Can’t believe it’s over…

…it really seems like yesterday, Lori Stacy, and I were planning, preparing, and organizing our lives for Beyond 12, and our time has come to an end. We had our last meeting tonight and it was just another reminder on how blessed we have been to part of such a great group, there is no doubt God blessed this effort and made it possible to fall into place.

Our last topic tonight was on "Second Chances" and it tied into "forgiveness", which we coved a couple of weeks ago, and I am so amazed how "in tune" these kids have been every week, I am also, amazed with their excitement and willingness to come together for the last 8 weeks or so and take 2 hours out of their week to come fellowship, share, dig in the Word, and encourage each other as well as look at themselves and where they could use some room for improvement.

Beyond 12 has been a blessing to the adult folks involved as well, it has keep us all accountable for our actions and has been a reminder, that our kids do look at us, and we do shape who they become. We explored topics, such as, gossip, influence, integrity, generational sin, forgiveness, self-esteem, and second chances…these are real everyday things that we all have to deal with in life, and I pray that they have learned from us as much as we did from them. We may not see the fruits of our labor for years to come, if at all, but we have seen the impact it has had on some of our kiddos. I cannot explain in words the blessing and honor is has been to work with this group of kids!

With the start of a new school year approaching, it is our prayer that they will be the change, rely on each other for accountability, take what they have learned and apply it in their lives, to be an example by the way the carry themselves and that they always remember that their actions not only represent themselves, but also, their families, their school, their community and their God!

We are having an "end of study" celebration in a couple of weeks…who knows this may not be the end of something special, but just the beginning!