| from Dr. Kathy Koch |
Dr. Kathy Says…
I recently met an energized, future-focused, care-about-the-culture couple. Heidi and Bill were fun to spend time with. Listening to Heidi inspired me.
Check out the picture of all the shoes at her back door. Heidi and Bill like their house to be a center of ministry.
This summer, 7 college-age young women lived with them and their young adult son. Their house was crowded! The sacrifice was worth it. And, that’s my word. I don’t think they would have used the word “sacrifice.”
Heidi and Bill have strategically raised their children and are also very involved with their grandchildren. They celebrate together often and plan meaningful encounters to pass on their values intentionally. They want to leave a legacy. They will.
They’ve noticed what I imagine you’ve noticed – not all teens and young adults have been raised similarly. Their children told them of friends who weren’t being led. They were floundering, and were unsure about their futures.
Heidi (especially) began to pray and ponder, wondering if there was something she could or should do for them. At the same time, she was acutely aware that many businesses in her resort community needed employees. Synergy!
Bill and Heidi invited young people to relocate to their community for the summer. When other housing options fell through, Heidi didn’t think of canceling her plans to minister to the young adults. Rather, she and Bill opened their home to them. Thus, all the shoes.
The 10 who chose to experience Heidi’s program blessed a local business by working regular jobs. They planned worship experiences once a week for their group plus friends and peers who chose to attend. Most significantly, they met in small groups and one-on-one with Heidi to learn more about God, how to integrate their faith into all aspects of life, and what a Christian family looks like and lives for.
At the end of the summer they’ll launch to the next phase of their lives. They’re more mature, more confident, more able to communicate truth, and more hungry for more than when they arrived just a short time ago. I’ve met some of them and they’re ready!
Ministry doesn’t always take a skill set. It always requires a heart to give. A heart that gives out of its own abundance makes receiving more likely. And it’s beautiful. I’ve seen it in Heidi and Bill.
How could you give? What could you give? What have you noticed is lacking in your community or in the people around you? What have you experienced that others would benefit from understanding? What’s holding you back? Could you do something now? Will you?
Dr. Kathy Koch (“cook”), is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. She has influenced thousands of parents, teachers, and children in 30 countries through keynote messages, seminars, chapels, banquet talks, and other events. She is a regular speaker for Care Net, Summit Ministries, and Axis. She also speaks for other organizations, churches, schools, and pregnancy resource centers. In addition, she hosts Celebrate Kids conferences through their Ignite the Family conference division. She is also a popular guest on Focus on the Family radio, she was featured in Kirk Cameron’s movie, Connect, and she has written and published five books with Moody Publishers, including Five to Thrive, Start with the Heart, Screens and Teens, 8 Great Smarts, and No More Perfect Kids (with Jill Savage). Dr. Kathy earned a Ph.D. in reading and educational psychology from Purdue University.
