Latest Project: Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Last Wednesday, the girls and I went over some project ideas. Micah 6:8 may be familiar to many; however, it is not one that is known to my girls. I used this as an opportunity to share with my girls how to follow God and how to love people. It was an interesting one, and one girl said: "This is very different from the world we live in." 

We are working with a couple from Chicago who work with wood and acrylic. Here is our latest project.The girls made decisions about style, color, choice,etc. The following is a sample of what is to come. The girls thought that black, dark brown, purple, royal blue, pink, and red. Each phrase will be a separate bracelet.


What do you think?

What I like about the teachers at the church

By Pika

I like that Kelly help you with you homework and she is good at that and she is nice. I like that ms.nikki  she help you with bling and homework  and  she is good with that.ms.lisa is so good with bakeing  and doing jobs . mr.jb he is so good at teaching basketball.

Latest Creations!

Beauty from shells and recycled beads!

Girls used these beautiful beads to learn basic earring skills.

We love color! Bold and beautiful! A 14 year old, her nine year old sister, and 11 year old brother made these memory wire bracelets--it was a family affair!

Stars with an edge! A fourth-grader made these earrings!

Double stranded bracelets made by a very special woman who then proceeded to teach eight other women who then taught their girls.

Cross Bookmarks! One BLING girl loved making these! And, used her income of $160.00 from these bookmarks to support her Compassion girl, as well as buy Christmas presents for her family. She also went to Aquire the Fire with money she earned! "Being able to make these are an answer to prayers!"

Angel Makes Business Cards

Ms Nikki: Angel, you have been bothering me to make your own business cards? Why?

Angel: Because I thought it was a good idea. My teachers been asking me about my jewelry.

Ms. Nikki: Was making business cards difficult?

Angel: Yah. A little. Cause you got to put a lot down, you gotta do a lot of things.

Ms. Nikki: Did you have a name for your business before?

Angel: Yes. Angel's Handmade Jewelry.

Ms. Nikki: What is it now?

Angel: Handmade by an Angel

Ms. Nikki: Where can people by your jewelry?

Angel: At Bethel Church. Or, e-mail Ms. Nikki at info@nlcenters.org and she will send you pics.

Ms. Nikki: We will put up your pics on the blog!

Open Doors!

What do all of these colleges have in common?
They have all graciously opened their doors to BLING!

Last year, one of the teen girls and I went to a college. And, it was her first time on a campus among students. She was welcomed by the students and decided that this was a place she would be interested in going. One of the campus leaders "adopted" her and offered to show her around and help her with her application when that time came!

It's amazing how God's people on these campuses extend their love and hugs...and their help and my beautiful girls get to experience things they never have before!

We are excited to be going to Moody this Thursday, North Park University next Friday, and Wheaton on the 2nd of December!

Get ready college campuses...
BLING is coming!

Interview with Helen

What does an average day in BLING TAP look like?
I  come in and  there are  lots of kids everywhere. I get my journal out and answer the questions that are there. When I am done with that miss nicki has something for us to do like make memory wire or make earrings. Then at 5:30 we go down stairs and prepare the dinner for the kids then clean up after them. Then come back up stairs and return to what we were  doing.

The skills I have learned at TAP is:
-How to use head pins, how to make memory wire bracelets, and use a jump ring.

-How to fax paperwork, how to serve dinner to little kids, and how to clean the tables and benches.

-How to be on time.

-How to interact with children.

The most difficult thing is:
Sometimes turning the wire…opening the jump ring and closing it.

The best thing is:

When I learn how to make different types of jewelry.

I feel I am growing as a person by ….

Learning new things and creating things I never create before. How have I grew in my personality is having a positive attitude towards each and everyone.  And also being patient.

BLING goes to CCDA!

Fortunate, blessed, and honored once again to be at the annual CCDA conference, I was encouraged to INNOVATE in ministry. I was also encouraged by speakers and fellow urban ministers that if you love and remain faithful, you are following the Jesus way. In a society that embraces numerical success and visible signs of rapid growth, it was beautiful and reviving to have a conference that is simply interested in supporting and inspiring the current workers to keep on keepin' on. 

People were encouraged by the BLING story, and I was encouraged by them.

-Nikki