TFT: God’s Grace for Single-Parent Families
February 15, 2026
Child Discipleship Family Friday Emails
Awana’s Child Discipleship ministry offers a weekly Family Discipleship resource, Family Friday emails. These mailings provide families with a short devotion and scripture along with talking points and conversation starters. Coming right to your inbox, these emails are a great resource for families to walk through together and parents- it’s all right there provided for you! Check it out today and sign up for their emails!
Homeschool Support
Attention homeschooling families! Would you be interested in a homeschool group right here in the West Branch area? With several homeschooling families in our church and others who are considering it for the future, we want to support and provide opportunities for you. If you have any interest in homeschool support, whether navigating the “how-to’s”, attending events and field trips, or opportunities for your child to learn from professionals, please respond to this email to indicate your interest and let us know what would be helpful for you. Talk to Vicky Albert or Jordyn Skacel if you have questions!
Challenge 2026
Challenge is a biennial youth conference hosted by our national denomination, the EFCA. Teens from around the country will gather to worship, learn, serve, and have a blast in Kansas City, MO this July 11-14. Registration is now open for all students grades 6 and up, including seniors. Talk to Cody or Holly Crumrine if interested and secure your spot by March 15th!
Egg Hunt at the Ark Park 2026
This year’s Egg Hunt at the Ark Park is Saturday, April 4th at 10:00am! We are currently accepting donations of candy for the eggs along with prizes. Drop any donations under the table in the foyer!
This Week’s Challenge: Pray for the Nations
Has your family tuned in to the Winter Olympics yet? It can be exciting to watch top-tier athletes from countries all over the world compete in events that we don’t see every day. I (Jordyn) love how the Olympics brings athletes from vibrant cultures all over the world. It is so fun to see a little bit of each of these different cultures on display. Each of these athletes represents a country that has a unique spiritual climate and people who are made in the image of God. All are valued and pursued by our Creator. This week’s challenge is to watch some of the Olympics, or simply check the happenings online, and pray for the countries you see represented. Pray that God would move in these nations to bring people to Himself. Pray for the ministry and testimony of Christian athletes to be influential in the lives of their teammates. Pray against hostility and division, for comfort and peace for those countries in hostile environments, and a softening of hearts towards our Savior.
An excellent resource to use for this is the Joshua Project. This ministry provides prayer guides, statistics, and information to pray for every country around the world. It is incredibly informative and helpful.
You might even want to rewatch a portion of the Parade of Nations and point out some of the lesser-known countries to your kids, reading some of the prayer requests along with it. Kids are so curious about the world and our God created such incredible diversity for them to discover!
“The People Worshiped God” Kids Bible Class Devotional
You have free access to a family devotional based on the curriculum our kids are studying each week in KBC! It’s called “The Gospel Project at Home.” Today’s Bible Study is “The People Worshiped God” (Volume 6: Unit 18: Session 3), and the devotional can be found at this link.
Visit the Family Ministries page on our website for information about how to access The Gospel Project at Home for the first time.
And for Dessert…
Our recommendation for family discipleship this week comes from our church librarian, Heather Mitchell. She has recently read and commends the book God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris.
“After her husband’s death, Anna Meade Harris discovered that single-parent families don’t have a place in the local church. Because she and her kids no longer fit the Christian family mold, the body of Christ felt alien and strange when Anna’s family needed it most. Belonging, even in the most loving church, was a challenge” (from the back cover).
As a married mother of four, I (Heather) needed this book. Understanding and loving the single parents and their children, both in our church and in the world, comes directly from the heart of our God: “He is a father to the fatherless, and an advocate for widows” (Psalm 68:5, NET Bible).
Encouragement, gentle rebuke, and much grace for growing together in love as God’s family are on every page of this recommended book. Come find it in our church library.
May the Lord bless your families as you seek to follow Him.
Jordyn Skacel, Director of Family Ministry
Matt Mitchell, Pastor