Without faithful volunteers, Orlando Children’s Church wouldn’t exist. Every person who shows up to help on Saturday mornings brings something unique that God is using to make a difference in the life of a child or teenager at OCC. There is no “typical” OCC volunteer — the personalities, talents, and backgrounds couldn’t be more diverse. What we all have in common is a strong belief in a loving Savior who has great plans for each child who steps foot on an OCC bus.
As you plan for 2019, pray about how God might use you at OCC.
STORYTIME WITH LINDA
Early this year, Linda showed up for her first Saturday at OCC. Ten months later, it’s hard to imagine Saturdays without her.
Linda first heard about OCC when her church, CrossPointe Winter Park, started raising money to adopt an OCC bus. Having spent her career teaching at-risk elementary school students, it sounded like a perfect fit for her.
On a typical Saturday, Linda arrives at 8:30 a.m. to help prepare breakfast. At 9:40 a.m., after the kids arrive, storytime begins!
Built around the idea of bibliotherapy, Linda uses storytime to share books that are fun for the kids, lead to fruitful discussion, and demonstrate how God’s word applies to them. At the end, each child receives a sticker with the main idea of the story written on it. The kids love the stories and are always eager to show off their stickers and explain the lesson to the next volunteer they see.
When asked what keeps her coming back, Linda says God gave her a passion for working with at-risk children: helping to bring a smile to their face, showing them that someone cares, and giving them an opportunity she never had as a child — the opportunity to learn about God.