A dream was born:

My name is Marisa Thompson and five years ago I had a dream to reach the broken lives and hearts of our community. God called me to go beyond the four walls of our church and to take His word to communities where many only dare to go.

The areas that Street R.A.G.E. concentrates on are governmental housing areas along with many other areas. In these areas most of the children grow up in poverty with little and have no sense of how to be a child. The needs in these areas are deep and the love of God for these people goes even deeper.

We have gone to several different parks as well as the Housing Authority giving us full permission to use their building in the winter months.

Our focus is on teaching them about who God is, letting them know that there is someone out there who really cares and loves them. We teach them life skills in our lessons as well. Street R.A.G.E. is a fun-filled, upbeat program that provides the children a good foundation in the Word of God.

The Mission of Street R.A.G.E.: Evangelism and Restoration.

Our Purpose:

1. To reach out to the citizens of the governmental housing authority in the Cookeville and surrounding areas. The focal point is initially the children and then their families.
2. To bring forth change in young people by teaching them to avoid the "traps" which are typically set by society.
3. To bring joy and happiness into their precious lives through our ministry, Street R.A.G.E., which involves music, good clean fun, short lessons, awesome object lessons, puppet shows, and treats. At Street R.A.G.E. we believe every child is a winner!!

The skits, puppet shows, and object lessons emphasize topics such as staying in school, telling the truth, working hard and staying free from drugs and alcohol dependence. High moral standards and values are encouraged through examples and teachings. The children are encouraged to develop a greater sense of self worth.

The once rambunctious children are taught good manners, courtesy, and how to behave and treat one another properly. Lesson time is the most important time of Street R.A.G.E. This is when the children learn how to say no to wrong things, how to obey their parents and the ones who have authority over them, not to steal and other principles needed to survive the days and times we live in. These topics are presented using visual and sensory aids, such as drama, music, storyboards, participative stories, etc.

Our strategy:

Weekly visitation: Each week the children are visited and invited to attend Sunday School and Children's church with us. The visitation serves as a one on one time, a time to befriend the children and their families.

Jesus Says, "Send the children unto me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

"Whosoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (Matthew 18:5)

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. (Psalms 68:5)

Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. (Job 29:12-13)

Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. (Psalms 41:1-3)

In Street R.A.G.E. we believe that God desires to raise up an army of children from the despair of city streets in every nation and they shall go forth proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, God's own special people, that they may proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. For our God is a Father to the fatherless.

First United Pentecostal Church, 1810 North Dixie Avenue, Cookeville, TN  38506

Webmaster: Hessie Litchford