Pep Rally

we're moving full-steam ahead on our new custom, multicultural curriculum launching this sunday. THIS SUNDAY, people. as per usual, i'm equal parts excited + nervous, and depending on giant mugs of coffee + the holy spirit to guide us home this week. 

there's so much to say about the new lessons -- if we were at a coffee shop together today, i'd tell you all about how God's spirit has been present and guiding us, and how it feels like a divine movement that's gaining steam each day while we do our best to keep up with HIS plans.

also, i'd love to tell you all about the amazing level of teammate-ness i've experienced, how the pastors and staff of our church have encircled this project making it their own, and how loved and cared for and inspired this has made me. and, i'd probably go on-and-on about our brand new noticing stations that help children see each other and take note of those in their classes who are present and absent, while acknowleding each other's similarities and differences.

there's SO MUCH TO SAY. but, more on all of that soon. i promise. 

for today -- the Promiseland Pep Rally. 

in an effort to inform + inspire our volunteers about the upcoming curriculum changes, last week we hosted a Pep Rally. it was our first time gathering the group together, and man-oh-man was it fun. we went full on crazy with the pep rally theme: concession stands, foam fingers & cowbells, a grassy stage, chairs set up as bleachers, and a hand-painted team banner. 

during the night, we shared: Vision -- Jesus-Centered learning and spiritual friendships for the sake of greater faith for children. Values -- Relationships, Global, Holy-Spirit Guided. 

post Pep Rally, as i was reflecting on the event, i realized two specific lessons i had learned: 

first, after sharing the curriculum specifics, i felt led to remind volunteers that it would take the efforts of us all to effectively pull off the curriculum for the kids of our community, and, if God was leading anyone to contribute deeper on the curriculum, that they bravely follow that leading. this was a RISK. everyone i was speaking to already serves in Promiseland and is committed to the mission, but i sensed God might be moving amongst them, possibly in unconventional ways, and wanted to be sure we created space for all to contribute.

sure enough, SEVERAL folks came up to me and emailed me afterwards letting me know they had experienced God's leading and wanted to chat more about how they might contribute to the curriculum development. SAY WHAT. lesson{s} learned. follow God's leadings, always. and never shy away from calling your best people to contribute more. 

second, diversity matters. technically, not a super new lesson. but, a VERY important reminder. i chose all women {4} to speak during the pep rally. even though the women were from various backgrounds, STILL, all women. our current volunteer team includes A LOT of men. so, it would have been fairly simple to include them. lesson learned. next time, maybe ALL men. can you even imagine how amazing this would be?! done + done.  

also, i showed a video that mostly included white folks. it was a really inspiring video, but as it was playing i felt nervous that it wasn't accurately reflecting our community. next time, something different. mindfulness, always. that's the only way we're going to get to something new.

that's today. a pep in my step from the Pep Rally. and now, back to writing curriculum. peace out.