Glimpses of Heaven - (Jan-Mar 2026)

(Challah(right) back in 5th grade)

It’s summer 2010. Summer camp just ended. We all gather in a giant conference room at University Christian School and begin to watch a slideshow of what happened in those energetic and chaotic five weeks previous. As images of the kids would change on the projector screen, like the pulse from the heartbeat of camp, I had to walk out and leave the room. I was overwhelmed by the vision God gave me of where those kids would be when they were adults, because of this ministry, because of the direction God would push them.

Fast forward 15 years, I feel that I’ve gotten to see students grow up, begin their own families, and come back with joy and gratitude for the times they had in our programs. At our most recent Open Court, we had an unexpected mini-reunion of students, interns, and staff. Challah, who I met as a 6 year old at camp in 2010, who grew up in our programs, who was the flower girl at our wedding, is now in her 20s with a 1 yr old. Alex, who I met as an 8 year old in our after school program in 2011, now married with two kids and recently finished up his time in the military has moved back to Jax, and often talks about how much 2^nd Mile has impacted his life, even to the point of wanting to start his own ministry similar to ours. Rod, who interned with me in the summer of 2010, who would walk Alex to school when Alex was in 3^rd grade, who came back to Open Court to see Alex after many years. “Who is that? That’s a grown man!” he exclaimed. Ahmad, who was in our high school program back in the day, who led camp during the stressful covid years, who faithfully led the After School Program when 2^nd Mile was going through chaotic staff changes, came through to show some love to his own former students. These are the moments I don’t expect, but am continually blessed with as the years go by. The longer I’ve known a student and the more experiences we’ve shared, the stronger the bond, the stronger the magnetic force is that keeps bringing them back to North Pearl Street Baptist Church.

(Challah currently with her baby)

I could make a laundry list of the things we did in the past couple months as a ministry and individually, they’d sound like some beautiful notes from a musical instrument. It is only when you step back, see how all those notes fit together can you really get a sense of the symphony God is making on the spot. Where love for the neighborhood is, that where the sounds resonate and repeat themselves later in the piece, in later generations.

The After School Program has had different career speakers come including an ecologist, a bee keeper, and a musician, they’ve planted seeds in our garden, water colored their favorite nature scene, molded hearts out of clay, learned about God’s love for them, and has learned about occupations and how to save money.

The BLOCK middle and high school program has discussed different aspects of relationships (with nature, with God, with others, and romantic relationships), has learned about different cultures through origami, making dumplings, looking for food in a Spanish restaurant, has led Open Courts, designed flyers, volunteered their time with younger students, volunteered their time on weekends with community events.

Men's Bible study

Working with kids has been very rewarding. Although I have only one child of my own, it does feel good to know that I can have influence on many students at a time. But interacting with adults is something I have needed to learn and practice. I love our church and its heart for discipleship. Currently, I’m part of a men’s Bible study, going through the book The Titus Ten. This study on the book of Titus has brough the men of our church into a more like-mindedness. Despite coming from different backgrounds and being in different places in life, the men are being unified through the gospel.

I’m excited to see how the story plays itself out. Heaven is going to be overwhelming one day. I feel like it will be similar to a bright light being turned on after total darkness. It’s going to take a long time for our eyes to adjust and get used to the glory that awaits us.

I want my eyes to start adjusting now while I’m here.

High school junior reading to 252 (and Max)

Nature Rangers doing water colors

BLOCK students making banana pudding, recipe planned by a student

2nd grader planting pumpkin seeds

BLOCK students learn about China, making dumplings