'Kingdom ministry'

By Staff
Shoals ministry provides for students in need
Kim West
FLORENCE – For Russellville native Bo Mansell, the annual "Give a Kid a Chance" back-to-school ministry at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum last Saturday was an eye-opener.
Mansell was a first-time volunteer in the medical clinic area, where he checked children's blood pressure.
"Today has shown me how much God blesses people, and if we could get more people in Franklin County involved, it would be a big help for this program," said Mansell, a 2003 Russellville High School graduate who is now applying to medical school. "There was one little kid who came and was fully dressed in his new clothes, and he kept asking where he could get a haircut. He was so excited to have all new things for school, and he was actually excited about school."
Approximately 903 children from northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee, including 358 from Franklin County, attended the event, along with more than 100 volunteers.
The children received customized backpacks with a full set of school supplies and a complete set of clothes, including a pair of new sneakers. They also had the option to receive free medical, dental and optical exams at the event, along with free haircuts and a lunch for their entire family.
Tharptown's Argueta family attended for the first time this year after hearing about the event while attending New Life Baptist Church in Russellville.
"Our pastor, Emilio Gaspar, told us about it," said Mildred Argueta, who attended with her husband, Eddy Argueta Sr. and their three sons, Eddy Jr., 13, Alex, 9, and Anthony, 6. "We have lived (in Franklin County) for six years but this was the first time we have been here. It's a very good program because they help everyone, and it's good for families."
GAKAC board member Donna Fisher said the purpose of the non-denominational ministry, also known as a kingdom ministry, is to allow children in need to start school with the same supplies as their peers.
"When this began in 2003, we only had eight volunteers and 250 kids," Fisher said. "This a ministry based on Scripture, and it allows children K-12 to go back to school on even ground with all the other kids with all the school supplies they need."
Fisher said she hopes that similar programs become available in other counties in Alabama.
"(State) Sen. Parker Griffith told us that every county in the state needs this program," Fisher said. "We would love to expand this to other counties because you never know how the first day of school can change a child's life."
For more information about GAKAC, call (256) 767-4124 or (256) 764-4664.