RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: GRANDMA AUDREY MINISTERS TO KIDS

The kids at Lyncare call her "Grandma Audrey" and give her hugs.

To the more than 30 children in the after-school program at Lynwood Baptist Church, Audrey Golden is "their" grandmother.

She teaches Bible lessons to the children, all elementary students from Alma Schrader School.

"What a blessing," says the 64-year-old Cape Girardeau woman, who radiates a friendly smile and a caring character. "I love teaching the Bible."

There are word searches and Bible games, and music too. Grandma Audrey plays the piano during music sessions.

Although Lyncare is a ministry of the Lynwood Baptist Church, the Bible lessons are non-denominational. "Denominations don't save you," she says. "There is no doctrine. We are just talking about the Bible and it's the same for all."

There is an organized program at Lyncare, although there is plenty of time set aside for snacks and outside play, including jump rope games.

Nine-year-old Carley Summers is fond of Grandma Audrey. "She turns the rope for us outside," Summers said. "When anyone is hurt at Lyncare, she gives us Band-Aids and stuff."

Dillon Huber, 8, has good things to say about Grandma Audrey too. "Every time after class, she gives us candy."

Grandma Audrey expects the children to say "thank you" for the treats. "I am an old-fashioned grandma," she says as she dispenses candy to a handful of fourth and fifth graders at the end of a Bible lesson last week.

Golden is one of three teachers involved with the after-school program. She has been there since its inception seven years ago. And she has been "Grandma Audrey" at Lyncare from the beginning. Some of her granddaughter's friends were in Lyncare the first year and they called her "Grandma Audrey." Soon, all the children were calling her by that name.

"The little bitty ones call me Miss Grandma Audrey," she said.

She takes the name to heart. She has even gone to class with some of the children for "grandparents' day."

She can't imagine her life without Lyncare. "I love the kids," she said.

There is a fee for children to attend the after-school program. The teachers receive some pay, but it remains less an occupation than a labor of love.

"We do this every day when the public school is in session," said Linda Caldwell, Lyncare director.

For the Lyncare staff, the day starts at 2 p.m. and runs until about 5:30 p.m., when the last child is picked up.

"They get music, art and devotional time. They are not just here to play," said Caldwell.

She and Golden help pick the kids up in a church bus. Golden's husband, Doug, lends a hand, driving the bus several days a week.

Pastor George Brewer, the education minister at Lynwood, also serves as a bus driver. Brewer said Audrey is just a kind person.

But behind her friendly smile, there is loving firmness. The children listen to her.

"She doesn't pamper them," said Brewer.

Grandma Audrey knows the balance between setting limits and giving the children "freedom to be children," Brewer said.

Audrey and Doug Golden teach a second-grade Sunday school class at the church. She sings in the choir and delivers meals on wheels to the homebound.

She is involved in the church's Mother's Day Out program, caring for pre-schoolers each Tuesday during the day, prior to tackling her Lyncare job.

She also bakes cakes for Lyncare's birthday celebrations.

Grandma Audrey and the rest of the Lyncare staff have embraced Random Acts of Kindness Week, an annual celebration of kindness sponsored by the Southeast Missourian.

To celebrate kindness this week, the students served as secret kindness buddies to each other. Each student drew a name of a student to be kind to during the week. They also wrote "kindness" letters to their parents.

When Lyncare started in 1993, Lynwood Baptist Church was just up the street from Alma Schrader School. Golden used to walk to the school to pick up the children.

Now the children ride a bus to the congregation's new church off Route W, some distance from the school.

Golden said Lyncare started with about 10 children. It has grown over the years, largely through word of mouth. Many attend the after-school program year after year.

"She is a good teacher," Caldwell said. "She genuinely cares for the kids, and she cares for their souls."