We all hope in something. We hope our kids grow up to lead healthy and successful lives. We hope we get the promotion. We hope our favorite sports team wins.
Hope is a great thing when it is put in the right things. It is disastrous when it is placed in the wrong things. This week we look at the promises of hope God made to us.
Gateway loves families. We know that families take many forms in Tipton County. Not all children live with their birth parents, many live with foster or adoptive families.
Foster and Adoptive Parents, if you’re looking for others who are on this journey, we have a group for you. We’re foster parents, too! The easiest way to connect is to join the FaceBook group, Fostering Love for Tipton.
Gather with us at Gateway’s Atoka Campus on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 -7:30. Come. You can plan and attend training certification classes, family events, and other fun stuff. We have care and teaching for children ages birth – 5th grade. Pre-Register kids here. Students in 6th-12th gather at Gateway’s Munford Campus at the same time. for more information about that, click here.
“Pure and faultless religion is to care for the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27
For information about the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, click here. For information on becoming a Tennessee Foster Parent, click here.
As a matter of fact, most people in the Church won’t ever bring a child into their homes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an essential and necessary role to play in the lives of foster families. While we aren’t all called to do the same thing, we are all certainly created to do something. That’s how the Body of Christ works. For individuals who would like to help with this ministry, here are a few things that are needed:
Pray for families in our church who are currently fostering. Pray for families to answer the call to foster.
Many times children enter foster care with no extra clothes. Consider donating gently used children clothing in sizes newborn through teens. Collection boxes are located near kids check-in at all Gateway campuses.
Volunteer the first Wednesday of the month to help with childcare during the group gathering time.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of a bad story and we have no idea how it is going to turn out. Maybe you’ve thought, “There is no way that it could ever turn around or turn out well.” There are so many people in our church dealing with tragic circumstances. Death, cancer, difficult stages in life. So, in today’s message, Steve takes us to a passage in the Bible where the writer asks the very question that we do at times: “Do things ever get better?”
School’s out for summer and raising a family is expensive! I’ve gathered a list of free or low cost FUN things to do together. These activities are in (or near) Tipton County. Where possible, I included a link to the organization that is hosting for more information.
Help me keep this list up to date! If you know of a free (or cheap) fun activity for families, drop the details and a link in the comments.
You can host a birthday party at Nancy Lane Park or Walker Park – or the new fire station for a very reasonable fee! Visit their website for details.
The Town of Atoka also hosts tons of sports and recreational programs including soccer, softball, kickball and flag football, art classes, cooking classes, and camps. For details click here.
They also update their FaceBook page.
I talked with Sharon Timbs, Assistant Director, and she has SO MANY programs! ALL FREE! The Library is a WONDERFUL place. 60+ this summer alone!! I’m going to list some of the programs below. Check out their website or their FaceBook page for information.
My darling friend Carrie Hamm is a Gateway Member and a Master Gardner. (I’m so proud of her for earning that title!!). She told me about some of the things around the community. Check it out:
More Details about the Master Gardners here.
Thanks to Jeff Gautney, Gateway’s Missions & Family Pastor for this tip!
This is something my family really enjoyed doing!
Visit KidsBowlFree.com for a list of allll the facilities and programs. You just have to register. SO COOL!
Thanks for this info, Maegan Traynom! Worth mentioning with kids bowl free- you can add a family pass for about $20, which adds up to 4 adults to your summer pass. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles- you can bowl free as a family all summer! 😄 She’s done this at Andy B’s in Bartlett.
This place is also a fun date night for adults!!
Wow! There are SO many places to eat free. Please call ahead to verify deals. Most require a minimum purchase
They offer different freebies every day. Follow them on FaceBook for details. There are three locations in Atoka (Rosemark and Tracy), Covington (51 and Bert Johnson Avenue), and Ripley (51, across from Dairy Queen in Unique Properties parking lot).
Thanks to Julie Hartsfield for this recommendation! “Brownsville refuge/ Oneal lake in Haywood County (free) is great place for fishing, walking, picnicking, etc. There are maps at Oneal Lake of the rest of the refuge. There are tons of lakes and ponds to fish in and lots of driving trails to see wildlife. There is also a great museum not far from there at the interstate exit that’s free. It talks about Haywood County, the South, and Tina Turner.
Fort Pillow State Park in Lauderdale County. It’s free. There are hiking trails, a lake where you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, etc. There is a free museum, a playground, places to picnic and a campground.”
Thanks to Nora O’Hara for sending the information about FREE MOVIES!
What would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
