IT'S A SUPER SATURDAY: PROGRAM TEACHES BIBLE LESSONS IN WAYS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND

Courtney Spencer, left, and Darlene Thiele sang a praise song with the other children.

Children got off a bus outside the House of Hope.

Pastor Blake Tiemann exhorted his congregation to consider the rewards of good behavior, including Flavor-Ice on the bus trip home.

Betty Crenshaw led the children in singing "Jesus is the Rock."

What could possibly persuade more than 100 area children to give up part of a Saturday to go to school? Food, fun and games for starters. At least that's what motivates Rodney White, 7, of Cape Girardeau.

White is among the children, from ages 5 to 15, who attend the Saturday program at the House of Hope Church on South Sprigg St.

"We're here every Saturday except for six times a year," said Blake Tiemann, pastor at the church and the Super Saturday coordinator.

Tiemann and a bevy of volunteers provide a program in which the students are taught Bible lessons and ways to incorporate what they learn into their daily lives.

Super Saturday begins with prayer, songs and games. To participate in the games and be eligible for prizes, you must be able to recite the Bible verse from the previous week.

"I won a drawing contest," said White, who was awarded a super-soaker water gun for his efforts.

Listening is an important lesson for the students. Talking and rowdy behavior can mean a trip to the time-out box.

Michelle Henderson has been helping with Super Saturdays for about a year. "I grew up in a neighborhood like this," she said. "I know what these kids go through."

The friendships she makes through her efforts are a further reward.

"When I see one of the kids at the mall and they say 'Hi Miss Michelle', it makes me feel good that they remember me."

Super Saturday began 10 years ago when members of the First Assembly of God Church saw a need to provide something for the children in Cape Girardeau, especially those on the south side of town. Children from across the city were bused to the church on Mount Auburn Road.

Later, the program moved to a location on the South Side. The church rented a store front on South Sprigg St. before moving to it's current site after Highway 74 was built.

The church at 1202 S. Sprigg St. had been the home of First Assembly of God Church nearly 30 years ago.

"Initially, it was door to door to find the kids," said Pastor Blake. Today it's pretty much word of mouth."

First Assembly of God Church still helps with some of the expenses of running Super Saturday. It provides three full-size school buses and a 15-passenger van that transports the children.

"Some of our kids moved out of Cape Girardeau and into the Scott City/Chaffee area," said Tiemann. "As soon as we found out we had enough kids wanting to come, we started sending the van down there."

Candace Smith has been coming to Saturday School since she was 8. She plans to become a worker next year when she turns 15.

"The kids make you have fun," she said.

Tammy Rodriguez works wonders with her $60-a-week food budget.

Once the day is over, each student leaves with a sack lunch that contains half a sandwich, cheese curls, some type of treat and a Scripture verse.

Rodriquez watches for bargains and buys in quantity so that every child gets a treat.

"Last week I found cheese curls in big bags for fifty-cents a bag," she said. She bought five cases that workers will divide into individual servings for the lunches.

Donations from businesses and individuals also help out.

"Of course the menu isn't carved in stone," she added. It just depends on what is available.

There's always something ready for breakfast as the volunteers begin to arrive around 9 a.m. The buses begin rounds at 10 a.m. and by 11 Super Saturday is under way. Although events end at 12:30 p.m., it's often 2 p.m. before bus drivers have returned and materials are put away. Workers are then treated to a hot lunch.

Leah Wright, 14, is only in her second week of helping with Super Saturday.

"I was raised in the church and have a very loving family," she said. She realizes not all kids are as lucky.

"God has given me so much, I thought I should be able to share," she said.

But Super Saturday isn't the only service at the church. Sunday worship services are also held at House of Hope, which started about two years ago as an outreach of First Assembly.

"We tried every way possible to get people from the area to come across town to church," said Tiemann. "When we couldn't get them to come to us, we decided to go to them." Between 80 and 90 people attend the House of Hope Sunday worship service.

Many of the Super Saturday workers attend church services at First Assembly of God or House of Hope. Teen Challenge students also volunteer frequently.

Anyone wishing to become a part of Super Saturday can contact House of Hope at 335-4858.