So the sun has been shining, flowers have been blooming, and spring seems to be right around the corner…Awesome!! This has reminded me of the spring of my 4th grade year (waaaaay back in the day, apparently) when I first began feeling the excitement of new growth, and the possibilities inherent in new beginnings.

My father was a military man –go Navy!!– who regularly changed duty stations. Every two years or so with new orders, the family would pack up and move to some pretty cool location. As an only child who was very painfully shy, the excitement of these moves was tempered by the fact that I was leaving behind friends, school, and a routine that I had just gotten used to. The thought of being the new kid yet again tied my stomach in knots every time.

Such was the case when Dad got orders to the D.C. area. We were living in Guantanamo Bay (before the war on terror moved in!) and I spent my days like all the other 7 year old’s in Gitmo…fishing, climbing thorn trees, and avoiding mine fields–literally. My life had reached a comfortable rhythm: I had a couple of friends, my parents took me snorkeling regularly, and I even was pretty good at selling girl scout cookies! School wasn’t so scary any more, and the boy that pulled my braids on the school bus finally left me alone (which is a story in itself for another time!). Life was pretty good, so you can figure out what happened next…ORDERS. Gaaaaah!

Coming from laid back sun and warm 24/7 to frenetic traffic and smog truly took the air out of my little sail. The three of us moved into a town house in Alexandria, Virginia, within walking distance of the scariest thing I had ever seen… Mount Vernon Woods Elementary!!! Yikes! This school was massive and even had TWO STORIES. The night before my first day as the new kid (again) I was a total wreck. I dreaded being picked on, or worse yet, ignored. I felt like I was this insignificant, quiet little mouse with a raging sea churning inside me; this continued regularly throughout the fall and winter, easing only slightly with the friendship of a girl next door.

That winter seemed like an eternity! One day I was killing time outside our house, looking at the snow.  It was beginning to melt and I got a kick out of rediscovering what had been hidden underneath there all winter. As I went around the corner, I saw something purple sticking out of the snow. A crocus had managed to grow out of the snow layer and actually bloom! I still remember the thrill I felt in seeing that little flower. All of a sudden (honestly!) I started feeling a lot better about my situation. After all, winter wasn’t lasting forever, my school wasn’t that horrible, I had two good friends, and my parents were still the coolest folks around. I realize now that God sent that flower to help me begin to wake up from my own personal winter. Truly a new beginning was starting to take shape in my life.

Our Lord is so gracious in reminding us now and then of the lessons He has taught us. Every Spring I’m energized by the sight of a purple crocus! And this Spring, particularly at ALFC, new beginnings have taken root. Our ministry to children is beginning a journey that I couldn’t even have imagined this time last year. We are immensely blessed to incorporate a new electronic check in system, enhancing the security of our most precious little ones. We’re also reinventing our ministry to elementary kids. Kidzone is undergoing a technology, curricular, and environmental overhaul! I’m excited to say that we are coming into the 21st century with flair, riding a new surf theme all the way.  Our 4-6th graders will be bowled over by our new J12 program, a ministry devoted specifically to the precocious tween audience. They will learn to experience life from the perspective of Jesus when he was age 12 (what a tough age, right?) and be able to integrate His message into every aspect of their daily lives. Exciting!!!

Our children’s ministry team really appreciates all the support and encouragement you, our ALFC family, continually gives. And during this season, we are especially thankful for a Savior who specializes in new beginnings…right on time!

Pastor Christina Marvin