COVER STORY 30 OCTOBER 2022 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Saints of Florida Homeschool P.E. 1997 –OnAugust 27thGod said “Homeschool P.E”…. those two words prompted Coach RickAndreassen to step away from11 years as the Children’s Pastor andAthletic Director at NewCovenant Christian School andChurch and start Saints of FloridaHomeschool P.E. “Where Jesus is Lord and Every Child is aWinner!” 1997 - OnOctober 1 the first day of Saints was held at George English Park in Fort Lauderdale with two volunteers and 18 children in attendance that first day. 1998-1999 –Saints began offeringHomeschool P.E. classes at TradewindsPark, TYPark andMarkhamPark. 2000 - Saints expanded to Palm Beach County and attendance DOUBLED from 500 children per week to 1000 children per week. 2002 – Coach Rick Andreassen had the privilege to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic games, representing homeschool families throughout the world. 2005 - Saints of Texas and Saints of Las Vegas, Nevada, were launched. 2007 - The first international program opened with Saints of Zambia, Africa, and “Saints International Sports Ministry” was officially birthed. 2008–2013 - Saintsof Haiti wasopened inpartnershipwithMissionof HopeandRioVistaCommunityChurch, Saints of Kenya started, and Saints of Guatemala opened in partnershipwith LighthouseCommunity Church. 2016 - Coach Steve Schaffer, of Saints of Texas, launched Saints of Zimbabwe, Africa. 2018 - Saints of Indiana opened in partnership with Familyman Ministries and Coach ToddWilson. 2018 - Saints is operating throughout five states and six countries, ministering to nearly 10,000 children annually. (To God be the glory!) 2020 –WhenCOVIDcloses all the parks, pools and playgrounds, SAINTSof FloridaHomeschool PEcreates “PEATHOME” Kits. “SAINTSSPORTSPEFORKIDS” was officially birthedandhas takenona lifeof its own. “Godworks all things together for good for thosewho loveHimand are called according to his purpose.” 2022 -AVERYSPECIALMILESTONE: On January 22, 2022, CoachRickAndreassen “had the privilege to marry the girl of my dreams.” Faye Grigoris officially became Mrs. FayeAndreassen. 2022 – Saints partners with Classical Conversations, a Christ-centered homeschool academic program. 2022 and beyond - We don’t know exactly what the future holds for Saints, but we know who holds the future….and we know that “God is faithful!” We want to ESPECIALLY thank all of the AWESOME Saints Coaches who have made all of this possible over the years!!! VERYEXCITINGNEWS! In2022wewill tobe launchinga “CoachesTrainingSchool“ (partneringwithSouth Florida Bible College) where will will train, equipped, certify, and mobilize coaching staff to be able to reach children for Christ through games, sports, and activities!! First Priority Early 1990s – Dawson McAllister Student Conference at First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale brings youth ministers together. (Chris Lane is chairman of the conference and youth minister at First Baptist Church Fort Lauderdale). 1996/97 – Broward County youth groups begin to meet together for quarterly youth events. 1998 – The first four First Priority campus clubs start during the school year. 2003 – There are 40 campus clubs in Broward with expansion into Palm Beach County. 2006 – First Priority expands into Miami Dade County Schools. 2007 – First Priority expands into Martin County School. 2009 – There are 110 First Priority campus clubs in South Florida. 2016 – Campus clubs are meeting at 200 campuses in the Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin County area. 2019 – First Priority hires a full-time director in the Treasure Coast. 2019 – Game Day Clubs are launched with the goal to reach students in elementary schools. 2021 – Campus clubs are launched in Brevard County, expanding First Priority to the Space Coast. 2022 – First Priority begins their 25th year of campus ministry. 4KIDS 1997 - A movement begins to impact the foster care crisis in Broward County. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale forms a recruitment and support ministry for foster families called Child S.H.A.R.E. 1999 - The Stacy Foundation launches Project TeamWork 4KIDS under the leadership of Rick Englert, becoming the first Christian foster care agency with the vision to bring the South Florida church community together. 2000 - Project TeamWork 4KIDS opens SafePlace Broward. 2002 - The Stacy Foundation donates Kids Place with the support of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale 2003 - Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s foster care ministry, Child S.H.A.R.E., His Caring Place and Project TeamWork 4KIDS merge to create 4KIDS of South Florida, and Girls Place opens a familystyle home for teen girls in foster care. 2005 - 4KIDS Independent Living begins, designed for young adults aging out of foster care. 2006 - 4KIDS begins licensing foster homes in PalmBeach County, operating out of Boca Raton Community Church’s gifted space. 2007 - 10,000 lives impacted 2009 - Arthur Remillard donates two family-style homes in Palm Beach County to help keep siblings together. 2011 - Hundred of community members come together to build a brand newHis Caring Placematernity home, the Miracle Home. 2014 - 4KIDS creates a unique therapeutic approach, EPIC, 4KIDS launches in the Treasure Coast, and 4KIDS opens Mercy Place, a family-style home for girls in foster care who are at risk for human trafficking. 2015 - SafePlace Palm Beach opens with support of 4KIDS Women of Vision, and the Wasie Foundation and community partners build the Home for 4KIDS Headquarters in Broward. 2017 - 20 years and 25,000 lives impacted 2019 - 4KIDS launches the FamilyAdvocacy Ministry (FAM) model enabling churches to wrap-around foster families with love and support. 2020 - 4KIDS partners with CarePortal to launch prevention-based care for at-risk families. 2021 - 4KIDS launches in Southwest Florida, serving Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. 2022 - 25 years and 30,000 lives impacted! MILESTONES fueled. That’s my greater gift and my greater passion. I could stay there and that would be great. But there were times when I thought about quitting, just being overwhelmed by the busyness of it. How long can you keep that kind of pace? But it was really just putting one foot in front of the other and 25 years later here we are. No matter what the challenges were, the kids were worth it. They are worth fighting for. Sometimes I hear about what kids are going through and I think, “Not on my watch!” What isthegreatestaccomplishmentor joyof theministry? Looking back now, I’m glad I said yes when God called. I don’t think, look what I’ve done, but rather look what I would have missed? And wow! All these kids! We now have children who grew up in Saints bringing their children, and I think, wow! I’m glad I said yes to God. What’s new as you look to the future? I’m not sure what the future holds but I know who holds the future. Since the pandemic, homeschooling has tripled in the United States, so we see the mission field and the opportunity like never before. Everyday people call fromother states wanting to start a Saints program, so we’re always looking to expand to other states and areas. We need staff to do it, but I know that reaching kids for Christ through games, sports and activities is the perfect way. Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more children in a year than most people do in a lifetime.” He believes that a coach is the most influential person in America today, so I would say if we can keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll just continue to reach more and more children for Christ. Testimonial: Sue Puchferran, director of Home Education Enrichment Day (HEED) began homeschooling her children on Coach Rick’s first day hosting Saints in Boca Raton. All four of her children went through the program, some served as coaches and now her five-year-old grandson attends Saints. She said, “The thing about Coach Rick that’s amazing is he’s been so steady and consistent. His character has not wavered in 25 years. He’s been such a solid role model and encourager to generations and his love for the kids is so much like Jesus… The opportunity Saints provided for all of us to connect when homeschooling was a godsend. Those friendships from the SAINTS days were really valuable for moms and kids, and in that sense our homeschool experience would not be the same without it.” How will you celebrate? We’re looking to do a 25th Anniversary Celebration in the spring, bringing back alumni with our current Saints family. It may be a dinner for families and a picnic the next day. Details to be announced. How can people get involved? Pray for the staff and ministry Consider sponsoring a “SAINTS in a Box” to be implemented in another country or to be used as an afterschool program here in the United States. Host a SAINTS Sunday at your church where they can share the vision. Partner financially by donating online at SaintsOfFlorida.com. (Continued from page 29
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