By Shadaye Hunnicutt
A lack of volunteers for the long-running Kings Kids ministry has prompted TCC staff to reevaluate and change its after school programming for local elementary students.
“Years ago, God woke me up in the middle of the night and gave me this vision…dream. I have waited for his time, and I believe this is it,” said Tina Mitchell, pastor of compassionate, and evangelical ministries at TCC. “We still have a lot of money to raise and I‘m trusting what someone told me a long time ago ‘When God gives the vision, he will give the provision.’”
Kings Kids, an after school VBS-type program for local elementary school kids, was started by Trevecca Community Church (TCC) in the 1980s and over the years came to rely heavily on college students as volunteers.
The program, which offered games, singing, snacks and Bible lessons to local public school students, ended in December because TCC leaders couldn’t find Trevecca students interested in leading the program.
Many students didn’t even know about the leadership dilemma until it was over, said Trevecca Junior, Dan Moranville, who is running for associated student body (ASB) chaplain.
“There is some sadness for me at the absence of the program this semester but that is tempered by my excitement for the future”, said Tina Mitchell, Pastor of compassionate ministries and Evangelism at TCC.
Mitchell hopes that by next fall the church, in partnership with Trevecca student volunteers, will offer a program that focuses on personal decision making.
The new program, called KidPOWER, will be five days-a-week, and two-and-a-half hours a day. POWER is an acronym that represents the choices TCC hopes to influence the children to make.
“We want KidPOWER kids to choose purity in body and mind–choose to serve others–choose physical wellness–choose excellence in academics–choose reconciliation through peaceful means,” said Mitchell, who said she believes God gave her this vision several years ago.
She’s been waiting for the right time to launch and after evaluating the current programming decided to end Kings Kids in December and take this semester to plan the launch of KidPOWER.
KidPOWER, like Kings Kids, will need leaders and volunteers from Trevecca in order to be effective.
If elected ASB chaplain, Moranville plans on motivating students into action by finding what their passions are and help plug them into positions of leadership in campus ministries.
“I want to encourage students to stick with one position of leadership and dedicate a great amount of time in that ministry,” said Moranville, who is excited about the possibilities for students to have an integral part in the start of KidPOWER.
For more information about becoming a part-time staff member or how to get involved in volunteering contact Pastor Tina Mitchell at: Tmitchell@tccn.org or call 615.491.5850.
