Childlike Faith

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“I think serving in Kids’ Ministry has made our big church body feel a lot smaller. We have our friends in this community group, and a larger circle of friends that we all serve with. It’s been nice to build relationships with other leaders and connect with the simple, yet impactful truths of God’s Word through the kids’ lessons.” – Jonathan Harrott

Every week, a group of guys in their mid-20s puts aside their job responsibilities and pressures of daily life and engages in something they consider even more important – investing in the lives of children at Watermark. Whether they are dancing and singing along with the kids, performing skits, or reading a story from God’s Word, Clayton Bell, Tyson Cahoon, Jonathan Harrott, and Jeff Levesque agree that the Lord has provided them with a greater sense of community and a stronger connection with people at Watermark through their service. This is how both their community group and individual relationships with Christ have been changed for the better by serving others. To find out how you can help impact the next generation of fully devoted followers of Christ, please visit watermark.org/servekids.

HOW DID YOU ALL FORM A COMMUNITY GROUP?

Clayton Bell: “After I graduated from college, I was like a lot of other young adult guys. I was climbing the corporate ladder and pursuing my own hobbies and interests. I was not giving much thought to being challenged by or being a blessing to others. I was focused on myself and treated my relationships accordingly.

“I was a believer and eventually recognized the need to be connected to other Christian guys, like I had been in college. So, I came to Watermark and quickly went through the membership process. I met Jeff and Jonathan, and we started a community group in March of 2015. Since then, I’ve been on a journey to equip myself to answer questions abo why I believe in Jesus and how the Spirit can use me to impact others.”

Jonathan Harrott: “Like Clayton, I grew up in a Christian home. At a young age, I wanted to know what it meant to follow Christ and have a relationship with Him. Although I experienced dry seasons in high school and college, I continued to grow spiritually, especially when I connected with a close-knit group of godly men who were serious about their walks with Christ.

“When I moved to Dallas, I came to Watermark and got plugged into a community group where I met Jeff and Clayton. I loved how genuine everyone was. Our community group covered a lot of ground, and it gave me a good circle of friends who could also challenge and encourage me in my faith.”

HOW DID YOUR GROUP START SERVING TOGETHER?

Clayton: “Our group was looking for more service opportunities, and when the Saturday service began, we found out that the Kids’ Ministry really needed people to help. We signed up and have been serving together ever since. It’s been great for our group to be engaged on-mission in an area where our help is needed. Serving with other people in Kids’ Ministry has really broadened our sense of community and our connection with the Watermark family. Our whole team encourages one another, shares prayer requests, and organizes social events to deepen these relationships. Through serving together, we also added another guy to our community group.”

Tyson Cahoon: “When I moved from Montana to Texas to live with my aunt and uncle, I’d been doing my own thing for a long time. Drinking at the bars, working all the time, and broken relationships had brought me a lot of heartache. I knew the truth about Jesus, and at that point, I decided to stop trying to make my own way and start pursuing the path Christ had chosen for me. Doing things my way was not working. I needed a change.

“I got plugged in at Watermark and served on the parking team. I also heard that they were looking for people to serve in Kids’ Ministry. That’s where I met the guys in this community group and began seeing what Christian community could look like.”

Jeff Levesque: “Meeting Tyson was such a blessing, and his being part of our group really changed our dynamic. We serve kindergarteners and first graders together, and that has been a gift. Eventually I was recruited to join the Kids’ Ministry drama team. It was cool to find creative ways to talk to the kids about Jesus. I’ve even gotten to teach a few lessons. The kids are so attentive and really soak up more about God’s Word than we will ever know. Serving also has given us the freedom to be like kids again and learn what it means to have a childlike faith.”

HOW HAS GOD USED SERVING OTHERS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART?

Jonathan Harrott: “Beyond what it has done for our group, I think serving in Kids’ Ministry has made our big church body feel a lot smaller. We have our friends in this community group, and a larger circle of friends that we all serve with. It’s been nice to build relationships with other leaders and connect with the simple, yet impactful truths of God’s Word through the kids’ lessons. As an adult, sometimes I can make things more complex than they need to be, and these lessons remind me of the simple beauty of the gospel. As I look at God’s Word and the lessons we’re teaching the kids, the truth pours back into me, and that is encouraging.”