Getting the Kids Off to Sunday School

On Aug. 23 we welcomed back our God’s Garden Teachers, God’s Garden children, CAF/MYF youth and our new Youth Coordinator Lead. We welcomed Emma To as our new Youth Coordinator Lead for our CAF and MYF youth. We welcomed back Kiyomi Yanai, Lisa Bantilan, Jayne Williams, Mary Asano, Karen Chou, Leighton Horio, Christine Ozawa, Mika Visitation, Mari Fujii, Rob Hikido, Clarissa Johnston-Abril and Jim Mar for another year as God’s Garden teachers. Their dedication to Wesley church and our children over the many years is immeasurable. We presented Bibles to our new 3rd graders. Rev. John blessed backpacks for another school year. We’re off to a wonderful start of Sunday School!

3rd graders received their Bibles from Rev. John Oda.

Kelli Martines, Director of Administration, welcomed aboard two new staff hires filling out the children’s ministry with Emma To coming on board as Youth Ministry Lead which is a new ministry with an expanded vision for youth and community building. Hatty Lin is the new Director of Children and Youth Ministries. While Hatty has been the Director of God’s Garden for the past four years, in her expanded roll, she will continue overseeing Gods Garden and now Youth Ministry which includes our Middle School through High School aged students.

On this very special day, our congregation was treated to the musical genius of Jeffrey Bao who is not new to performing before us, but now he’s off to college. And he was accompanied on the piano by Ning Bao, Jeffrey’s father, as they played “Schön Rosmarin for us. That was a treat with a ton of flavor.

While Blessing the backpacks is focused on the children, the adults have come forward as well to receive God’s Blessings and all involved had loads now much lighter with God’s Holy presence.