Today's blog was written by Yoshika Green, former public school educator for 13 years, literacy consultant for Scholastic, and currently serving as Children's Ministry Director at MLC.

I once conducted an experiment with my students to see which plant would grow the best, depending on its water source. So we watered one plant with distilled water, and the other was watered with distilled and tap water. The plant that grew the strongest was the one that was watered with both types of water. We concluded that sometimes one type of water, even if it’s a “better” water source is not enough to produce the maximum results. We also discovered that relying on everyone in the class to water the plants was better than just a few because every drop counted for this plant’s growth.

The educational buzz that is sweeping the nation is all about the Common Core Standards. These are the new learning goals that the United States will align all that is taught to. Teachers, principals, kids and parents are concerned about all the changes to national assessments and learning in general. One major standard was left out in the rewrite of the Common Core Initiative, God and Christian studies. We at Metro Life Church see the gaping hole in our education system’s focus and that’s why we will be focusing more on Early Christian Childhood Education (ECCE).

It’s not enough to leave the education of our children to just teachers, the community, or educational programming. It’s too great of a responsibility to not all be a part of. So we will be innovatively learning about God’s Common Core Standards that His word provides. We’ll simply take what’s being learned in school, while using cutting-edge teaching trends and combine it with biblical truths.

The education experts are saying that our kids need more science, technology, engineering, and math education. Research says that we need more exploration of the arts because it aides all other forms of learning and creativity. We hold the drops of water that will cause our children to really flourish, we have the Biblical understanding, the God-given creativity and giftings from heaven that pour out the knowledge of the Lord in the greatest way. Then all other initiatives float upstream in the waters of all our God-focused drops. We have the answer, the living water, Jesus that will quench the thirst like nothing the world could offer. Then with Jesus at the helm we can teach our children in church and in our homes about their Creator, who is the ultimate scientist, inventor, mathematician (whose multiplication system cannot be duplicated). We can point them to God, the matchless artist of all time who paints a new sky for us every morning. These are the most important pieces that are missing from many of our children’s lessons.

Here at Metro Life Church, we are bringing it back to the drops of water that are missing from our education system. As our kids go back to school this fall, we are remembering the forgotten element in our public school system, the Christian education focus where the bible is the basis for all learning.  Early Christian Childhood Education (ECCE) will be our focus, ensuring that are children get an education here at church, that is rich in biblical knowledge and Godly principles from the earliest ages until they are older and ready to live out the purpose that God has destined for their lives. We are the drops of water that will collectively produce the flood of waters that will nourish growth now and for their lifetime.

As we send our children back to school, let’s remember to make every drop count of what we have to offer our children as we prepare them for all that they face in life.  We will start by praying over them this weekend during our worship services.  We will make every drop count so that our children know what’s right and what’s not, despite what they may see and hear.

You may want to be a part of our Jamz production or creative program, it may be in the form of mentoring a child, or teaching our children how to play an instrument, or build something amazing with their hands, maybe you will help a child plan for their future. There’s something you have to offer that we want to share with our kids. When you see me at church feel free to share what your ideas are as to how you too can make your drops count. After all, we are all the varied water sources that when poured into the lives of our children produce the maximum growth.

Who dropped something amazing into your life as a child, and what did that deposit grow into?

We use the word scope quite often in today’s vernacular in referring to the intention or objective of what we are doing (i.e. “include this in your scope of work”) It coincides with the Italian form of the word scopo which means purpose or goal. However, it also refers to the extent or reach of something or someone’s influence or activity; and this where the word scope and today’s blog intersect. See, we recently added “Everywhere” to the mission statement of @MetroLifeChurch. It used to read “Impacting Everyday Life” and although that mission has not changed in any way, the scope of that mission has... it is now, "Impacting Everyday Life, Everywhere"

It was towards the end of 2010 that Pastor Steve felt led to sow and go into this island nation that’s so close to our city and is now so much closer to our hearts. Through relationships that were already in place with Churches in Covenant, we connected with a wonderful man of God in Cuba, Pastor Faustino; whose mission is to raise up, encourage and support other Godly men and women so that the Gospel can be shared throughout the island that he loves.

And today, as you read this blog, Pastor Steve and Mary and a team of Metro Life missionaries, that include Dave & Paola Roman, David & Mory Martinez, Dez, Faith Fredrick (Pastor Mary’s mom) and several others, are in Cuba ministering to that group of pastors. They are showing Pastor Faustino that there is a family of believers 90 miles away that love them, pray for them and support them. If that’s not Impacting Everyday Life EVERYWHERE, I don’t know what is.

Yesterday, Pastor Steve spoke to the congregation of pastors and their families about courage. Some had come to Pastor Faustino’s church after traveling six hours just to be at this conference with their “friends from Miami”. Could you imagine the need for courage in a nation like Cuba… a nation where preaching the Gospel (the good news of Christ) and the freedom that is inherent to all believers can actually be dangerous? Faith Fredrick (Pastor Mary’s mom) spoke about grace, the unmerited favor of the Lord while David Roman spoke about faith; being able to see what you can’t see; being able to trust God for what you know but is not currently evident. They also prayed for marriages, as Cuba experiences a horrific 90% divorce rate and Pastor Mary worshiped her heart out and led the congregation to their knees before the presence of God. And that was just yesterday…

Today they are continuing to sow and share and love and support. David and Mory Martinez will be sharing their personal testimonies and Pastor Steve and Mary (along with the team) will continue to equip the saints in Cuba; being the very hands and feet of Jesus to these wonderful people of God and relying on the Holy Spirit to do His work in their lives. It is so awesome to do the work of the Lord!!

Here's a statement that was shared in an email from the team that was sent yesterday during a very short time with a WiFi connection, “Bottom line, we all felt that we came here to impart but they are imparting so much in us.  There is desperation, desolation, and destruction but these people have a hope that is truly amazing.” Who is able? GOD IS ABLE !!!

Our mission continues to be the same; but our scope has changed; this is true in YOUR life as well. You’ve been given more territory, more purpose; your objective is greater. Will you reach for it? Will you support it? Will you accomplish the mission? Impacting Everyday Life, Everywhere.

Thank you for your support and prayers #CubaTripMLC