A day in the life of...Mark Williams

My first "Stretched Canvas"

I stretched my first "canvas" this past week.  It is a canvas that our child that we sponsor painted for us.    Luo-Set Free is an organization through which we support a child at an orphanage in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa.  Our child's name is Siyena.  He is 12 years old.  Because of the partnership, he is able to eat 2 hot meals a day, have schooling, and medical expenses paid for.  Check out Luo's website.  Here is the pic of the canvas, and my first "stretching" project. 

Open House, Core Essentials, and a busy week

Tonight is open house at Micah's school.  He/we will find out who his 2nd grade teacher will be.  This year, the school system is moving 6th grade back down to the elementary schools.  This will increase the enrollment at each of the community schools.  It does produce some challenges as well.  I.E. space, teacher allocation, bussing of students for SPIRIT and alternative school to middle school.  All of these will be interesting as to how they play out.  As for me, I think that Agricola Elementary is a fantastic school that we have a great relationship with. 

As a matter of fact, we are going to be beginning a mentoring partnership with Agricola Elementary and Agricola Baptist.  We are going to be using curriculum designed for public schools that co-insides with the virtues that we teach in our children's ministry here at Agricola.  The website is www.coreessentials.org .  This is a partnership between Chick-Fil-A, the Rethink Group, and schools across the nation.  I have a great relationship with Tim Walker, one of the guys that heads up the Core Essentials team.  We are looking forward to seeing what God will do with this partnership. 

Here's what I'd like from you guys:  Pray for this opportunity.  I ask that you pray that God would use this as an opportunity to reach others with the Truth of His Word.  We live in a culture and society that needs values and virtues taught to our children.  The partnership that we have is one that will grow.  I just want you to pray that God will do His work in Agricola Elementary. 

Luo Set Free

I want to share with you about an organization that Melanie and I were recently introduced to at the Orange Conference.  Luo-Set Free is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic sustainability and improving quality of life through: Biblical Education + Academic Education + Financial Support + Medical Care + Nutrition.   Here is a little more from the website:

 In order to show the love of Jesus to children and communities, we base our efforts on relationship. We build relationships with community leaders, churches, and organizations in order to empower them to help the children in their areas. Our first initiative is in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. There, we are partnering with the local church and equipping them to be the hands and feet of Jesus on location. Our goal is to allow people to see the church working in its purest form and therefore get to know the true character of Christ. We are also working with community leaders, athletic coaches and teachers, training them to educate and influence the children a in a positive way. We believe that God desires for us to work together in community in order to "do" justice.

The cost to provide these essentials to a child for a year is $250.  You can also buy t-shirts from them to help support the cause.  The cool thing is that the Biblical Education is largely based on many of the virtues that we instill in our children at Agricola Baptist through 252 Basics.  Check out the video below, and check out this organization that is making a real difference in the lives of impoverished children.  We have a special print that was painted by our child.  She is from South Africa. 

Atlanta Mission Trip Pics

Check out these pics of our students in Atlanta.  This is the 4th year we have had teams from Agricola go to Atlanta for a Mission Trip.

Click here for pics.

A pic from the other night

Here is a pic of Tommy, Clinton, and myself. 

Clinton, Tommy, and I all served on the Gulf Coast.  We actually all served there at the same time.  Now, our paths continue to cross.  Clinton joined us for our missions mobilization night this past Sunday.  Clinton has just returned from The World Race, where he spent 2007 travelling around the world being involved in missions.