Progressive Dinner and Reveal Party

Yes, can you believe it? another party? This time it was not so Martha Stewarty more like good ol' Papa John catering:)Tonight was our fourth annual Progressive dinner and Reveal Party. When Brian became the youth pastor here, he started an Adopt a Youth program. In the program, adults in the church secretly adopt youth. They leave encouraging cards/gifts for them and pray for them throughout the year. Mid-year, the parents are revealed to their youth and the parents begin to get to know the youth by having them over for dinner, attending their sporting events, etc. It is a great program and has grown every year. We had around 120 people there tonight for the Reveal. Wow! It is so cool to see everyone come together in the church for such a positive outreach. We hosted the Middle school portion of the dinner at our house. I loved having all of the youth in our new home....of course, I was a little anal about middle schoolers eating near my carpet but ya know:) Again, the program is so cool and the kids are able to see that adults in the church love them and are committed to their spiritual well being. On a side note, this was Tayler's first year in youth group and his first to participatein the program. He was convinced it was an older couple in the church. It was so hard to keep the secret from him! His family had already been taking him to their kid's sporting events, but Tayler never caught on that they might be doing this b/c they were his adoptive family. There is a pic of Tayler with his family. (you can tell by the pic that he has already been influenced by their hair over the years:) They have done so much for him and it means the world to us to see Tayler's face light up as they leave him thoughtful, heartfelt, encouraging cards and gifts. I know the rest of the youth that participate feel the same way as he did each time they received an encouraging word or gift from their parent. What better way to model Christ's love for the youth? Yes, this program is one I will never forget.