Snapshots of Providence

They Call Me “MR.”

 

Headed West

In August 2009 Kevin Root headed west to Denver to live with his friends. His plan was to go to graduate school and to serve God as a youth pastor. One Sunday he chose to walk into a neighborhood church. He walked through the doors and he encountered Providence Bible Church for the first time. Kevin has grown and served as a part of Providence ever since. 

Yard-Work

Fast-forward to spring of 2011. Kevin is living a different life than what he had originally planned. He did not go to graduate school or become a youth pastor. Instead he works a 9-5 job. He helps lead worship music at Providence.  He is being discipled and poured into by the Providence elders and his community group. He is meeting people from his neighborhood and forming relationships.

One day when Kevin got home from work, he was welcomed by two boys from the neighborhood, whom he’d never met. They introduced themselves as Mekhi and Ragat. They asked him if he would hire them to do yard-work. He agreed and paid them. The next day they returned. Unfortunately Kevin didn’t have any more chores, so he invited them to stay and hang out. 

Kevin’s House: The Place to Be

Kevin was pumped! He had a heart to get involved in his community and kids from his neighborhood came knocking at his door. He started inviting Mekhi, Ragat and their friends to his community group’s weekly summer BBQ. The kids affectionately   nicknamed him “Mr.” When their parents would ask where they were going they would simply say, “We are going to over to our friend Kevin’s house.”

Two kids turned into a core group of six: Mekhi, Ragat, Purah, Savieno, Steven and Abbili, all fatherless kids from the neighborhood.  One night a week of hanging out at Mr.’s turned into six to seven nights a week. Kevin said, “God controls everything. He brought them to my door and keeps them coming.”

Kevin is loving and teaching these kids because a couple of guys loved, taught and impacted him. He is doing it because it is obedience to God on a very practical level. 

The Moms

Relationships with the kids have led to building relationships with their moms and families. Kevin wants to honor the kids’ moms, “Their moms are doing the best they can. I consider it an honor to spend as much time with the kids as I do.”

 

Growth

The kids are being transformed. Their behavior toward others is improving, as they reflect on the love they have been shown by Kevin and his community group.  They are grasping the concept of the family.

A practical example is that the kids didn’t know how to apologize. Kevin has taught them to apologize by saying sorry, stating what they did wrong and asking for forgiveness. The other day Stephen and Mekhi apologized to each other and forgave one another on their own without having to be told.

                I’ve learned to keep my voice down and to take responsibility for my actions. - Mekhi, age 12

                We learned how to set the table. – Ragat, age 10

I’ve learned math and Kevin showed me how to do tricks. At church I learned about Adam and Eve and heaven. –Steven, age 10

I learned respect and manners. –Abbili, age 12

We learned how to respect people. –Purah, age 10 and Savieno, age 9 

Impact on the Community Group

Multiple members of the community group have fallen in love with the kids and are dedicated to spending time with them, and practically showing them that they are loved by God. Mekhi, Ragat, Purah, Savieno, Steven and Abbili are a part of the family now. They know that it isn’t just Mr. who cares about them, but the whole family. Kevin admits that he’d be running his head into the ground with exhaustion if it were not for the involvement of his community group family.

It has forced some people to evaluate what their mission is and to reevaluate the purpose of community. It has made some people uncomfortable because the kids are not cute little kids that do the right things all of the time. - Josh Gosa, CG Leader

It has brought us together as a family. It has broadened our perspective on our mission and what we are called to do. It has deepened our dependence on God and our trusting of Him. It has challenged our prayer and faith in what God can do. – Sarah Fowler, CG member 

Lessons Learned

It has taught me that I’m selfish, like on the nights I want to come home and do nothing. It has also taught me that parenting kids is really, really hard. It has challenged my patience because I want them to change immediately. God is the Father to fatherless kids. It makes me value the idea of God adopting people into His family.. – Mr. Kevin Root, CG Leader

It made me realize that I am a father and I can be a father to these kids. I love them and I expect a lot out of them. I set expectations because it communicates, “I love you and I want to see you do well.” If they do not experience the love of a family, they are going to miss out on opportunities. –Josh Gosa

I have learned the extent of the Lord’s love as a Father extends literally to His children. I have learned the richness of His love as a Father to the fatherless. It has helped me to see my inability to love apart from Him. The only true love I can extend is from Him. - Sarah Fowler 

Vision for the Future

I envision them growing up, confident in whom God has made them and knowing the Father’s love for them without a doubt. –Sarah Fowler

They need Jesus. I want their moms to get connected to Encompass. I want to see Mekhi, as well any of them, become one of the pastors at Providence. - Mr. Kevin Root

Everyone in the family- the kids, their moms, and the community group- is being transformed through God’s providential work in their lives. To God be all the glory!

Meet the Kids!

Brothers: Abbili, age 12 and Ragat, age 10

Fun fact: Abbili likes to play basketball.

Fun fact: Ragat is fun to play charades with.

Mekhi, age 12

Fun fact: Mekhi is a good leader!

Sister and Brother: Purah, age 10 and Savieno, age 9

Fun fact: Purah is an amazing cook! She cooks for Mr. and community group events. She wants to be a chef someday! She enjoys helping babysit the little kids during Bible study.

Fun fact: Savieno says that life is better now because he has more friends.

Steven, age 10

Fun fact: Steven likes to go to church to drink coffee and learn about God! He also really likes playing the Xbox and skateboarding.