Coaches - Spotlighted
Phil Bodiford was born in Nashville, but spent a few years in other TN towns growing up. He had attended Madison for a couple of years during his teen years, but had moved to Bolivar, TN for the last two years of high school. After graduation, he attended David Lipscomb University.
After graduating college, Phil met Tania Burton, who grew up at Madison. Shortly after their marriage in 1980, they placed membership here.
Tania and Phil have 3 girls, Keaton who is 23 and just graduated from Lee University. Sloan, who is a junior at Lee University, and Lieren who is a 10th grader at Donelson Christian. Phil and Tania became coaches with Lierens class in 7th grade. “I have been thrilled to be Lieren’s teacher for the last 4 years in the youth group”, Phil says. But Phil is no stranger to teaching. He’s been working with our teens and pre-teens since 1983. He’s also coached the boys high school basketball team and even worked with Tania in Babyland.
Phil shared, “The last 23 years I have truly enjoyed my girls. Coaching, teaching,
and traveling with them have been such a joy. We still enjoy a lot of traveling, and when we are all at home we love boating and fishing. Well, I love fishing and they love the boating.
I love kids, and watching them grow to be young adults. I now have kids that I have taught, who are married with kids. The joy in knowing that they are Christian parents, and bringing their kids up in the church, is what keeps me going
The Madison youth group has been such a large part of my family’s life, and has been very important part of our spiritual growth. I thank God every day for letting me be a very small part of all the kids lives, and the Madison youth group.”
After working in in Canaan’s Land for a year, Dawn wanted more of a challenge. She approached Jon Micah about and visited a couple of classes. She landed with the incoming 7th graders (07/08 school year).
“But the main reason I wanted to work in the youth group is based on my own church experiences. I didn’t attend church for about 15 years of my life - from about 30 to 45 years old - and when I came back, the reason I came back is because I was at a low point in my life - I was reflecting on what time in my life was a happy time for me and it was my high school years and the work and the fun I had been a part of in my church youth group. I want the kids in our youth group to have such a great experience that hopefully, they’ll never leave the church - but if they do, they’ll reach a point like I did and look back and remember “their first love” and return.”
Dawn and Roger have spent the past two summers working at Valley View during our senior week. They normally teach Bible classes and just enjoy hanging out with the teens.
For six years, Dawn’s volunteered with the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Middle Tennessee. This ministry has been in the Nashville area for 12 years and has helped about 800 women and their families. The women helped are generally in dead-end jobs or unemployed because of a lack of education or job skills. CWJC works with them to give them job skills and to prepare them for their GED. About two-and-a-half years ago, Dawn went to Madison’s elders with a proposal to start a satellite here, and they’re now into our second year of classes. They’re currently serving 19 women who have about 35 children! (While the women are in class, child care is provided for their kids.) “This is one of the most rewarding ministries I’ve ever been involved in,” Dawn said. “A woman once said to me, “I can’t believe so many of you would give up your time to help me.” She was amazed. It’s just such a great opportunity to show Christ’s love to people who need a glimmer of hope in their lives.
I love being a part of the youth group because they are so full of life and energy. They keep me feeling young - especially now that I’m helping out with the girls basketball team, too. And the reward is in their heart-felt hugs”!
