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Delay Break
Thursday at 7 AM & 4 PM
Often when we think of programs we think of methodology, financing, theology, and accountability; all of which are important and have their place to be sure. However to start explaining the subject of Delay Break let’s start with what is most important - the youth. Delay Break is about showing the youth at Delay Middle School the love of Christ. It’s about giving them a place where a couple of times a week they can come and hang out for an hour, play some games, do some crafts, and enjoy a snack and all of the while being shown that someone cares, and hearing that God loves them. It’s about knowing that they’re welcome, about the fact that church can be fun and that even if school is rough and home is not the ideal that we’d like it to be that there is Someone, the Lord Jesus, who will never leave them or forsake them.
The Beginnings
A little over nine years ago a committed teacher and Christian by the name of Janice Barnes approached Pastor Rogers at Lewisville Bible Church and asked if they would be interested in starting a small program before school offering doughnuts and milk as well as a craft followed by a short devotional and some door prizes on Thursdays. Pastor Rogers agreed and thus DeLay Break started. Faithfully for nine years week in and week out they have shared the Good news touching countless hearts and who knows how many families. Finally in the fall of 2003 some of the students and teachers approached Pastor Rogers and asked if an after school program could be started as well. After much prayer the program was launched.
This was just the beginning however as it became apparent very quickly that God’s hand was upon this program as volunteers and provision seemed to appear miraculously. Before we knew it we had a foosball table, a ping pong table, multiple board games, video games, crafts, etc. We are averaging around 60 students every morning and around 75 in the afternoon. We have around 5-8 volunteers for each one but more hands are always welcome.
We are now looking at developing a mentoring program on Tuesday mornings so that those kids who desire to learn more about God and His word will have some place to be discipled. We will need committed leaders for this to build relationships with them as well as help them grow in their faith. This is DeLay Break and it’s just the beginning. We hope that the Lord will let us expand to five days a week and that this will be but a model for other churches to follow, so as you look at the material and read this brochure please remember its about serving. It’s about being light in a dark place. It’s about children, their hurts, their hopes and the loves. It’s not about a program it’s about the people.
