dv8 Resumes This Week - Aug. 28th!

Wednesday night is the night!! dv8 volunteers get yourselves ready to join our friends again at 6:00pm. These precious children of God are looking forward to your time with them. This is your opportunity to be reminded that one person DOES make a difference! Thank you for joining God in what He's doing over at Merritt Homes in McKinney. Need more details or want to join our team? Contact Sylvia at dv8kids@gmail.com

Gearing Up for the New School Year!

Hello! My name is Sylvia Blair and I am so excited to be a part of dv8 and this wonderful team of volunteers! As the 2013-14 school year is about to begin, dv8 is teaming up with MHA's Resident Council to throw a "Back to School Bash" at the Merritt Community Center on Saturday August 24th from 10:00am - 12:30. THERE WILL BE FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: WATERSLIDE, FACE PAINTING, FOOD, GIVEAWAYS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MORE!! We would love to have our dv8 volunteers there to fellowship with the kids (they've missed you!) and their families. We'd also like to invite any new volunteers who would like to consider joining our team, come out and support these sweet families while checking out why the relationships we form with them are so very important. *DV8 WILL THEN BEGIN OUR WEDNESDAY EVENING PROGRAM, AUGUST 28TH AT 6:15PM! For new dv8 volunteers, there will be a mandatory 1 hour training of "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" on Sunday August 18th at 4:00pm at First McKinney. For more information and to sign up, please contact dv8kids@gmail.com - we'd love to have you! Serving Him, ~Sylvia Blair - dv8 Team Leader - Mission for At-Risk Youth

dv8 Announces New Director!

I have mixed emotions announcing that I am stepping out of the role as director of dv8! I have loved the past 4 years and the kids will always have a special place in my heart! But at the same time, I am thrilled about the journey that God has in store as my family and I move this summer to Bolivia for 1 year. We have sold our house and much of our things so that we can go and serve alongside missionaries TJ and Tammy Mitchell as they open an orphanage in Cochabamba. We have our tickets and depart on July 8 from DFW!

We would like to invite you to join us by accepting the call to be our advocates: to pray for us and lift up this mission to make his name known and care for the fatherless. Continue praying for dv8 and the team as it transitions into the hands that God has been preparing!

dv8 NEW DIRECTOR!!!: After many months, much prayer and careful consideration, I am pleased to announce that Sylvia Blair has accepted the volunteer role to lead dv8 at MHA. Sylvia currently works with MISD as a Community Liaison. This role is focused on At-Risk kids and the tools that they need to be successful in school. She already knows many of our dv8 kids and has always had a special love for them! All of this experience and training has given her an expertise in dealing with kids in poverty. She has also served many years as a teacher, Bible teacher, youth leader, camp counselor, PTO President of MHS and Faubian MS, volunteer organizer and much more. I am overjoyed that she is willing to volunteer her time to lead dv8 going forward! I can't wait to see God's hand at work as He uses Sylvia and the dv8 Team to spread His love!

God has great plans for the kids at dv8 and I hope you will continue to be by their side, loving and caring for them as you do! Not only is it hard for me to leave the dv8 kids, but the dv8 Team is my church family! I loved serving by your side in this passionate work for the Lord! We have supported, encouraged, cried, laughed and prayed together through highs and lows! Thank you for sharing this journey with me! With love, Kim Simpson

dv8 WINS Volunteer McKinney Award!

We are thrilled to announce that dv8 was nominated for 2 categories for the Volunteer McKinney 2013 Awards: the Inspired to Serve Award and the Group Volunteer Award!! They recognized our team at their annual event that was held Saturday, March 23, at the Collin County Regional Airport. The event was attended by dignitaries, nonprofit leaders, business leaders and fellow volunteers from the McKinney area. dv8 was  ENTHUSIASTICALLY represented by 15 volunteers from FBC and the McKinney Housing Authority! Winners were announced in all 8 categories and dv8 WON the Group Volunteer Award!! It is an honor to serve with the dv8 Team! Your time, love and dedication to each child MAKES a difference!! 

Blessed to serve together in HIS name!!

New tricks at dv8!

March 18, 2013  dv8 has learned some new tricks! After mastering our motto verse, John 14:6 we have added the 7 commands that Jesus gives his followers...and we can recite them all WITH hand motions! Each week is full of surprises... from having an exhilarating night of 80 kids or a quiet intimate group of 30! We have had new fun teachers step up to the task including one of our Teen Volunteers and groups from other churches volunteer to serve the evening with us! We have played with pipe cleaners and made cool gifts to give to our friends or teachers. Each night is full of surprises and treasured gifts that God either tucks away in hard to find places or displays right out in the open for all to see! Either way, God continues to fill our cup...sometimes it even runneth over! 

We are always looking for volunteers...so contact us and come check it out! Every Wednesday 6-7:30pm at the McKinney Housing Authority Activity Center! 

May God continue to grow in their hearts!!

Pipe Cleaner Creativity!! Love these guys!

A night blessed by 80 or more!!

dv8 CELEBRATION!

Celebrate with us! We have enjoyed over 70 to 80 kids every Wednesday evening this year! Our greatest joy is participating in the baptism of 10 of our dv8 family. It is a thrill to see these kids SHOW the world who they follow, Jesus!! dv8...taking a new path to eternity!

Dv8 sets a new record!

September 28, 2011: 78 Kids in attendance!! Talk about raise the roof! Thanks to our 38 volunteers who follow God's calling each week and give their hearts to sharing the Good News! The Prayers go up and the Blessings continue to rain down!