Childrens Center Los Niños, a nonprofit whose mission is to: Empower Children to Love God and grow in the knowledge of our Risen Lord.
This nonprofit is especially close to my heart and deeply woven into the fabric of who I am today, my relationship with our Risen King and a testament to what happens when we walk closely with those going through crisis or hardship pointing them to Christ and resources along the way.
When I met CCLN, it was in the parking lot of an old grocery store. They had 16 white laundry baskets lined up along the painted lines and were filling each of them with food for the Thanksgiving which was coming up that season.
My children and I showed up having no idea what all would be taking place that day, nor the role this nonprofit would end up playing in our lives. As we began to help them sort the food and fill the baskets, families began to arrive. And as each one did, we were invited in to prayer for them. At the time, open public prayer was completely foreign to me. I barely knew how to really pray in that season.
But as God’s words were spoken and released upon the families and we witnessed the impact this food and these people were having on so many in the local community, a town located in the Texas hill country, my eyes were opened up to miracles and began to see how God was working in and through others.
For the next year, I attended all of their events, photographing the work being done and documenting God’s movement. He placed it on my heart to share the images with the nonprofit and so I did. And with each event, I went deeper and deeper into the knowledge of His word.
And as promised in the Bible, the storm came upon my own life. And I saw how the house I had built was made of sand instead of stone. And in one season I went from serving to being served. They walked along side me just as I had witnessed and photographed for so many others pointing me to resources and Christ. And that season, that season of pruning, of painful pruning, I learned how to sing. I learned how to lift my voice and praise the Lord for ALL that He was doing for I trusted it was for my good. Even when I didn’t understand or welcome the change.
He built my trust, laid a new foundation, one which is on His solid rock and began to build my pillar. I began to build my life upon His love, a firm foundation. And I placed my trust in the Lord. And began to walk the race He was calling me to.
Childrens Centre Los Niños is a pot-luck style family. They believe we ALL have something to offer and EVERYONE is to bring something to the table. The meal is not complete until ALL parties have arrived with their unique gifts and in diversity, we create unity.
They walk along side families going through crisis: divorce, substance abuse, death, generational poverty, etc., pointing them to resources and Christ, just as Christ walks along side us. They teach children the power of prayer by holding community events in which the children receive answers to their prayers through anonymous donations.
Each year they host 6 community events and host an Immanuel Summer Academy which children can attend during summer months to receive food, fellowship, clothing and tutoring.
Each community event hosts a pot-luck style family meal, a clothes closet for families to shop from, food baskets, a bible sand story for children and other crafts for the children.
During the school year they offer families weekend food care packages ensuring children who would normally go hungry over a weekend return to school well fed and ready to learn.
Everything received and given is a gift from God and is taught to the children.
Forever will they remain in my heart. For only Love Remains. Thank you for walking out the Gospel so well within so many. You are truly empowering children to Love our God and grow in the knowledge of our Risen Lord.
