My name is Vicki Johnson and my family and I have been attending this church for about four years now.  We became members about two years ago.  My husband is Philip, and I have a 10 yr. old daughter,  Taylor, and a 4 yr. old son, Reed.  As you may know I sing in the Celebration Choir.  I’m one of the ones you see up here always moving.  I’ll admit, I can never be still when there’s music playing.

Anyways, I was asked to talk about how I became involved in helping with the “Extreme Kid’s Choir.”  Well, before I share that part, I would like to share a little bit about how I came to this church and how God has blessed me since I’ve been here.

First of all I’ll say that I grew up in church all my life and like some people, at one point, it became less important to me.  That is until I had my first child (daughter, Taylor).  It’s funny what having children will do to you or should I say “for you.”  It was then when I really realized that I needed to get back in church.  After all, I WAS responsible for my daughter’s spiritual well-being.  Anyways, we started visiting around to different churches, but none of them ever really felt right (or was it because I wasn’t seeking God’s direction?).  I started really praying that God would find the right church for my family.  I remember telling my husband one time that I really wanted to find a church where I could get involved in a good Sunday School class so I could be a part of a small group.  It was also especially important for my daughter to be involved in a Sunday School class as well.

Also, with my love (or should I say Passion) for music, I remember asking God to throw in a good music ministry as well.  I would always imagine myself singing in a choir just like the Celebration Choir.  I usually doubted I would do it though, because I couldn’t read music.

Well, anyways, after having my son, Reed, and moving to Ooltewah, we visited this church for the first time.  I can honestly say from that day on I knew this was the church God had chosen for my family.  We only attended the 11:00 service for a while.  It wasn’t enough though.  I remember God saying to me, “I gave you this church, now what are YOU going to do?  Well, then I remembered everything I had prayed for and envisioned.  When I thought about it, it was easy to just come sit in a pew during the service and not get involved, but I knew God had more for me.  The question was-would I listen?  I knew I needed to step out of my “comfort zone” so to speak.  Not too long after that, Kelly Momberg started a Tuesday morning Bible study which I knew I needed to attend.  What timing!  That was my first leap of faith.  A few weeks after that, Sherry Howard started a Women’s Sunday School class.  “O.K. God, I see what you’re doing.”  Wow, again, what timing.  I have learned to much in Sherry’s class and have met so many wonderful women.  O.K., so I had conquered two things.  Now it was time to face the music.  That is, join the choir.  I would just tell Pruette that I can’t read music and hope for the best.  The best happened because he informed me that we listen and memorize the songs.  “No problem” I thought.  I’ve done that my whole life.  Wow, God is good.  He had blessed me in so many areas, but still he had another surprise up his sleeve.  I do remember a time when I saw a kids choir performing at another church and thinking how neat it would be to be involved in something like that.  But there again, I doubted it would ever happen.  Well, God knew what He was doing all along.  While in Sunday School class and choir with Dixie Terning, we had gotten to know each other pretty well.  So about a year and ½ ago she asked me if I might like to help her with the “Extreme Kids Choir.”  I thought about it for a while and again I was a little nervous.   But I knew God had placed all these pieces of my life together so far.  This is now almost my second year helping with the Kid’s choir and yes there are many challenges, but it has been such a blessing to me.  We not only teach the children songs to sing, we make sure they know what the words mean who they’re really singing about.  We also pray with them each time and try to incorporate Godly life lessons.

Since I’ve been coming to OUMC, I can honestly say my life has been so much more blessed.  God new what He was doing when he brought us to this church.  If anyone asked me what my God-given passion is, without hesitation my answer would definitely be music ministry.  I also love being involved in my Sunday School class where I can fellowship and have small-group Bible study.  Then I love to come to the church service where Pastor David will use the Bible as his instrument of instruction as well.

Listening and obeying God is not always easy.  Trust me, I haven’t always followed His direction.  I have found myself arguing, resisting, or even down-right ignoring what God sometimes wants me to do.  I don’t have to tell anyone who’s done that, where it gets you.  His ways are always best for us because He sees the whole picture, and we don’t!  I know God is not finished with me and I have long way to go, but I pray that I stay on HIS path.  If I don’t I will surely be missing out on something great.

I just want to say to anyone here today that has thought or felt like getting involved in any area, please pray for God’s direction.  God has given everyone a spiritual gift to use for the body of the church.  I Corinthians 12:4-6 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”  So don’t always wait for someone to ask you, just take that leap of faith and God will surely bless you.  You won’t regret it.