The Next Steps team at James River Church is passionate about helping people take their next steps in their walk with God. The team takes a central role in helping people grow in their faith by connecting them to the church through discipleship, Life Groups, and volunteering with a team.
One way James River Church disciples people is through the four-step Grow Track experience, which helps people discover who God is and who He created them to be. The heart of the Next Steps practicum is all about equipping students to help others get connected to the church and serve others around them. God has used the Next Steps practicum to change Lindsey Brown’s life!
A Life-Changing Practicum
Being diagnosed with anxiety and depression in the past, Lindsey experienced a season of struggle that led to having an eating disorder. Because of everything she was dealing with, she felt as though she didn’t have a purpose. After enrolling at James River College and attending Grow Track, however, she discovered she had an amazing purpose through God! Lindsey’s story is a testimony of her strength, God’s power, and the importance of taking the next steps in your walk with God. Because of her personal experience with Grow Track, her passion for the Next Steps Practicum has been ignited and Lindsey is so excited about what God is doing through Grow Track at James River Church!
Here is what a Next Steps practicum student gets to experience each week at James River College.
Sunday
Every Sunday, James River Church has the opportunity to host thousands of people for church. This means hundreds of volunteers are needed each week to create a “welcome home” atmosphere for every individual who attends. Lindsey sets up Dream Team Central for all James River Church services that are held at the church. Dream Team Central is where all volunteers, or Dream Team members, check in, grab a snack or drink to stay energized, and connect with other Dream Team members during their serve shift. During services, Lindsey keeps the snacks and drinks stocked, chats with friends, and meets new people who are serving at James River Church!
During Sunday afternoons, Lindsey heads out to her life group! Each James River College student gets the opportunity to be involved in a life group and gets to hang out with fellow believers while discussing God’s Word together.
Lindsey’s Sunday Schedule
5:00am – Wake up, get ready, & pray for the day
6:30am -7:00am – Arrive & set up Dream Team Central
7:30am - Open Dream Team Central doors & welcome volunteers
7:30am – 2:00pm - Serve in Dream Team Central & attend one service if possible
2:00pm – Free time
3:30pm – Life Group
6:00pm – Free time & homework
9:00pm – 11:00pm – Go to bed
Monday
Every student is different when it comes to when they wake up to start their day. For Lindsey, her days begin at 5am so she has plenty of time to start her day on the right track with prayer. She utilizes Mondays to get back into her weekly classes and get ahead on some of her school work. Lindsey’s free time usually includes hanging out with friends at some of her favorite coffee shops and restaurants in the Springfield, Missouri area.
Lindsey’s Monday Schedule
5:00am – Wake up, get ready & pray for the day
7:00am – Arrive at school & get ahead on homework
8:30am – 9:45am – Class
9:50am – 12:00pm – Homework
8:30 – 9:45am – Class
1:50pm – 11:00pm – Free time & then bed
Tuesday
Every Tuesday and Thursday, students get to attend our awesome James River College chapels. Each chapel is an opportunity for students to be poured into by incredible speakers while also getting a full-on worship experience led by our very own James River College students. After Lindsey finishes up her classes and is all done with her chapel, she heads off to her first day of Next Steps practicum for the week. During her Tuesday practicum, she spends a little time updating information in the church management system and makes sure information is up to date for every individual that goes through Grow Track. One of Lindsey’s favorite parts of practicum is building relationships with her awesome team. “I never really had a lot of friends that were girls until I came into the practicum, and when I did, there was so much friendship and bonding!” she said.
Lindsey’s Tuesday Schedule
5:00am – Wake up, get ready & pray for the day
7:00am – Arrive at school & get ahead on homework
8:30am – 9:45am – Class
10:00am – 11:15am – Chapel
11:30am – 2:00pm – Homework
2:00pm – 4:00pm – Practicum
4:00pm – 11:00pm – Free time & then bed
Wednesday
Wednesdays are a little different than other weekdays because Lindsey gets to serve at the most important service of the week: The Prayer Meeting. At James River Church, we believe that when we come together to pray as a church, God hears us and incredible things happen in response! Before each Prayer Meeting, Lindsey gets to spend a couple of hours in practicum making new updates to Dream Team Members’ Grow Track information in the church management system. Making sure people’s information is updated ensures that the Pastoral Team can help answer any questions people have as they complete all four steps of Grow Track.
Lindsey’s Wednesday Schedule
5:00am – Wake up, get ready, & pray for the day
7:00am – Arrive at school & get ahead on homework
8:30am – 9:45am – Class
9:50am – 2:00pm – Homework & free time
2:00pm – 4:00pm – Practicum & set up Dream Team Central
4:00pm – 5:30pm – Homework & free time
5:30pm – 8:30pm – Serve in Dream Team Central
9:00pm-11:00pm – Bed time
Thursday
Lindsey’s Thursday schedule looks very similar to her Tuesday schedule, except instead of practicum, she gets to spend time with friends and hang out with other students! Some of Lindsey’s favorite things to do with friends are going to coffee shops, James River College get-togethers, and movie theaters!
Lindsey’s Thursday Schedule
5:00am – Wake up, get ready & pray for the day
7:00am – Arrive at school & get ahead on homework
8:30am – 9:45am – Class
10:00am – 11:15am - Chapel
11:30am – 2:00pm – Homework
2:00pm – 11:00pm – Free time & then bed time
Friday and Saturday
Fridays and Saturdays for Lindsey are usually days she takes to relax, enjoy some of her hobbies, work on school work, and hang out with friends! Some of her favorite hobbies and activities are painting, going on walks and exercising, hanging out with friends and family, and spending time with animals! Especially her dog!
More about Lindsey Brown
What does your week look like in this practicum?
Lindsey’s Answer: During practicum, I make updates in FellowshipOne, which is a program that helps keep all the information up to date with Grow Track and we make sure that we always have all of their information so that the Pastoral Team can be able to answer any of their questions! Then, we also get to set up the Dream Team Central.
How did you hear about James River College?
Lindsey’s Answer: I grew up in James River Church, but I actually heard about the college at a youth camp I had gone to!
How does this practicum affect you positively?
Lindsey’s Answer: Oh yeah! That is why I chose to be in this practicum. My story was that I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and that then led to me having an eating disorder. I really felt that I didn’t have a purpose, and then when I went through Grow Track through the college and I then discovered I had a purpose! Going through those basic steps led to me living life again and that is why I am so passionate about this practicum.
How are the things you have learned in practicum applied to your daily life?
Lindsey’s Answer: The importance of community! I always tried to isolate myself in the past and I never realized how much of a burden that was on me. Then coming to this practicum, I really got to build in the community!
What is your favorite thing about this practicum?
Lindsey’s Answer: The friendships I make during it! During the time I am in Dream Team Central, I get to talk with all of the volunteers!
