We Are Becoming Adoptive Parents

Over my ministry, I have enjoyed going through the process of adoption with a number of couples. When I was the pastor of Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch, we were one of the designated locations for the Methodist Mission Home to meet with adoptive parents as the case worker placed their new baby in their loving arms. I participated in several worship services that celebrated the event and, I can tell you, there is no feeling like the one that enters your heart when you see the joy in the faces as the eyes of the new parents and their child meet for the first time. It is the personification of love.

I have felt that same feeling these past few days as our church was presented with the opportunity to adopt one of the elementary schools in McKinney. Six churches in town have been asked if they would join with another school to adopt one of our MISD Title One schools. Title One schools are those with at least 40% of their students on the free breakfast and lunch program. We have been invited to join forces with Bennett Elementary and Wolford Elementary to adopt Malvern Elementary School. Malvern has about 87% of their students on the free meal program. I knew you would want to beadoptive parents, so I committed our church to this new ministry. Then the church staff started to find some people willing to direct our part of the mission. As is always the case when God guides you into a new ministry, the people were there just waiting for someone to ask them. We now have a team of 10 people who have agreed to be a part of the liaison team with Bennett, Wolford and Malvern.

Let me tell you a little about Malvern Elementary School. It is located at 1100 Eldorado Parkway; about a quarter mile east of highway 75. It is a vibrant and innovative community school of about 600 students. It opened in 2001 as one of the McKinney ISD sustainable schools that are environmentally sensitive in architecture and engineering. It is a “recognized” school. Sandra Barber is the principal.

There are a lot of areas in which we will be able to assist in this new ministry in the years to come. There will be opportunities for people to be mentors, reading partners and tutors. We can support and appreciate the teachers and administrators. We can assist in the workroom, the library, the clothing/food closet and with technology. They need people to join the chess club and the PTA. Some will want to be involved at the school at night; like leading parent seminars and developing a parent center. I hope some of our small groups will decide to adopt one of their individual classes. They even have a garden in which our green thumbs can play.

The reason you are receiving this email a little earlier than usual is that we have an immediate need to which we can respond. The students need school supplies. A list of the supplies needed is below:
Crayons
Pencils
Gluesticks
Notebook paper
Pocket folers
Spirals
Pencil pouches

We will be collecting these supplies so that they can be delivered to the families before school starts. Our deadline for the supplies to be brought to the church is Thursday, August 6. If you would prefer, you can make a cash donation for the purchase of the supplies.
Adoption can be the personification of love. Let us begin to share the love of God with the families of Malvern Elementary.