This is a long one….
When we first started this last year, the kids would come to get free drinks through our Pour it Forward program before we started the leadership program every.single.day.
It became ALOT for just a few people to support and one day the kids came in and there were not enough tickets on the board for all of them.
They panicked! “MS. CARRIEEEEEE! There’s not enough tickets!!!” they yelled.
I told them to hold on a minute and let me talk to Mr Tyson. I walked in the office and said “Ty, there’s not enough tickets and there’s ALOT of kids out here. What do you want me to do”
Without hesitation he said, “give them drinks anyway.” A dear friend was actually in the office and heard what was happening and helped us with tickets that day so I went back to the kids and told them to settle down and hear me out.
I told the kids that I wanted to teach them how we handle things in our home as Christians. I told them we pray and invite God into the situation.
I told these kids, “I don’t know how yall feel about Jesus and praying and if you don’t want to pray, you don’t have to but please be respectful and quiet anyhow”
Yall – ALLLLLLL THESE KIDS SAID “LET’S PRAY!!!!” Not one of them were shy about joining me in praying for this need and none of them excused themselves.
So I led them in prayer. “Lord, you’re holy and worthy to be praised. We know that you provide all we need. Today, you see all these kids and you have us giving them free drinks. Well, you’re gonna need to provide for them. Would you please send someone from the community to help us with these Pour it Forwards. We know you will provide so we thank you in advance. In Jesus name, Amen”
The next day, someone came in the shop and we began talking about what was happening with the afterschool kids and the Pour if Forwards. I didn’t tell her what we had prayed – just had a great talk and then she left.
A little while later, she came back and told me God wouldn’t let her leave town without coming back to give us a donation for the board – enough for 60 Pour it Forwards!!! THEN, she asked how she could help us keep that program growing and the cake pop ministry was birthed!
I was milling around that day getting ready for the kids and just thinking of God’s goodness when the Lord gently reminded me what we had prayed the day before – I.broke.down!!! 
THANK YOU FATHER!!!!
SO – when the kids came back and saw a board FILLED with tickets their little faces lit up BUT before we did drinks I had them all sit down and listen to what God had done and how God had answered their prayers.
I told them – “Yesterday, I taught yall what we do when we have a need. Today, I will teach you what we do when God responds. What do we do?? We pray! We pray a prayer of thanksgiving! So I led the kids in the sweetest time of prayer to thank God for showing up and showing us and the kids that He is faithful.
I am sharing this because this year, in addition to teaching them leadership values, our heart is to teach them to be bold in praying, even in front of their peers.
I know we are not the only ones ministering to these kids – it takes a village!! Many other adults and organizations are working towards the same goal BUT I am here to tell you that these kids are more open and desperate for Jesus than most adults.
I am SO.STINKING.PROUD of these kids and can’t wait to see their growth over the year!
Special thanks to Pastor Cody East and Kirstie Noack-Young for sticking around with us today! Haleigh and Tyson handled the drinks with grace and ease! Good job, Freedom Fam!!
