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School Half Days Mean New Ministry for Harbert Church
HARBERT, MI (December 11, 2003) - It's a dilemma that many parents of
school-aged children face - what to do with their children when schools
have a half day.
Harbert Community Church has found a new way to meet that need - by
hosting an after-school program for elementary students when the school
has half days.
Fifteen times, the church will provide children in grades 1-5 with
activities when school ends early, said pastor Joel Kruggel. So far, the
church has hosted five "half-day programs." A number of retired
parishioners, including former teachers, dance instructors, musicians
and others, are among more than 60 volunteers helping coordinate
activities for 49 students.
The program operates from about 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m on half days,
with activities including a snack lunch (which the family sends with the
child), a reading time, an exercise period, crafts, music, and even
introductory foreign language modules. The cost to the church is about
$50 per half day.
Volunteers have been teaching kids French, Spanish, Dutch, German and
Swedish, said Kruggel. They range from 12-year-old Luke Linscheid and
some high-school students to 81-year-old Jane Temple, a lay leader from
the church's mission committee. Associate pastor Kent Lindquist is
assisting the coordination of the program. Adults who come to pick up
children must register inside the church, which has allowed parishioners
to get to know some of the parents/guardians/relatives of the children.
"We tried to divide the kids up in groups (K-5th grade) and move them
around the church," said Lindquist. "We had my father talk about working
with tools and another lady talked about spinning. We've had music
modules and singing, time to do homework, time to play ping pong and
board games. We're not doing anything 'religious,' although we're
certainly living examples of Christianity.
Lindquist continued, "It's been a real safe place for the kids and we've
gotten people into the building that have never been in a church in
their life. And the adults who volunteer are getting to know some of
these people. At least 20 volunteers are here at the church during part
of the day and some volunteer for the whole afternoon. You're exhausted
by the end of the day but it's awesome. It's wonderful."
"It's been a great community outreach," said Kruggel. "It's fitting a
great community need and it has been so well put together."
For more information on Harbert Community Church and its half-day
program, call Lindquist at 262-426-4321.
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