Spiritual

The spiritual is program is the core of the purpose of Westview Boys' Home.  Boys are encouraged to have a relationship with God that helps bring all of their other relationship into an appropriate focus. 

The spiritual activities are varied.  Every boy at the Home attends the Childress Church of Christ at every meeting of the church.  Boys are encouraged to attend youth group activities, including devotionals, parties, Sunday Night Lives, and youth rallies.  Each boy attends at least one session of church camp every summer.  There are also regular devotionals.   Our young men are also allowed to participate in Leadership Training for Christ, an effective leadership development tool for young people in the church.

Participation at church

The boys attend church with their houseparents, and learn first how to respect the worship of others, and second, how they can choose to worship themselves.  The church is supportive of boys from the Home, and encourages them to learn how to develop their worship leadership skills, whether that might be leading a prayer, waiting on the Lord’s table, leading singing, or presenting a devotional message.  Boys are encouraged (but never required) to give as they are prospered, and to find a way to use their blessings and gifts in God’s service.

Reading scripture

Home devotionals

Each house at Westview has its own regular devotionals.  In the privacy of the house, and among a small group, there is a time to talk about God’s word, and a time for prayer.  Not only do houseparents talk about their relationship with God, but they encourage each boy to discover his own connection to the divine.  As the boys mature, and if they grow comfortable with doing so, they are encouraged to lead a devotional and to present a devotional message.

Youth group

The boys at Westview are an important part of the youth group at the Childress Church of Christ, where the following activities are typical:

  • Youth devotionals
  • Trips to youth rallies
  • Trips to Sunday Night Lives at area churches
  • Skating nights
  • Retreats

Church camp

All boys are encouraged to attend at least one session of church camp during their summers at Westview.  For many years, Westview has had a partnership with Quartz Mountain Christian Camp, just across from Quartz Mountain Lake in western Oklahoma, and with Camp Lu-Jo KISMIF, west of Faxon, OK.  At these camps, our boys and staff are a part of several different camp sessions, depending upon the age of the boy.  At these camp sessions, the boys have the opportunity to meet with larger groups of young people their age, discover how to interact with them socially, enjoy fun activities, and learn about God together. 

Worship at camp

Leadership Training for Christ

Westview Boys’ Home partners with Leadership Training for Christ, a non-profit organization designed to stimulate and encourage spiritual, mental, and social growth among young men and women in grades three through twelve. Its mission is to achieve this growth by developing skills in leadership, Bible knowledge, and Christian servanthood.  Our boys who participate in this program learn to live the servant leadership lifestyle.

Skill development in each of these areas is accomplished through participation in a variety of individual (song leading, speech, Bible reading) and group events (puppets, chorus, and Christian drama). These events take place within the context of a wholesome and supportive environment designed for the purpose of fostering enthusiasm and high achievement among the participants from the Churches of Christ.

An award-winning puppet team

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