The Table
Who?
The Table is for anyone 22 – 35 years old. Single people and married people, too!
When?
Sundays, 9:45 a.m., 10 Oakdale (across from Palm Court)
What?
We are a Young Adult community of FPC consisting of singles and married couples. The purpose of this group is to develop deep community through sound bible teaching, authentic worship, engaging social activities, and local and international outreach programs. For more information contact thetable@fpchouston.org.
WinGS and The Table: When you’re called, where will you go?
by Ted and Sue Oldham
They say that God can use everyone. But how do you find your place? Where do you start? As Pastor Birchfield preached a few Sundays ago on The Great Commission, the simple words were “Therefore, go.” And the message was that we were called to “go” — not fixin’ to go, not when I get everything in order, not when I’m ready to leave the comfort of my own home. The message was simply to “go.”
And a group from The Table, an FPC young adult ministry for singles and married couples, did just that.
On a Friday night in April they left their upstairs enclave of folding chairs, antique sofas and card tables at 10 Oakdale, crossed the street into the main building, headed down the hallway and opened the door of room 120. Behind that door, amidst the books and toys, plasma cars, sensory table, indoor swing and plastic ball pit, was another FPC ministry for children and families with special needs called WinGS.
Both ministries fill a need in the church, both are looking to grow their ministry and building upon their call at the church. God brought these two ministries together at the “Monthly WinGS and Wishes Respite Night,” and my husband Ted and I were there that night to witness the generous, loving act to serve.
The grateful WinGS staff watched in awe as the volunteers from The Table played games with the children; rode plasma cars with the children; played basketball with the children; ate ChickFilA and cookies with the children; and snuggled down for a movie with the children.
“I come back because of the kids,” said Christine Gerken of The Table. “They are unique and amazing.”
Volunteers like Cody gave up their Friday evening to answer the call to “go” and give the parents of these children a much needed evening to themselves.
Bekah Ost, a new member of The Table, said, “I heard about the Respite Night at The Table one Sunday morning and was immediately interested in helping out. I love working with children and have been involved in working with children with special needs in various capacities throughout my life and was really excited to find an opportunity to continue that service. The biggest surprise in coming to The Table is the involvement that the group has within the church and the greater community as a whole. Coming from out of town, I immediately feel involved in the church through this wonderful group of people.”
One of our favorite scriptures as it relates to this amazing WinGS ministry is “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” – Mark 10:14. And by giving of their time on that Friday evening, the group from The Table preached the gospel without ever having to speak a word of it. The children from WinGS responded by showing unconditional Christ-like love for their new volunteers.
As God can use everyone, He uses us in unique ways if we simply “go.”
There are so many places within the walls of this church for you to find a church home. We encourage you to find your place.
Both WinGS and The Table meet every Sunday morning at 9:30. If you would like to learn more about the WinGS program for your family or if you would like to volunteer to help with the WinGS ministry, please contact Stephanie Fregia, WinGS Coordinator at sfregia@fpchouston.org. If you would like to learn more about The Table and how to join this group, please contact Cody Nath, The Table coordinator at cody.nath@gmail.com.