"Hearing it helps me believe it"

During my first year here, there was a 6th grader in Forerunner I'll call CB.

In our first conversation, he told me that my name was too short and that he was going to call me Coach Bethany rather than Coach Beth. I laughed and told him I’d allow it. Our very next conversation started a lot differently.

We were outside at recess. He approached me,
“Coach Bethany... do you hate me?”

I looked at him and saw in his eyes that he wasn’t joking.

“CB, why would I hate you?” He shrugged and looked at the ground.

“Everyone else does. Why would you be any different?”

CB would ask me that same question every time I saw him during the after-school program. I started meeting him at the front of the building every day. He was always the last kid to get off the van. While we'd walk down the hallway to his classroom, I’d say something like:

“CB, it always makes my day when I see that you’re on the van.”
“CB, I am so glad you’re here.” 
“CB, I love hearing your thoughts because you’re always so wise.”

He would say, “Why do you say that?” and I’d reply, “Because it’s true.” He would say, “Okay” and smile while walking into his class.

Inevitably at some point in the day, he would still come to find me and ask me that same question. “Coach Bethany, do you hate me?” And each time I’d tell him, “No CB, I care about you and I feel very honored to know you.” 

This went on all year.

One day he asked that question, and I decided to flip it on him.

“CB, do I hate you?”

CB smiled. “No. I know you love me. Hearing it helps me believe it.”

________

Over the last 11 years, Forerunner has had the honor of building relationships with young men in Lake Highlands to help them know, believe, and fulfill their potential. They hear it through the lessons we teach, they hear it in the Manhood Declaration that we recite, but most importantly they hear it from people who they know care about them. The consistent presence of staff and volunteers who are speaking life over these Forerunners is powerful and the impact is evident.

Thank you for the part you've played in helping our Forerunners believe they are worth building relationships with. To believe they are full of potential. To believe they were created on purpose for a purpose. To believe they are Men of God who will be the next generation of godly husbands, fathers, and leaders. 

There are hundreds of stories like this being written right now at Forerunner, and thousands more to come. We’re just getting started.