My
name is Molly Pettit and I want you to know more about
me and my heart for the children of the inner city;
they are my ministry.
I
am originally from Kentucky, where I earned my bachelor’s
degree in psychology. During my senior year, I changed
my major from photography to psychology because of
my parents’ decision to become foster parents,
and my eyes were opened to the plight of abused and
neglected children. As a result of this, I have been
a missionary in both Arkansas and Washington, where
I worked with both abused and behaviorally challenged
children and youth. My heart is for the children that
the world has deemed “bad” and has thus
forgotten about them and their needs.
One
and a half years ago I moved to Jacksonville, and
I have been attending CRC since that time. In June
of last year I became an official member of CrossRoad
Church. Before that time, I worked in the children’s
ministry and volunteered for the 2002 Leadership Summit.
I continue to work in the children’s church
where I am a small group leader, and I have recently
joined a life group under the direction of Jack Smidt.
Now
to tell you about my ministry. I am an inner city
missionary through Metro Kids Konnection in the Cleveland
Arms housing projects. Metro has been in the community
for 7 years under the direction of Pastor Terry Lane;
however, this is his first year to have a staff. There
are 3 areas in which I am involved with Metro. First
is the intervention program; this is where I work
with both families and individuals in whatever way
they need. My primary focus is on the children and
how they are behaving and succeeding both at home
and in the schools. I am essentially a liaison between
the community and the many schools which the children
attend.
The
second part of my ministry involves leading a Bible
study for teen girls. This is a segment of the intervention
program that allows me to go deeper with the girls
and show them the love that Christ has for them. At
this moment I work with one specific girl who is 14
and is working seriously to create a better life for
herself than what she has now.
Third,
I work in the after school program that is in the
community center of Cleveland Arms. My kids are Pre-K
to first grade, and I have one third grader who has
a learning disability. During this time I help them
with their homework and challenge them to succeed
in whatever they are doing; I also use this time to
teach them about the Bible. Throughout this time we
play games in order to make learning fun and exciting.
This
is my life Monday - Friday. Often I have at least
one child with me on the weekends, and I bring him
or her to church. It is a blessing to see them meet
and praise a Savior that they know loves them unconditionally.
It gives them a hope in a place where hopes and dreams
are rare. It is something they take with them and
keep in their heart. It makes the rest of the week
with its hardships worth it when you can see the strife
on their faces disappear and be replaced with joy
and happiness.
