Newest Staff Member

Willis Ward has accepted the position of Eastside Area Director. He will visit the PREP4Kids classes meeting on the East side of the Willamette River on a regular basis. His oversight of these classes will help each volunteer to be more connected to the PREP4Kids office and help in reporting needs each class may have, I.e. prayer needs, materials, and questions about procedures, etc.

Willis joins Angela Toyer who has been the Westside Area Coordinator since February 2007.

They are both visiting churches in their respective areas, connecting them with schools where there are no PREP4Kids classes. Our goal is 10 new schools this year. Pray with us as we work toward this goal.

If you know of a church where a class could be held, contact the PREP4Kids office at 503-281-7764 or e-mail us at prepoffice@prep4kids.org

What Would You Do?

Last week, kids from Scholls Heights Elementary learned the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Did you know Jesus was showing it would be impossible for anyone to love perfectly...loving God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind? It's only through a relationship with Christ and having His love inside of us that we have the ability to love, especially in difficult circumstances.

Later, students were given several scenarios where kids were teased, stolen from, gossiped about, or otherwise treated unfairly. When asked how they would respond, some were honest and said, "I know the right thing to do, but I wouldn't want to do it!" Most relented when asked, "How would Jesus want you to handle it?"

If someone cut you off in traffic and then later wanted to merge into your lane, would you let them? If a friend deeply betrayed you, would you forgive and love them anyway? Knowing what God wants us to do and using the strength He provides will help all of us to love the way we should. What a great lesson for kids to learn this early in life!

PRESS RELEASE!

Scholls Heights PREP4Kids has a new coordinator.

Bridget Clarke will take over from Laurie Thorschmidt as Coordinator this month. After enrolling her son last school year, she began driving students to and from the class each week. We really look forward to working with Bridget as she shares her passion for released time Bible classes with other parents in the Scholls Heights neighborhood.

We thank Laurie Thorschmidt for a wonderful job of coordinating the volunteers working with this class for several years. However, she is now working full-time and must turn over the responsibility. She will continue taking time from her job each week to drive students to and from PREP4Kids class.

There is a huge need for drivers in this class and many of our westside classes! Could you give one hour a week to help? Call the PREP4Kids office, 503-281-7764, or check out the website for more information: http://www.prep4kids.org/

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

This week, God delivered plenty of "liquid sunshine" to the Portland area, but thankfully the rain doesn't seem to keep any of our PREP kids from coming to class! These kids from John Wetten Elementary in Gladstone happily walk
the 2 blocks from school to their PREP4Kids class at a local church, rain or shine. At some of our other classes, volunteers drive the kids to and from the schools. It's a neat opportunity to bring public school kids to a warm, safe environment where they can learn about God's love for them.



Here's what a few of our students had to say about PREP recently:

"What I have learned about Jesus is fantastic! I like PREP because it is really fun learning about Jesus and learning from the Bible." Elisabeth

"I like PREP because my friends are there..." Sarah

"I like PREP because of the singing, lessons, frog box, quiet seat award, and the teachers. Well, a shorter way to say it is: I LOVE EVERYTHING!" Marenna