For several months, the CSA 2 (Missouri City) team has been praying about the elementary “Title 1” school they should adopt. Also, after learning about last year’s Compassion Project held in conjunction with the Global Day of Prayer 2007 at another school, the newly hired Campus Improvement Specialist at Ridgemont Elementary contacted that project coordinator seeking help. At the March meeting, a map of the area showing the location of “Title 1” schools was discussed and prayed over. Suddenly a Spiritual connection was made!…
Pastor Kevin Barber’s church, Baca Christian Center, has a connection with the same school – one of his members is also a teacher there! The Missouri City/Fresno CSA group quickly agreed that Ridgemont was the school to adopt. As we prayed that day, the Spirit spoke to Pastor Barber that we should respond immediately to the Macedonian call. Several of us agreed to go to visit the school at the end of our meeting. On the way there, the Compassion coordinator from last year called the CIS teacher who had cried out for help and for the first time EVER, she answered her phone! When told of the plan to adopt the school and the request to drop by right away for a visit, the teacher said, “I don’t have time right now”. The coordinator was prepared to re-schedule another day. BUT GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN!
Suddenly, she said, “BUT- I am going to make time for you today! And when you are here, you all can lay hands on me and PRAY for ME! I am in a lot of pain!” Needless to say, everyone on the team was quite excited to visit the school after that! Upon arrival, Pastors Barber, Allen Rice, David Carter, and Vickie Dalton along with a school counselor and this teacher sat for a while around a table. They listened while the teachers shared their needs and frustrations….THEN THEY ALL STOOD right in the center of the school building IN A CIRCLE HOLDING HANDS, PRAYING FOR THE NEEDS EXPRESSED, and FINALLY they gathered around this teacher, laid hands on her and prayed for healing of muscle spasms! After that, the counselor took everyone on a tour of the school where they watched the kids interact with teachers, interviewed teachers, met students and saw an incredible demonstration of the ever popular “Smart board”- computer generated chalk board of the new millennium!
The Lord IS building relationships between the community and the school; and our schools AND our community are being TRANSFORMED!! Praise God!
Written by Vickie Dalton.
