As Fridays unfold, students begin closing out their busy school week. JA parent Amy Bates volunteers her time each Friday at lunch to help refresh the spirits of Upper School girls with the Word of God. As she shares bits of her life, students see choices they have faced or will face one day through the eyes of a mature sister in Christ.
Bates, the parent of three boys at JA, says she has seen God use the different parts of her life story for His glory and feels it is a privilege that JA entrusts this time to her to love on these girls. She loves to also bring in guest speakers so they have many different voices or truth speaking into their lives.
During Refresh Fridays, which is named from Proverbs 11:25, students bring their lunch and gather in the PAC lobby for a time to rest, reflect, and refresh. This past Friday, Bates arranged for senior leaders to speak about why they come to Refresh Fridays.
Their reasons included:
- To strengthen their relationship with Jesus
- To find a nonjudgmental place to be
- To relax after a busy week
- To feel included and not alone
- To talk about issues with Refresh Fridays leader, Amy Bates.
After the seniors spoke, Bates led a quick devotional that included Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:4-5, and Galatians 4:5-6. A key point about love that she drove home: God’s love is not based on you, it is placed on you. “There is nothing a person can do to lose the love of God. It is that kind of love that leads us to want to follow Jesus,” she said.
The more than 60 girls in attendance were definitely glad to be back together and showed a sincere interest in gathering for Refresh Fridays and for reconnecting with Amy Bates and each other. All Upper School girls are invited to attend each Friday at lunch.
Bates added that they are in prayer about starting a lunchtime Bible study group for ninth through twelfth boys, so stay tuned!
