An FRCS Go! Wednesday group serves in the local community

The third facet of our mission statement is to “impact the world for Christ”. We believe that impacting the world isn’t something that has to wait until graduation, it starts now! As early as our kindergarten, students at FRCS are learning that they have a role to play in Kingdom work as they serve and minster to others. This whole notion of being able to impact the world for Christ really takes a beating when our kids become teenagers. As the “evil one” continues to bombard them with messages to focus on “number one”, we are purposefully providing opportunities for them to focus on others. Our Go! Wednesday program provides students with “in the field” experience, allowing them practical opportunities to impact the world for Christ on a monthly basis. As they serve and minister in our community they experience what it’s like to love and care for others in the name of Jesus and prayerfully, come to realize that part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ means loving and caring for others above themselves.

Our Go! Wednesday program runs on the 2nd Wednesday of every month and both junior and senior high students have a variety of opportunities to serve in our community. Currently the students go with their 3rd period elective class. This allows the group to talk and debrief about the ministry experience as well as use the elective class skills in their ministry if appropriate. Downtown Denver serves as the location for a number of our Go! Wednesday groups. Many serve with organizations ministering to poor and indigent populations, others work in inner city schools and one group serves meals at Ronald McDonald House. Closer to home we have groups working with local pre-schools, disabled adults, retirement homes, thrift stores, community gardens, and our own mini me mentoring program. Occasionally we have groups that clean ministry facilities and others that minister to service personnel (firemen, policemen and military).

It is awesome to see 200+ students, teachers and parent helpers GO! out each month to Impact the World for Christ.

Developed by Kathleen Sherman, the Go! Wednesday program received an award from the ACSI in the 2009/2010 school year as an Exemplary School Program in “recognition of educational programs that provide opportunity beyond the traditional ACSI honors.”

2011 Organizations

Here is a list of the organizations that we are doing ministry with through our GO! Wednesday program. We had a great response from last years groups wanting us to continue this year. Praise God for how he is using FRCS students in our community to bring Him glory.

  • ARC Thrift store – students are helping sort out old merchandise and re-stock newer items.
  • Bessie’s Hope – Students learn how to effectively minister to the elderly living in convalescent living situations. Currently they are helping residents plan a Christmas show.
  • Carpenter’s Helpers – This is a ministry to elderly living in a trailer park not far from the school. Students assist by doing yard clean-up, delivering flyers about future events, and other jobs to assist the residents in the name of Jesus.
  • Colorado Assisted Living – Students are ministering to Elderly individuals living in small home settings.
  • Crossroads of the Rockies – This organization ministers to low income families through food and clothing distributions as well as after school programming for children and youth. Students will be doing various things to help with their outreach in the community.
  • Extreme Community Makeover (Confluence Ministries) – Students are helping an urban community with various tasks to bring the area a better sense of “self-worth”. One of the things they will be doing is painting over graffiti.
  • Feeding Many – Students are learning about gardening and assisting in whatever way is needed at the time. Projects include, pulling weeds, pruning trees, building fences, trash pick-up, etc.
  • His Hands Christian Ministries – A food bank in Denver. Students help with setting up arranging the food bank items.
  • Hope Crossing – Is a church in a lower income area of Denver. The students will be involved with activities that share Christ in practical ways in the neighborhood
  • Inner-City School – Students are doing various work projects and helping with recess duty.
  • Mini-Me Mentors – Students mentor an elementary group at the FRCS Elementary School. They work through a prepared agenda to connect the older student with a small group of elementary students on a spiritual level. The Elementary kids love it!
  • Multi-housing Ministry – This is a ministry that is run through Bear Valley Church. The ministry works in low-income housing apartments. They do Bible studies, youth activities, childcare, and general help to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people in need. One group of students assists by making meals to be used in ministry during the week and the other works at Green Gables apartments on whatever ministry task is needed.
  • Open Door – Open Door Fellowship ministers to a variety of population groups in the inner-city. FRCS students help with a variety of activities such as assisting in the pre- school, work projects in the women’s housing, and helping with needs for the church facility.
  • Pierce Street Village – Students help and assist the tenants that are housed at Pierce Street Village.
  • Power Invasion Church – Students help with work projects and cleaning at an Inner City Church.
  • Ronald McDonald House – Students are making a meal for the families that are here in Denver while their children are going through various treatments for life threatening illnesses.
  • Round-up Fellowship – This organization provides day care for mentally disabled adults. Our students spend time with the participants playing games and loving them in the name of Jesus.
  • Waterstone Preschool – Students are helping the preschool teachers with whatever tasks they need help with.