Partner Up! Your Church-School Partnership Podcast Loving Houston

We're back! This isn't a traditional podcast episode, but we wanted to share this conversation we had with Dr. Pam Wells because of the insights and ideas she shares regarding church school partnerships for the new school year in light of COVID-19. Don't have time for the full episode? Check out the "Table of Contents" below:

1:43 Pam's predictions for the new school year
9:51 Q: How can churches help?
10:09 A: Help with food insecurity
11:24 A: Help with the digital divide
12:55 A: Mentor
13:43 A: Pray
14:15 A: Support and appreciate teachers and staff
15:14 A: Help families apply for P-EBT (Deadline is 7/31!)
16:32 A: Provide mental health support

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
17:47 Q: What about extracurricular activities?
19:47 Q: Additional P-EBT questions
21:03 Q: Can students access schoolwork on church computers?
21:50 A: Additional P-EBT answers
22:08 Q: Could schools within a district have different schedules?
23:33 Q: Have you learned from other countries' school systems?

CLOSING
25:32 Pam's affirmations about church school partnerships!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
P-EBT Information: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-information-texans/pandemic-ebt-p-ebt-due-covid-19

Listen to our full conversation with Pam: https://youtu.be/T6DIhIX3lJs
(recorded 6/18/2020 during our Church School Partnership Leaders Gathering)

Find more ideas and examples at http://lovinghouston.net/covid19

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Pam Wells, Ed.D. proudly serves as the executive director for Region 4 Education Service Center, which is the largest of the twenty education service centers in Texas. Region 4 provides service to support more than 1.2 million students and approximately 99,000 professional educators in 48 school districts and 39 public charter schools in the seven-county greater Houston area.

We're back! This isn't a traditional podcast episode, but we wanted to share this conversation we had with Dr. Pam Wells because of the insights and ideas she shares regarding church school partnerships for the new school year in light of COVID-19. Don't have time for the full episode? Check out the "Table of Contents" below:

1:43 Pam's predictions for the new school year
9:51 Q: How can churches help?
10:09 A: Help with food insecurity
11:24 A: Help with the digital divide
12:55 A: Mentor
13:43 A: Pray
14:15 A: Support and appreciate teachers and staff
15:14 A: Help families apply for P-EBT (Deadline is 7/31!)
16:32 A: Provide mental health support

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
17:47 Q: What about extracurricular activities?
19:47 Q: Additional P-EBT questions
21:03 Q: Can students access schoolwork on church computers?
21:50 A: Additional P-EBT answers
22:08 Q: Could schools within a district have different schedules?
23:33 Q: Have you learned from other countries' school systems?

CLOSING
25:32 Pam's affirmations about church school partnerships!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
P-EBT Information: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-information-texans/pandemic-ebt-p-ebt-due-covid-19

Listen to our full conversation with Pam: https://youtu.be/T6DIhIX3lJs
(recorded 6/18/2020 during our Church School Partnership Leaders Gathering)

Find more ideas and examples at http://lovinghouston.net/covid19

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Pam Wells, Ed.D. proudly serves as the executive director for Region 4 Education Service Center, which is the largest of the twenty education service centers in Texas. Region 4 provides service to support more than 1.2 million students and approximately 99,000 professional educators in 48 school districts and 39 public charter schools in the seven-county greater Houston area.

In light of COVID-19, we thought this would be a good episode to replay because of this idea of "engaging our domains" - even if it's remotely for now! Maybe it's buying a gift card or a meal for a teacher at your local school, pitching in for a tablet for a student who can't afford one, or picking up groceries for a neighbor who's immunocompromised. Hear more about this awesome idea from Dr. Steve Bezner, Senior Pastor of Houston Northwest Church.

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Steve Bezner has been the Senior Pastor of Houston Northwest Church since January 2013. Steve is married to Joy, and they have two teenage sons—Ben and Andrew. Steve loves Jesus and the Bible. He desires for collaboration between area churches so that every person in the city has an opportunity to hear the good news about Jesus and to respond to him. He is also passionate about embodying and leading reconciliation efforts in Jesus’ name in our city, and about training and coaching other pastors.

Steve is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University (B.A., Bible; M.A., Religion) and Baylor University (Ph.D., Religion) where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

It seemed fitting to re-share this podcast since Long Point Baptist Church started their partnership with Landrum Middle School right after Hurricane Harvey, which feels similar to what we're going through right now. Even though there were only 20 people in the congregation at the time, they began a partnership that is still going strong!

Things look pretty different with our schools given COVID-19, but how can we love our schools right now? Churches may need extra support right now as well. Can we bring the two-way partnership aspect into play? Email us your ideas at info@lovinghouston.net.

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Kevin is the Senior Pastor at Long Point Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, where he has served faithfully since 2011, as Youth Pastor and as of 2017, Senior Pastor. Kevin’s main goal in life is to point people to the truth of Jesus Christ through his teaching, shepherding, and personal lifestyle. In addition to pastoring at LPBC, Kevin is also an adjunct professor at The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership from the College of Biblical Studies and a Master of Divinity degree from The Bible Seminary. Kevin has been married to his high school sweetheart Yvette for 17 years, and they reside in Katy, Texas, with their 3 teenage daughters.

For the past 10 years, much of Brittani's life has been characterized by taking steps of faith in the Humble area. Throughout this conversation, you'll hear great ideas for your church school partnership wherever you are, as well as specific opportunities to serve in Humble ISD. Join us as we talk with Brittani about her God-led journey! (If you listen all the way to the end, you'll get a fun glimpse of what it was like growing up with Brittani!)

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Brittani graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Masters of Education Administration from Lamar University. With more than 10 years of education experience and church ministry, Brittani was the perfect person to bring on as our Humble ISD District Coordinator in August 2019. She is also the founder of a vegan chocolate chip cookie company, The Good Cookie, LLC.

Jennifer's dream is for EVERY one of her schools in Lamar CISD to have a church partner! ❤️ It was a leap of faith for her to partner with us several years ago, but she believes it's a risk that's paid off. In fact, she's now encouraging every church in the area to step up and serve! Whether you're a big church or a small church, every church can do something to help. Listen in to be encouraged and inspired by this amazing school district leader!

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Dr. Jennifer Roberts is the Director of Student Support Services in Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. After spending a few years in corporate America, she realized that education was her true passion. She started off as a teacher before becoming a counselor and finally ending up in her current role. She has truly been a blessing to partner with!