Have you ever been the new ‘kid’ in town? I certainly have. For the first 10 years of our marriage, my husband, Jacob, and I moved every year or two. It was thrilling to be out on our own, exploring new places and meeting the wonderful people who lived there. One of the first orders of business for settling in a new place was always finding a church to attend. We were (usually) welcomed in by kind-hearted and generous people who learned our names even when they didn’t have to and made us feel comfortable even though we were strangers.
When we moved to Huntsville in 2016, we knew that finding the right church home was extremely important, since we were giving up our nomadic lifestyle to put down roots in Jacob’s hometown. On Sundays, we visited new church after new church, and every other Monday, the kids and I went to First Baptist to participate in MOPS (the Mothers of Preschoolers ministry). Our kids were cared for by amazing volunteers and staff, and I got to connect with other moms in the same season of raising little ones. This church welcomed us in with open arms. What a blessing!
Our kids, Michael (9) and Henry (5) enjoy participating in all the wonderful programs that the Kids Ministry provides. They are surrounded by people who care for them, they have a blast, and they are learning how to put their trust in Jesus. We all hope that this updated facility will provide many more opportunities to draw new people into our church. And with all the growth Huntsville is seeing, there should be lots of new people to welcome in. By investing in our Kids Ministry, and in the GENERATIONS Building and Renovation project, our church is showing the community how much we value families, children, and future generations. We are honored to be a part of that!
Mandy Davenport