of school? Going to the store to pick up your backpack, notebooks, pens, pencils, ruler, calculator, etc. Shopping for new school supplies always made me so happy. Who am I kidding…even today, going to an office supply store makes me very happy. All this talking about new school supplies makes me want to run to Office Depot and purchase some office supplies. I can spend hours in an office supply store! When I try to think about why I like new supplies so much it comes down to being able to have a fresh start.

In August, we make sure the kids have a fresh start as they get ready for school. They each get their backpack full of supplies so they are ready for their first day of school. They don’t have to worry if they have what they need to start their year off on the right foot.

Speaking of the right foot…RHK also makes sure each kid has a pair of gym shoes as they begin the new school year. Nothing makes a child feel “less than” than having a pair of shoes that do not fit, are dirty, or, worse yet, are falling apart.

Throughout the year, we continue to point the kids to the one who can give them a fresh start that will last a lifetime - Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone the new is here!”

Many of our kids feel they have no hope and are stuck in a situation they will never be able to get out of. We continue to show them there is a way out and His name is Jesus. During their small group time, the kids have the opportunity to write down their prayer requests and put them in a prayer jar. Each morning, Corie, our Program Coordinator, puts them on our prayer wall where our volunteers and other kids can look at them and pray for the requests. Each night while the kids are having dinner, our volunteers gather and pray over those in the large chapel. Prayer changes lives. We see it happening. We see kids’ lives changing. We see tempers calming. We see kids asking for prayer and asking to pray for others. We see kids asking to go and say they’re sorry to those they offended.

There is a song called “Someone Prayed” by Crowder. Here are some of the lyrics:

For the child of God that’s far from home

The one who thinks they’re too far gone

I’m throwing out another prayer in faith (prayer in faith)

Worn-out altars, tear-stained pews

Still, I won’t give up on you

I believe that anything can change

When someone prays

At RHK, the ROI (return on investment) is not just the dollars/donations that come in the door. Yes, these are very important. Without them we can’t keep the doors open. The utilities would be turned off, the meals would stop coming, and the necessities we provide for the kids would stop. But there is another return we need to look at. I like to call it RFE – Return for Eternity. Kids hearing the Gospel, hearing truth, coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and people standing in the gap praying for the kids. This is what will make change. This is what brings a true fresh start.

How do you want to help a child have a fresh start today?

Blessings,

Dee Lacny, Executive Director, Rock House Kids