Earlier this year I wrote about finding ways to interact with children and pointed to Rebecca’s Garden of Hope as a way to do this. And I asked “What can TLC do right now to begin connecting with children?” Well perhaps God has answered this question, and in a big way. While I was writing those words a new school was being built on Lake Blanche Rd. Yep that’s the name of that short little strip of pavement alongside of TLC that our driveway connects to. It’s also the street that will soon connect to Gunn Highway once the county finishes construction. It will be a straight route from TLC to the school!
Starkey Ranch Elementary K-8 is the name of this brand new 1500 student magnet school, and TLC got the chance to get acquainted with the administration this week by contributing a little physical labor to help teachers move their supplies into their new classrooms. And yes we made a good first impression. This school has a huge campus with 2 basketball courts, a theater to stage live performances in, and a public library and cultural center in it’s front yard. There are also a couple of soccer fields along side the campus and a running track in back. It’s a far cry from the civil war era brick building with the black-top playground that I went to elementary school in!
Really God, I was thinking about filling a couple of Sunday School classes with kids, not 1500! We’re definitely going to need a bigger building. And a lot of helping hands too.
But it won’t just happen by itself, we’ve got to find ways to get involved with the work being done there, ways to use the gifts that God showers on us to be blessings to the children and teachers and staff. If we just keep doing things like always things aren’t likely to change.
Consider volunteering to help out at Starkey Ranch Elementary. You must do this through the county’s web page (www.pasco.k12.fl.us/comm/page/volunteer); and complete the on-line application. You can select the type of activities that you want to do in this application, from office assistance, to chaperoning students on field trips! And there will be future service opportunities to participate in with other members of TLC too, just watch the worship bulletins for these.
So, Where are the children? Well, I think we found ’em. And their not far away, in fact nearly at our front door!
Enjoy reading the President’s Blog. You are doing a great job John. I am considering volunteering at Starkey Ranch Elementary. Thanks for all the updates
We have a great opportunity to fulfill our mission statement at Starkey Ranch. We need to seize the moment and make our presence and love known there.