Sarah Tate Reading Room

The Sarah Tate Reading Room is open to children from the Housing Area acoss St. Clair Avenue from the church. It is open each Monday and Thursday afternoon from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Mondays are reserved for the younger children, 1st graders through 3th graders. Thursdays are reserved for the older children, 4th graders through 6th graders. Fifteen to twenty-five children participate each afternoon.

At the Reading Room, children have a place to do their homework, read, and participate in activities. Volunteers from the church are available to assist in all activities. Any child needing assistance with his/her homework will be able to find it at the Reading Room.

The Reading Room officially opened its door February 17, 1997. Since that time parents of over 25 kids have signed up their children for this after-school program. The church van picks up these kids and drives them home after their 2 hour stay. The kids enjoy a safe place filled with shelves loaded with books, bean bag chairs, an activity room and lots of love and encouragement.

The Sarah Tate Reading Room grew from a desire to introduce Jesus Christ to those living in Council Court through a personal relationship with the children. The knowlege of this desire resulted from an Experiencing God class where several members expressed virtually the same dream that they held for FBC. This dream began a mission. The first step in this mission was the churchwide yardsale that took place December 7, 1996.

This project was followed with "Kid's Fest" where the kids of Council Court came with us to the CLC for a Friday night of food, fun, and games. "Kid's Fest" provided an opportunity for us to begin relationships with both the adults and children of Council Court.

Now, the relationships continue to grow at the Sarah Tate Reading Room. It is here the real mission begins. Each Monday and Thursday from 3:30 - 5:30 the reading room opens and provides story and activity time for the kids. The kids are split into two groups. One group has reading time while the other group participates in an activity. The last 30 minutes are used as free time for the kids where they can read or play games. Each day different readers from the church read stories to the kids.

The reading room ministry has just begun. You are invited to become a reader or coordinate an activity. Special field trips will also be planned for these children. For more information about how you can support the Sarah Tate Reading Room call Romy Rorex - 859-9060 or leave a message at the Reading Room - 534-7005.

Specific prayer requests for the Sarah Tate Reading Room include the following:

• Pray for the many volunteers and directors needed to coordinate this mission.
• Pray for the kids to have receptive hearts to learn about God.
• Pray for this mission to continue to be God-centered.
• Pray for lives to be changed as a result of this ministry.

The Sarah Tate mission project is in God's Hands and under His direction.

Who is Sarah Tate?

Sarah Tate was a strong God-fearing woman who raised 12 children in the community behind our church known as Council Court. Mrs. Tate taught her children about love, hope, and God. She always had an encouraging word for her children, as well as the other kids that lived around her. According to her daughter, Tonya Tate, "She always reminded us of who and Whose we were, gave individual instruction or correction when we needed it. Kids would come to our apartment, just to talk with our mom. Everybody loved her."

About 4 years ago Sarah Tate died of cancer, leaving behind 12 kids that have grown up to be successful citizens in the communities they call home. Mr. Tate commented that Sarah would have been proud of what FBC is doing for the children in Council Court.

Sarah Tate taught her own children to love and respect and to obey and trust God. She taught them that there's right and wrong, and they have a responsibility for their decisions and actions. She taught her children that life should be spent in serving God and our fellow man. We, as potential teachers from First Baptist Church, knew that's really what we wanted to teach these kids and to learn those truths ourselves.