On Sunday, December 14 Russ Crawford dedicated this wonderful cross to our Stix team.

"Word of God has been blessed with a group of performers who use wooden dowels and music to tell stories. Their leader, Andi Laaker, once said that one of the performers, Owen, told her that they were fishers of men. With their sticks and music, they bring people to church and God.

The fish symbol was used by early Christians to show where they were gathering to worship. Using a cross, the sticks, fish symbols and hearts, the Cross Builders constructed a Stix Cross for the Stix performers.  In this Stix Cross, the sticks and fish are showing the way to God. The cross represents God's unconditional love. The concentric hearts, like ripples in a pond, represent God's love washing out over all who come to him."

  - Russ Crawford

This Stix cross, inspired by Owen, Eddie, Stephen and Andi, was constructed by Burt Laaker, Ken Griffin, William Laaker and Al Farms.

What is the Fish Stix Ministry? It is a ministry that uses contemporary Christian songs to teach choreographed movements using dowel rods as props. The main focus of this team is to serve developmentally challenged youth and adults. This ministry is a beautiful and meaningful way to interpret songs and Biblical teachings. It is also a wonderful worship skill that helps the participants learn about God and to share His love with others.

The ministry team started in 2010 and has been growing ever since.  As Word of God Lutheran Church was just beginning to organize, this ministry began as a Sunday School class. They used Sunday morning class time to learn movements and discuss lyrics of the Christian songs. 

In 2014, the ministry extended into the community and invited members of Young Life’s Capernaum Group to join them.  Not only does the Fish Stix Team continue to meet as a Sunday School class, but they also meet one Friday a month from January until May with the larger group from Capernaum. As a small and large group, the team has done several presentations around the Fayette and Coweta County areas. They were even asked to present at The Shepherd Spine Center in Atlanta.

The Fish Stix  path has changed over the last 5 years, and they have grown in membership, their confidence, and in their faith. Through Bible study and sermons at church, they have learned that they are part of The Great Commission – to be disciples and tell others about Jesus. The group was inspired to name themselves the Fish Stix after hearing the Gospel of Matthew 4:18-20 where Jesus Calls His First Disciples:

Matthew 4:18-20 ¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

This ministry allows each of us – who are all differently abled - to learn a worship skill and share our love of Jesus with others. You are invited to join us any Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour.  We would love to help you learn about the love of Jesus and to learn to follow his ways through the Fish Stix Ministry Team.