It has been put on my heart more than once to start a children’s ministry type group at the school where I teach. One time I almost got it started, it just wasn’t the right time, and other times I chickened out and never pursued it. This year God had big plans for me and it all started when I was on my mission trip.

I had always felt like I would really enjoy going on a mission trip. I felt like it would strengthen my walk with God, and possibly guide me to something God wanted me to do. When I went on my mission trip, I was doubting my choice of becoming a teacher. I was finishing up my 10th year of teaching, and was starting to feel like I needed to find a different occupation. I had no idea what I would do. I love teaching, but was struggling mentally. I shared this with our mission trip leader (shout out to the AMAZING Ronda) as she had shared with me that she had once been a cafeteria manager in a public school. The conversation continued, and I made the comment that I bet she had seen and experienced some amazing things being on the mission field.

Her response is where it all began. She said, “I have. I really have, but I was able to do more mission work in the public school setting than I ever have on the mission field.” This statement stuck with me, and God took over.

After hearing that, it really made me think. As a teacher I have a HUGE platform to share God’s love and His word. I have a daily opportunity to lead people to Christ, adults and kids alike. This became my personal mission.

At the beginning of this school year, God put on my heart, yet again, to start a children’s ministry type group at my school. Except this time was different. It was so strong, that it was almost all I could think about. I knew I had to obey, but there was one problem. I work in a public elementary school, and wasn’t quite sure how or what I was going to do to get it started. I shared my idea with my team and they were so encouraging. They helped me pray about it, and encouraged me to pursue the idea.

Before I presented it to my administrators, I wanted to get all of my ducks in a row. I wanted to have a group name, a start date, a few people who would be willing to help me, and an idea of what we would do at each meeting. All of this came really quickly aside from one thing…..the group name. Now, if you know me, I take pride in my creativity. I enjoy creating and naming things, so the name was a big deal for me. During the moment of silence one morning, I began to pray for two specific things:

1. If this was something God truly wanted me to do, that every step of getting it started would be easy, there would be no push back and that it would be approved almost immediately.
2. I would come up with a name that was catchy and meaningful.

By that afternoon, I kid you not, I had a name…S.W.A.G. (answered prayer number one)! Its meaning? Students With An Amazing God. I knew right away it was perfect. It was catchy and would resonate with the students.

I finished all of the final details, got some fliers made, and took it to my principal. He was on board right away and took the idea to our Director of Schools. Our Director of Schools was on board right away, and took it to the school attorney for obvious legality reasons. Within a week, SWAG was approved (answered prayer number 2)!

We started meeting, before school, the first week of September! We have an average of 70-80 students attend each week, along with a handful of adults! Each prayer, devotion/lesson, and song is student led and I even have students asking me each week if they can help lead! Since SWAG has started, the community has started to donate money (a HUGE shout out to Kristy for getting that started). We are able to give the kids what we call “SWAG bags” at the end of each meeting, and have even bigger plans for closer to Christmas!

Seeing these students worship is a blessing like no other. It has been absolutely incredible to see what God continues to do with this ministry. I am truly blown away with the amount of support I have been given. I am so incredibly thankful for my administration and director who continue to support me, my team who encouraged me to obey, all of the other adults who help me each week, everyone who has donated, and most importantly to God who has orchestrated it all!

I am so excited to see where God leads this ministry. I pray that this is just the beginning, and that more teachers realize the platform they have to be a Godly example!