Training in Albuquerque

MCH Family Outreach staff recently traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to participate in Nurturing Parenting Training for trainers. The Nurturing Parenting program is utilized to offer parent education in communities throughout Texas and New Mexico. Staff who attended the training session will be able to take back what they have learned in order to educate families served through their own outreach offices. The New Mexico Outreach Office helped to plan and host the three-day training, and Theresa Wilson, Abilene Outreach Director, facilitated the training.

Pictured are (left to right) top row: Shannon Dunn - Waco, Camille Willis - Dallas, Crystal Salinas – San Antonio, Terry Gonzalez – El Paso, Theresa Wilson – Abilene;  bottom row: Michelle Gunter – Corpus Christi, Kendra Scott – Waco.   

Kids Fest in Tyler

Staff from Tyler MCH Family Outreach participated in the annual Smith County Kids Fest at Broadway Square Mall on Saturday, April 6. 

Kids Fest is held each year to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention month. During the event, information booths are available for programs and activities focused on keeping children safe in their homes and community. An estimated 1,000 children and their families played games, won prizes, and learned about various community resources, including MCH foster care and family preservation programs. 

Pictured in the photo are (left to right) Suzy King, Philana Hollingsworth, Holli Collins, Traci Wagner, Tasha Hickman, and Jessica Johnson.

ReCreation Weekend

MCH students celebrated their faith during ReCreation Weekend March 22-24 hosted by Spiritual Development.  Students had the opportunity to attend a scavenger hunt, worship services, concerts and listen to a guest preacher during the weekend.

“ReCreation weekend always seems to have a different purpose each year we hold it,” said Kim Clark, Director of Spiritual Development. “This year, I was excited for our students to witness and understand that following Jesus doesn’t have to look one particular way or sound one particular way. God has created each of us with a particular set of gifts and personality. We can and should use those to glorify God. Our faith can be genuine and look very different from our neighbor who also has a genuine faith.”

The guest preacher on Sunday night was Marselo Lozano. Students also heard music from Bus Seven, Femi and AHMADD as well as from former student Calvin Richardson and guest speaker Mike Frazier. 

Frazier is an author and musician from Surviving the Storm Ministries. He has toured with R. Kelly and Stevie Wonder and is currently the musical director for Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns.” He is a survivor of a flood that killed his entire family and has struggled with depression and suicide attempts.

“He is a great example of how God can work in and through situations in our lives to bring us closer to him,” Clark said.