Citychurch Amarillo

12 Months of Ministry...

2012-01-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Citychurch just wrapped up it's Christmas program and has started off the new year with a new season of outreach programs for the kids, youth and families in the neighborhoods we serve. We don't just serve these families during summer and Christmas, but all year round...that's 12 months of ministry! There is something every Sunday and Wednesday!

We produce dynamic programs to teach the youth and kids on a weekly basis the truth about God. Every Wednesday there is a quality kids puppet show, not just for entertainment, but to express God's truth in a way that is fresh to their hearts and minds. For example, Mr. Hinklee is back with Bass Monster and the gang. Last season they ran a Good News Bike Messenger Shop, this season? A television network, BFN (Bible Friends Network). The puppet set resembles a backstage view of a tv studio and the kids watch as puppets, Bass Monster and Mr. Hinklee produce tv shows to share the message of Jesus.

Dusty, a puppet we made here!

But they don't just watch. There are segments where they interact personally with the puppets, play games, win prizes, and sing praise songs. There are cartoons and videos, which are produced here, to illustrate scripture lessons along with live characters and puppets. And all this happens within one 20 minute program!

There is a separate program for the youth on Wednesdays, which begins right after school. They have their own hang out spot here at the church, where Godly hip-hop music is dj-ed along with games and of course a teenagers much needed social time. But that funnels them in to a program where they learn of worship and the truth about God. Donnie will lead them through a lesson using creative and artistic projects designed to interact with each student.

Kids learning they can "TRUST" God.

As a church, we have a responsibility to the families we serve to invest into their spiritual education. We go beyond telling them of God's love and invest further in showing it to them. Jesus is concerned with our needs and throughout scripture He shows us He is sensitive to them. An immediate need the kids, youth and families have here is in the area of a decent meal and that is something God has supplied us to fulfill. When they come to church, whether it is Wednesday night or Sunday morning or even a special event these kids know they are going to enjoy a great meal. God expresses His love through the church in meeting that immediate need.

Citychurch is here for one purpose, to share the love of Christ with those who need to know it and feel it. We are committed to ministry 12 months out of the year, and God has been faithful in providing the resources through you who support us. We invite you to attend one of our events and take part in the work God has called us to and we thank all of you for your prayers and support!

- Pastor Jeremy (follow me on twitter @tendingfigs)

To return to our website, click here...http://citychurchamarillo.com/

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Christmas at Citychurch

2011-12-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

As I write this, snow is blanketing the ground outside. Thankfully today we are in the office preparing for the Christmas Box ministry, which will carry us through December, and then a special night of ministry we have planned for next Wednesday night. Also during this time, we have the Good Shepherd Offering. Go to our website to learn more about it. The Good Shepherd Offering.

The Christmas Gift Boxes are a tool used by Citychurch to express God's love. Gift giving is a reality most of our families don't get to take part in. The parents are doing good just to keep their family in a house, they struggle to provide food and clothing, so buying gifts for their kids is low on the priority list. We have ministered to these kids all year long, and over that time, we have come to know them really well. We know their sizes for clothing and everything they are interested in. Yearlong we collects toys, clothes, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, books, arts and crafts and several other items. Then during December we package Christmas Gift Boxes filled with everything we can stuff in them! Because of how well we know the kids, we are able to personalize every gift with the kids that are receiving it! We do everything we can to make them feel special. Just like God does with us.

Next Wednesday, December 14, we will bring the kids and youth in to provide a night of good Christmas fun. Growing up in the country, with a really close family, one of the best things I remember about Christmas wasn't the gifts, but the special time spent with family and it all started the day after Thanksgiving. I remember several evenings between then and Christmas morning, watching Christmas specials, making homemade ornaments, drinking hot cocoa and decorating the tree. Sadly most of the kids will not have such an experience, so we are going to provide that for them. We have a night planned of baking cookies, drinking hot cocoa, making homemade decorations they can take home with them, singing Christmas carols, and of course sharing the Gospel and loving Jesus. The church will be their family!

King Solomon speaks of seeking out the work of man and finding it vanity and vexation of spirit (Ecclesisastes 1:14). In other words, the work we subject ourselves too is fruitless and like chasing the wind. It's the work of sharing Christ that bears fruit. We can pile gifts on these kids, and stuff them full of the fanciest foods every 4 hours, it could be endless, but we are not in the business of being fruitless or chasing the wind. Knowing that Christ is the hope for EVERYONE, we use every thing we give, food, gas, clothes or toys as an opportunity to share the hope we have in Jesus. The result in this work Citychurch is involved in is by no means fruitless. Everyday we witness God changing the lives of the kids and families that are involved with Citychurch.

Sunday morning during church is the greatest proof of the fruitfulness of this work. We see the families of the kids we minister to come in and worship wholeheartedly, in love with God. He is providing for His church and the families He loves and they are responding back to Him!

If you would like to help in this wonderful ministry, your effort will not be in vain. You can come and help package a personalized gift box, be apart of delivering the gifts to their homes, or come next Wednesday and help us have a family Christmas party with the kids! We thank everyone for their support and prayers. We thank you for the love of the kids, and the help in expressing God's love for them!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Jeremy (follow me on twitter @tendingfigs)

To return to our website, click here...http://citychurchamarillo.com/

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Fall Review...Spring Preview

2011-10-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Take heart, ministry is alive and well at Citychurch. We have been working through more ministry than we could imagine, and it's wonderful! The Lord loves these kids and He is giving us every opportunity to reach them with His love. Be sure to check out the new video link and pictures on our website: http://www.citychurchamarillo.com/

Children's Ministry
The Wednesday evening puppet ministry started back when school started. We pick the kids up in the neighborhood, bring them to the church and feed them a supper fit for kings. Then...puppets! The kids are exposed to a God-fearing, scripture loving Bass Monster who works with Mr. Hinklee's Good News Bike Messenger service to deliver bible messages to kids in need of Jesus' love. Their efforts are slightly hindered by antics of Big Red and his crew, who wish to see families broken up and kids miserable. But every episode, God's love shines through!

Just a few weekends ago we gathered up the kids on a Friday night, fed them at the church then headed out to Maxwell's Pumpkin patch. We had almost 200 with us! Mostly kids, a few volunteers and even families from the neighborhood joined us. Everyone had a blast.

Earlier this week we hosted a Book Fair with the pre-school aged kids of the neighborhood. Volunteers from the BGCT brought bookcases and books to give away to those kids who attended. There were clowns, facepainting, a puppet show and a craft time. Loads of fun!

We will continue the Wednesday night puppet show until Thanksgiving, which is coming quickly. There will be a special Thanksgiving program and Christmas program. Plus we have one of the coolest projects coming up, the Christmas Boxes! We will package about 300 boxes for our kids this year. Stay tuned for more details on that one!

Youth Ministry
The youth ministry has been busy as well. These youth had active parts all summer in serving the kids. Some helped in delivering lunches, working with the kids during VBS and pitching in wherever they could.

We had a fantastic youth camp at the end of the summer where those who served were able to leave their neighborhood and spend a week in the mountains. Everyday they attended bible studies, had worship time, and a little bit of fun time. It was during this time of closeness with God, several of the youth expressed a desire for mission work. God is working with these guys!

The youth have their own Wednesday afternoon program. We pick them up from school, bring them to the church, feed them like kings and share a message from scripture with them. They even have their own youth led worship band, that leads them in worship on Wednesday afternoons.

With their expression of God calling them into missions, they have been working the last several week's planning their own youth led revival, to reach out to their friends and other youth on their blocks! God has a group of youth here who are genuine in their love for Him!

There will be a special Thanksgiving meal and Christmas program for them as well. And they will be a part of the Christmas Box project as well.

Looking back and ahead we see where God has been doing a great work in the hearts of the kids, youth, volunteers and families of Citychurch. When we have a genuine love of Jesus and realize our reliance upon Him daily, then we can only give credit to Him. The work is hard and we have to learn to be patient, but the fruit is good, and well worth the time and effort!

- Jeremy (follow me on twitter @tendingfigs)

To return to our website, click here...http://citychurchamarillo.com/

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Citychurch presents...Jesus!

2011-06-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

This morning, instead of loading lunches into our bikes and trailer for delivery, my sidekick Cannon (one of our youth) and I loaded up in the old "Citychurch Racing Van" and lurched down Polk street to the old Mary Hazelrigg neighborhood. This week our neighborhood, along with North Heights, visits our park for a summer bible school! For the kids from Mary Hazelrigg it was something new. This neighborhood is a newly added route to our lunch and pastoring ministry and the last few weeks of serving these kids lunches was for the opportunity this week to present to them...Jesus!

We have fed 80 to 85 kids in this neighborhood. Some are waiting for the bikes as they come down the road, but some are kept shut up inside the house, by mothers afraid of the surrounding neighborhood. But they are always glad to see us, and somewhat relieved. This place is loaded with sweet families, with hearts open to love.

As the vans were loaded this morning, the kids were silent, something unusual for a Citychurch van full of kids! They weren't sure what to expect, having never been on a venture with us. They didn't know each other, or really where they were going. Some had a hard time leaving their moms. But they came!

Our park is loaded with bouncers and slip 'n' slides, games, snow cones, snacks and lunches. It is like a small carnival coming to town. The basketball court is alive and the concession stand is serving. Kids get to crawl all over the 40 foot rock wall cross and the two jungle gyms in the back, then build sand castles in our giant sandbox.

After playing, the visiting youth group pulls all the kids together, shuts down all the distractions, then teaches and leads the kids into something most of them don't know exists...worship of God! It was sweet. The worship is good. It points the kids to the idea of God as a father and his love for us shown through Jesus Christ. Today, after their hearts worshiped, they were led through a bible story of Jesus healing the centurion's child, introducing them to faith.

And during the entire bible school time, the kids become best friends with the junior high and high school students and visiting adults who come with hearts ready to serve and love.

Needless to say the van ride home wasn't quiet, not even close. The kids had new friendships with one another. They had a blast at the park and they had hearts open to love with a seed of faith planted deep in it. I told the guy riding with me that we just witnessed the work of God's love in these youngster's lives. They are ready for tomorrow, as am I and I know, as is God. We present Jesus everyday this week to these sweet kids and He begins a lifelong work in them!

- Jeremy (follow me personally on twitter @tendingfigs for daily updates and things that happen on the lunch route)

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

...with the least amount of resources.

2011-05-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

"Let us reach the largest amount of kids with the least amount of resources." - Pastor Don Lane

This is a staple prayer around Citychurch and is exactly that we are doing this summer in our lunch program. With gas prices going up, we needed a way to cut the cost of running all the vans, so, out of 9 neighborhood routes, 3 of them will be ran on bicycles. That's right! Bicycles.

We have built cargo trailers to be pulled by some utility bikes and each can carry around 100 or so lunches. We also notified the volunteer youth groups to bring their bikes along, so they can ride into the neighborhood with us.

It's a fun thing for the kids we feed too! A bicycle is an important mode of transportation for any child, especially down here, and for us to pull up on bicycles with trailers helps provide a connection with those kids, not to mention the food passed along to them!

But not only is it a fun, creative and efficient way of feeding and connecting with the kids, it also goes to show how easy outreach can be. You don't have to have a fleet of vans and commercial kitchen with 1000s of volunteers to feed hungry kids. It can be as simple as making up some pb&j sandwiches in your home kitchen. Then have your family hop on some bicycles and spend the afternoon riding up and down your local neighborhood, sharing the food with some hungry kids and spending time just getting to know them!

We welcome anyone to come down this summer and join us in the ministry. Bring your whole family and your bikes and ride with one of us delivering lunches and sharing the love of Jesus. If you don't have bikes, we have some extras. And if you don't think you want to ride a bike route, then you still have 6 other routes done in vans you can ride along with.

We look forward to riding with you this summer, be it van or bicycle! Also, keep up with our posts this summer for pictures and videos of the lunch deliveries.

All to share Christ!
-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Fill The Bag and Feed A Child

2011-05-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's almost summer! And that means we need to gear up for feeding the kids daily in the neighborhood. I could write paragraph after paragraph about our summer ministry, or you could just watch our video about it here:
Video - Fill The Bag and Feed A Child

And find more information here:
Info - Fill The Bag and Feed A Child...

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

Closing Out April

2011-04-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

The month of April draws to a close, and we have an average attendance of about 100 kids coming to the Wednesday night CityKidz' Stories program...amazing! With so many kids here we had to split the program up into two shows on Wednesday night. The younger kids go to a 6:15pm show and the older kids come in for the second show around 6:45pm. Each show confronts a problem in their neighborhood, one they are familiar with, and teaches them how Jesus and scripture are the answer!

Our audience grew quite a bit, and pretty quick! Part of it has to do with the van drivers. We have a group of wonderful volunteer van drivers that truly love these kids. They run the same routes Wednesdays and Sundays, making them a consistent figure in their lives. This allows them to develop a relationship with the kids, one of care and respect. Not only that, but the drivers are always on the lookout for new kids on their route. They invite new kids to load up with the rest of the crew for a night at Citychurch. A big thanks and "job well done" to the serving hearts of our van drivers.

Another part of the growth comes by word of mouth. The kids are attending and having a blast. They know this is a safe place where the adults love and care for them. They know they will have a chance to enjoy a warm, filling meal. They know they will have fun in the park and enjoy watching a puppet show that mocks the bad things they see in the neighborhood. And they know they will hear about God's love for them through Jesus...true hope. Deep down this is what they are seeking. So, they share what they experience here with their friends. They invite them along and before you know it we are having to add another van to a route, add another show, cook more food and pray for more volunteers who will care about the lost.

April is coming to an end this week. The month of May will see two more Wednesday night programs, then we will spend some time creating a fresh look to take us through the summer! There is plenty of work to be done, and plenty of outreach to look forward to!

Of course all bragging rights go directly to our Lord. Without His grace none of this can be accomplished. Jesus is who we glorify here, knowing His love for us and the kids is what drive us to share, it is the only thing that can be trusted in and the only reason we can have any hope.

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

CityKidz' Stories - Media

2011-04-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Citychurch has hosted two more CityKidz' Stories programs since the last post, and both shows brought kids to the acceptance of Jesus!

Two Wednesdays ago the episode dealt with fighting and turmoil in the home and neighborhood. Something we notice with these kids is they never see conflict worked out. There will be constant turmoil in their house between everyone, anger just builds on one thing after the other until someone has enough, then they are gone. But we communicated to the kids through CityKidz' Stories, that God doesn't want us living in constant anger towards each other. We shared the message that is so dominate in the Bible, "Lover your neighbor as yourself." We also shared Paul's warning to us, how if we don't love each other, we will end up devouring one another!

This last Wednesday we saw the reappearance of the Bad Habit. The problem wasn't cussing, but stealing. The kids also heard a story illustration about a kid who stole so much his hands grew to big to carry! But both illustrations were worked out through Ephesians 4:28. The kids learned that God wants us to use our hands for working and providing for other instead of stealing from them.

Here you will find the commercial for "The No Kill Shelter for Bad Habits" which was shown as part of the program for the kids this last Wednesday night.

Below is a doodle book that illustrates a story about William, a boy who couldn't stop stealing.

Good Times!

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

Spring Break 2011!

2011-03-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, this blog has been quiet for the last two weeks, but for very good reason. Last week we were wrapped up in preparing for the work God had planned for spring break, and what a great work it was!

Our youth group just returned last night from their mission trip to McKinney, Texas where they reached out into neighborhoods to share the gospel. They worked a VBS there over a three day period using crafts, puppets and teaching, sports and the Bass Monster to share God's love through Christ. Stay tuned next week for a deeper report on that trip!

But just because our youth were gone with several of the church's adults, doesn't mean we kicked back and rested here. God had plans for our entire outreach program here and McKinney! Starting this last Monday all the way through Thursday we worked our neighborhoods with lunch and ministry in the streets, loving on the regular kids that attend and reaching out to any we could find! On top of that, we held VBS in our park across the street down here on Polk and 2nd.

We fed around 300 lunches a day this week, and hosted over 150 kids from the neighborhoods at the VBS. Every lunch sack contained a well rounded meal, with something warm, fruit, juice, dessert, and of course popcorn. It also contained the "Lost Son" story from the Bible, which, whenthe child came to VBS, would see it acted out by Mr. O.T. Hinklee, his son N.T. and a few other of the puppet friends from Wednesday night's program.

Citychurch also hosted over 150 youth volunteers from local churches, a group from Burleson, Texas and even a group from Alaska! All week these youth had a chance to clean, cook and sack the lunches, and deliver them to the kids at lunchtime out in the neighborhood. After lunches were delivered each day, they returned to the park where they would have the chance to become a best friend to any of the many kids here for VBS.

At VBS the CityKidz' Stories troupe acted out the "Lost Son" story told by Jesus. We also used crafts, had a small group teaching time, and a recreation time to teach the kids about the love God has for them, and His desire for them to know Him through believing in Jesus. Every kid had an opportunity to pray and receive Jesus into their heart and many were saved!

But the program doesn't end there. We know where these kids can be found so we can continue to minister to them and their families and teach them how they can live a new life loving God! After the major work accomplished this week, glory and credit can only be given to God. Both programs were a success and we have no doubt that His love shines through for these kids. Thanks to God, supporters and volunteers. The kids from the neighborhood and us here at Citychurch appreciate you!

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

CityKidz' Stories - Episode 4

2011-03-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

Our fourth installment of CityKidz' Stories was a success! Why? Because kids heard the message of Christ and were given an opportunity to accept Him as their savior! Not just the little kids, but the youth as well.

Again this week we used art, music and video creatively to reach into their minds and hearts and show them a fresh look at who God is, how He feels about them, and how our lives can change by desiring to follow His way of life.

As always, it is a blast to see each program through, and not only do the kids enjoy it, but the adults as well! You can watch two of the videos used as teaching tools for the kids last night by clicking the links below!

This video was used as a commercial produced by Rantz the dog puppet to recruit Lil' Morris to his DOJO. Once there he taught him the only way to solve problems was to fight, fight, fight!

This video is another segment of Mr. Hinklee's Doodle Book, where he illustrated the lesson of being under Jesus' control in all situations, instead of reacting uncontrollably.

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

New, For the Heart of the City!

2011-02-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

You have been reading about CityKidz' Stories here at the blog for the last several weeks, now you can go watch our show that tells all about it! Go watch it! Now!

For the Heart of the City - CityKidz' Stories

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

"Illustrating" the Word

2011-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

We wrapped up another Wednesday afternoon outreach here at the church with more fruit added to the tree! If you remember, not only do we host a children's program, complete with a ride to the church, a meal and the CityKidz' Stories Bible lesson, but we also host a program for the youth of the neighborhood, which also involves a ride to the church from the youth's school, a meal and a Bible lesson as well.

This week's content? Fruit-bearing trees.

In the children's lesson, Mr. O.T. Hinklee and the Bass Monster shared with the Green Van Villain Gang and the kids in the audience that God created us to bear good fruit for Him, just like a fruit tree was created to bear fruit. The lesson covered Psalm 1 and Mr. Hinklee illustrated what happens to a fruit tree when it is fed poison and not nurtured and compared it to a fruit tree that was well cared for and fed the right things. The illustration was done in his "Doodlebook" and you can watch the film the kids saw below. As the film played, Mr. Hinklee spoke, telling the kids what was being drawn.

After the video, the kids learned to be aware of the music they listen to, the television shows they watch and what they view on the internet. They were encouraged to "feed" themselves with songs, shows and books of God and His things so they might grow to produce good fruit.

Donnie used art and illustration with the youth to discuss living a life full of fruit for God versus being an empty hollow shell, which produces nothing. He used this illustration first to share the gospel, then to encourage those who know Christ to really chase after Him and live for His glory. Then they were offered a chance to sign up for a Disciple Now weekend which would prepare them to go to other neighborhoods and share their testimony!

I feel like this week we pulled out the creative guns for God! Both programs made use of music and different forms of art, from sketching, stencils and spray paint, and even works with oil paints. The kids program involved puppets and fully costumed characters, and the Bass Monster.

Why? To give a fresh look at the words of God from scripture. We hope to share His words using as much of our collective, creative talent as we can muster. This is one topic we discuss here at the church, when you go into the neighborhoods, there is a complete lack of positive creativity and design. We have seen the fruit in using creativity, and encouraging creativity amongst the kids. Just another tool God allows us to use in sharing His love!

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

CityKidz' Stories - Episode 2!

2011-02-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

Last night CityKidz' Stories performed Episode 2 "Bad Habit" for the children from the neighborhood. The same schedule is played through every Wednesday, kids are picked up from their house, dropped off here at the church. From there they go to the cafe and eat a wholesome meal, then move into the auditorium for the start of the show!

This week a new creature made it's debut, "The Bad Habit"! The show started off with Lil' Morris trying to ditch this little critter. Mr. Hinklee and the Bass Monster tried to warn Lil' Morris that bad habits aren't so easily dropped! Sure enough, The Green Van Villain Gang shows up, with Lil' Morris AND the Bad Habit! Not only is Lil' Morris back following the Bad Habit, but the whole gang is infected by it too!

But no worries, Bass Monster, as always, has the answer from scripture and what God tells us to do about those things that keep us from Him. By the end of the night, the kids had learned that bad habits make us feel guilty, and unloved, which is a lie. Instead we are each loved by God in spite of our bad habits, and if we want to end those habits, we can follow what James tells us in chapter 4 verse 7 of his book, "Submit to God...resist the Devil...he will flee!

The kids even had a chance to offer up some of there bad habits to God by placing them in a food dish for the Bass Monster to devour!

We had a lot of fun, but in the end it all comes to a serious point, do they know the free gift of God through Jesus? There was a quiet moment at the end of the show, and the kids were taught they are dearly loved by God, and He wants them to know it! They were taught how Jesus provides the way for us to be able to have that relationship with a God who has no bad habits. During the invitation, over 10 kids went with counselors to pray and ask Jesus into their heart!

We can see God working in the hearts of these little ones. When we do a show, kids are coming to know Christ, and seeds are being spread everywhere! This is the main reason of us being here, to spread the message of love of God through Christ!

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

CityKidz' Stories

2011-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Again this week we will be postponing the children's program until next Wednesday (02/16), when the forecast is calling for 60 degrees! Everyone stay warm!

-Jeremy

12 Months of Ministry

2011-02-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Are you curious about the ministry work here at Citychurch? Check out this video to see what happens here year 'round!

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...Sermons

City Kidz' Stories - Wednesday, February 2nd 2011

2011-02-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

Due to the dangerously cold weather here in Amarillo, the outreach program for this evening has been canceled. Please stay home, warm and safe with your families. Thanks to everyone for making our first week the success it was and we look forward to next Wednesday's program! Stay warm!

-Jeremy

CityKidz' Stories - Episode 1!

2011-01-27T08:08:00.000-08:00

That's right, Citychurch kicked off it's children's outreach program for the spring semester last night with the introduction of "CityKidz' Stories". This "show" offers a wellspring of creative thinking to reach into the child's mind and heart giving them a fresh look at God, Jesus and how we should live our lives for Him.

After the kids arrived at the church from the van ride, they entered the cafe where they ate hand-battered fried chicken, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and rolls, almost a Thanksgiving spread! During dinner the kids had a surprise visit from Mr. O.T. Hinklee, the Weelz shop owner from the "show".

When they had there fill of food, they made their way into the main church auditorium, which had been transformed into a street corner. It has an alley, a store front called "Weelz" where Mr. O.T. Hinklee works as a repair man, and of course The Bass Monster and his tamer. The Bass Monster is the watchdog for the Weelz shop, but also the spring of truth, ready to spout scripture and words of wisdom straight from the Bible.

While Mr. O.T. Hinklee and The Bass Monster were the good guys on the corner, the van was base to a group of wannabe thugs, Rantz the dog, Edward Peabody aka "Skinnie D-Wayne", Hector the ape, and Chaquita the chicken. These thugs made their appearance in a chopped VW van, complete with rims, custom green paint and flames. The kids know this group as the Green Van Villain Gang.

The show will run through the spring semester every Wednesday evening, the food is served at 5:00pm, and the show starts at 5:30pm.

I look back this morning, and think about why we go to such lengths for these kids. Then I see them come bouncing in, eyes and mouths open in wonder at the show that is performed just for them. These kids spend most of their young lives in having gifts given to them, then taken or stolen from a cousin or dad needing money. We try to battle that by gearing everything we do towards them, they need to know and feel like Wednesday night is there because of how IMPORTANT they are as a little kid.

This is an important tool God has allowed us to use to reach their hearts. Everywhere else they are beat down, stolen from, or forgotten about, but at church they are important, not just to us but to God. They hear about God's love for them and how the can have a relationship with God through Jesus. We encourage them to do the right thing in life by writing stories that deliberately mock the world in their neighborhood and make heroes out of those who choose to follow God and his directives.

At the end of last night, we had served over 40 kids food and the message of forgiveness from a God who loves them. As those who wanted to make a choice to follow God left the room for counseling, I looked across the room to see that well over half of the audience had left...to be counseled.

God sees to it that His work is complete. He loves these kids down here and wants them to know He loves them. Citychurch is here at the frontlines, ready to move on that purpose alone, using whatever we have at our disposal to see the mission complete.

-Jeremy

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...www.sermon.net/citychurchamarillo

Pain's Progeny

2011-01-21T18:37:00.001-08:00

prog·e·ny [proj-uh-nee] –noun,

1.a descendant or offspring, as a child, plant, or animal.

2.such descendants or offspring collectively.

3.something that originates or results from something else; outcome; issue.

This week we have witnessed the return of a young man to his single mother. This young man will either be the spark that gives the hope to his family that God can change their circumstances or he will be the source of inescapable heartbreak.

He is eight years old and returning from a week-end spent in a psychiatric hospital where he was tested for every conceivable explanation for his destructive behavior. He suffers from whatever condition would cause you to tear apart your schoolroom and then urinate on yourself in the hall-way.

His tendencies are that of someone that has experienced hurt far beyond his years. Perhaps it was his mother's drug use during pregnancy or the incarcerated father he has never known that hardened his heart. Or, maybe it was the abusive boyfriend that waited in the closet with a butcher knife; ready to attack when he and his mother came back to their apartment. He's never known safety...or peace.

He's not a monster. To most, he looks like a real little boy. He helped me make food to serve at a special dinner at the church. He was proud to have something good to tell his mother when she came to check in on him. He felt decent.

Now he is anesthetized with a three-part cocktail of benadryl and two other drugs given to "slow him down". He's slow now. The behavior is tame. The hurt is compounded now by his inability to express it. If he can bottle up his rage for a couple of days he'll no doubt be paraded in front of everyone he tried to reach out to unsuccessfully so we can affirm him.

He still sleeps on the floor. He still has no father. He can't read and will no doubt be held back in school next year. His mother loves him and tried to help. He'll be picked up and brought to Citychurch Sunday morning.

There's a lot of ambitious wonder in our conversation these days. Our great aspirations must sound so silly from God's perspective when the only way we can win the hearts of our little boys is to drug them into submission.

The good news is, Citychurch knows where he lives.

Pastor, Donnie Lane Jr.

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com
Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"
Follow us on Twitter @citychurchama
Hear the sermons here...www.sermon.net/citychurchamarillo

How to get to...Polk Street?

2011-01-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

Over the last two weeks we have been working on creating the new children's outreach program. This involved brainstorming, building, photography, printing, and several great big stickers! For now, I will post some teaser photos...and maybe next week we can post some finished set photos with some more description about what will be happening. Think puppets, art and dj.

Backdrops?

Brainstorming Sketches

Puppets & Future Stage Prop

A Family for God

2011-01-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

The other day a man from the neighborhood came into the church with his wife and kids, seeking encouragement for his family. He had been struggling to unify his family, something the world works to destroy. As I shared with him the hope we have in following Christ to raise a unified family, his eyes began to swell, his hope and faith grew.

I then offered him a bible, with his family name imprinted on it, for free. His heart broke and could no longer hold back the tears as he reached for it.

He knew the bible contained everything needed to ensure that his family stood justified before God, the story of Christ. To see this book and touch it, and know that there was a church family there to stand with them and support them was a bright shining beacon in their hour of darkness.

The spirit moved in his heart and he was certain of God's love for him and his family. But even more so, he was affirmed of his conviction of leading his family together towards the Lord. He knew God can do wonderful things through a family devoted to Him and that brokenness was key in being able to follow Christ.

There are hard hearts in these neighborhoods. Some may seem completely unreachable, and not worth the time and effort it might take to show them the Lord. But God completes His work, and we are blessed to watch Him soften some of the hardest hearts, using things we can completely overlook.

Check back here in another day or two to catch our progress on the new children's program starting on January 26, 2011.

To return to our website, click here...www.citychurchamarillo.com

Friend us on Facebook Page "Citychurch Amarillo"

Hear the sermons here...www.sermon.net/citychurchamarillo

December - The Work...

2010-12-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

So...what does it take to gather, sort, pack and wrap gifts for the Citychurch kids?

Volunteers and time.

Tuesday our first group came in from Leadership Amarillo. The group was made up of area teens and college students and did a great job sorting all the gift items, in preparation to be packed!

We have a wall of toothpaste, lotion, conditioner and shampoo. A table full of art and writing supplies, footballs, basketballs, games, dolls, blankets, books and coats plus lots more!

After this group sorted, the Adult Leadership Amarillo group arrived Thursday morning to begin packaging the gifts. Great care goes into these presents. We have Christmas wish lists gathered from all the children that tell us the size, age and items the child likes. From these lists we personalize each gift. You can understand the importance of this, and how much more special it makes the child feel when they see a gift box full of items picked and packed just for them.

We will spend the next two weeks packaging the rest of the presents, wrapping them, and finally hand delivering them to each child. If you would be interested in helping out in anyway, please contact us. Every little bit helps us to reach these kids, letting them know that not only are the people that care about them, but ultimately their God loves them dearly!

You can return to www.citychurchamarillo.com
Friend us on Facebook: "Citychurch Amarillo"
Follow us on Twitter @citychurchama

December!

2010-12-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

December is the start of our Christmas outreach program here at Citychurch, but before we begin each program, we like to take a moment and reflect on the work God has called us to do, and why we do it, or...the "heart" of the work.

As most of you know, we gather items, toys, toiletries and basic daily needs for a child's life all year long from faithful donors like yourselves. We gather them to place in boxes which will be wrapped in Christmas paper like a large present and hand delivered to the children we serve in the neighborhood.

Why? Because nothing portrays love to a child better than someone handing them a gift, completely free at a time when they may most feel forgotten. The families in these neighborhoods are doing well if they are able to provide one meal a day to the kids, the last thing they can provide is a normal Christmas morning with a tree drowning in presents underneath.

But the nature of our gifts are not materialistic. We provide not only toys, but educational books and materials that can bring a family together in the growth of a child. There are basic needs of everyday life like underwear, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant...toothbrushes, blankets and pillows...items most people wouldn't think about giving or receiving, but they end up meaning the world to these kids. Also, the box is large enough, that it has enough contents to keep the child busy all Christmas day. They can pull one item out, play with it, then return and be surprised with something else!

Just like with any gift, no matter the contents, the old saying holds true in any social setting, "it is not the gift, but the thought that counts". For a child, whom is constantly ignored, a box full of thoughtful items warms their hearts and let's them know that there are people who do care, but more importantly, it allows us to share with them about their God who truly cares, and has not forgotten them.

Stay tuned for the next entry, as we share with you the logistics and daily work required to fill over 300 boxes and wrap them for a Citychurch Christmas!

You can return to www.citychurchamarillo.com
Friend us on Facebook: "Citychurch Amarillo"
Follow us on Twitter @citychurchama