*If you missed Part 1 of Leigh Ann's article and would like to know more about Little WIC's click here.

Do I Really Want to do This?

What an exciting opportunity to spend time with my daughter and 20-something other kindergarten and first-grade girls – singing, studying the Bible, playing games, doing crafts!!! Sign me up!

Ok, I admit it – that was not my first thought when I learned that they needed adult leaders for my daughter’s Little WICs class.

As a homeschooling mom, I was looking forward to dropping her off and heading down the hall to Ladies' Bible study for some much needed 'adult time.' But God had other plans for my Wednesday nights that fall, so my friend, Kathie, and I agreed to help in our daughters' class. Six years later we watched our daughters 'graduate' from the program as young women, well on their way to spiritual maturity. Whatever 'sacrifice' we may have made by choosing to serve in Little Wics was well worth it.

A Sacrifice? Not!

As it turned out, it was no sacrifice at all. The blessings we received were many. Little WIC (Little Women in the Church) leaders used words like "blessing," "joy," and "privilege" when describing their experience with Little WICs.

"I really believe it's important to invest time with my daughters and their friends as they grow up in the church," says Christi, who led the 2nd & 3rd graders this year. "Working as a Little WICs leader has enabled me to teach, mentor and simply spend time with these covenant children as we teach them what it means to be a "Daughter of the King. The true meaning of "covenant family" begins to take root here. As we invest in them, they begin to invest in each other, and the building blocks for maturing into true Women in the Church are laid."

Melanie, co-leader in the 2nd & 3rd grade class last year, puts it this way, "It is so important to be intimately involved in the lives of our children – a strong presence in their circle of influence. It is a blessing to get to know my daughter's friends, too. I love hearing the girls pray. It is a good reminder to us adults of how to approach God simply, with the faith of a child."

Sara, who has helped in her daughter's class for six years agrees, "I love seeing the character traits within some of the girls being displayed when they don't know we are watching. I've seen growth in many of them over the years as they are excited and challenged by memorizing Scripture. It's also fun to see the girls work together as a team when we have game time."

Although lesson time is the focal point of Little WICs night, many other activities provide opportunities for the girls to have fun, develop friendships – and practice the character traits they are learning! Crafts, games, and sometimes, snacks fill the rest of the time. The girls have tried knitting, calligraphy, cooking, and sewing. As the girls learn new skills or complete a craft, they earn pins to display on their Little Wics tote bags.

"One of my favorite aspects of Little Wics continues to be the enthusiasm the girls have for earning their pins," explains Christi. "Each pin represents a different skill (life or craft related) and each girl must demonstrate an understanding and mastery of that skill. The girls – even the kindergartners – get so excited as they learn each new craft or skill and earn their pin. The K-1 girls recently learned some limited sign language and even incorporated it into several songs. We all had so much fun!"

You Can Do it All – Just not all at the Same Time!

So, maybe you're thinking Little WICs (or a similar program in your own church) sounds rewarding, but you're not sure if it's for you. Perhaps, like me, you crave time 'just for you.' I once heard a conference speaker say that you CAN do it all – just not at the same time!!

JoAnn, co-leader of the K-1 class last year, shares that she has learned that "time flies, so I need to cherish each and every moment with (my daughter) Alexis and the other young girls, especially in these young years."

What Activities Will Make You a Better Mother?

Sara offers this advice, "I was involved in other ministries at the church (e.g. music, drama, ladies Bible study). I was trying to decide if I should help out with Little Wics instead of other ministries. I remember telling Sherry about my dilemma and she asked me this simple question: 'Which one would make you a better mother?' I had my answer!" And don't worry if you don't think you're a teacher. Your gifts can be used, no matter what they are. "I’ve taught the lesson, led music, and organized game time, but never have I been responsible for the craft. That would be a disaster!" jokes Sara. Just being there and interacting with the girls -- being a godly role model -- is enough!

The Legacy Continues

Our daughters have entered junior high, and Kathie and I have moved into other areas of ministry now, but the lessons we learned and the blessings we received from our years in Little WICs remain with us. We have watched as our little girls blossomed in a few short years into godly young ladies who are now taking seriously their responsibilities in the church. I know that Little WICs has been a strong influence in their young lives. They may eventually forget the lessons we taught or the skills they mastered, but the impressions left on their hearts through the Titus 2 women who lived out the gospel each week will last forever.

The View from the Heart of a Little WIC

By Keri

Lessons Learned

My years in Little WICs taught me many things. It encouraged my friends and me to follow Christ every day. We learned how powerful God is and that we should trust Him for everything. We studied the Bible and memorized verses. Because of Little WICs, I have become closer to God and have trusted Him more.

Fun and Games

My favorite part of Little WICs was game time. One game that I loved to play is the M&M race -- a competition to see who can be the first team to finish a bag of M&M's The hard part is you can't use your hands to pick them up!! We also played a game called 'Broken Cars.' You have to pretend to be a broken car by racing around, acting crazy, waving your hands, hopping on one foot, or running backwards. It was great fun!

Lifelong Lessons

The lesson was the most important part of the night. The first week of the year, we each got our own workbook that we used to answer questions about the lesson, write out our memory verses, or record what we were learning. At the end of the year, we took the book home and were able to re-read what we had studied. During the six years I attended Little Wics, we studied two books from the Elsie Dinsmore series and two from the Millie Keith series. Both books helped us to see what obeying and trusting God looks like in real-life situations.

Life Skills

Crafts are a favorite of the girls. We learned to crochet, make bookmarks, sew, cross stitch, and a lot of other things. Once we've mastered one of the crafts, we received a pin to place onto our Little Wics bag. My friends and I had a great time in Little WICs. I know that the lessons I learned will never leave me. I will have good memories thinking about my years in Little WICs, and I will live each day trying to please God in my actions, words, and thoughts.

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