Early Childhood Center

 

As we continue to move forward with our new early childhood development center's opening, I was recently asked why did I bring this opportunity to Riverside now? So, I thought I would use this space to share. 

Throughout my time in ministry, there have been three foci I believed God calls the church. Like the greatest commandments in which all the laws and prophets lean, I think these three are foundational to any of the salvific work that we engage. 

The first is to be a beacon of light in the local and global community where everything we say and do always pointing to Christ's unconditional love for all of humanity. 

Second, to be a voice for the marginalized, whereby the church uses its collective voice to speak out and to act against injustice and inequity in whatever form it presents itself. 

Third, I believe the church exists to be a safe place for persons to encounter God and to grow in relationship with God and others as we all live into our divine purpose. 

When it was time for me to begin my early education, my parents thoughtfully searched and sacrificially selected John Edward Bruce Preschool in Brooklyn, NY. Unknown to me until I was much older, my mother shared that they first began to research the school because of who it was named after. John Edward Bruce, born a slave, was a journalist, historian, and civil rights, activist. Later they discovered that the school that dawned his name was founded on Christian principles of love and justice. The school walls had images of persons of all races, cultures, and ethnicities who stood for righteousness throughout history. My mother will tell you if asked, that my confidence and compassion didn't start in college, but through the values instilled in my brother and me from being surrounded at home and school by positive people who believed in the love of all humankind. 

It's no wonder that my first professional job out of college was to be a director of a YMCA Preschool in Atlanta, GA, then on to work as a community builder with the YMCA, Hand On Atlanta, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In ministry, wherever I have served, the church has always had a healthy children's ministry. When One Life Church in Missouri City was launched, the "Life Changers" Children's ministry was one of the most vital programs offered. 

I have always believed in the idea of the beloved community and that the church's ministries play a critical role in developing that community. If we create a safe place for children to be nurtured in love and instill confidence in their uniqueness, not only does the child grow to his/her full potential, but the entire family and community grow as well. 

My hope for the Early Childhood Development at Riverside is that together we build a safe place founded on the Christian principles of Faith, Hope, and Love so that the children and their families become all that God has created them to be. 

To learn more about the Early Childhood Center's vision and progress, please subscribe to this blog or send an email to riverside@riversidehouston.org and we will connect you to our mailer.