- February 8, 2025
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Our Children First CEO and founder Chrissy Markoff beams with a smile as kids enter New Life Church to register for a martial arts class.
Markoff lives by an initiative to nurture children with kindness and an awareness of the world around them.
That world can sometimes be dangerous, and Markoff knows firsthand. She began the idea for an Our Children First martial arts class through personal experience. Her daughter was a victim of sexual trauma, and as it’s stated on the group’s official pamphlet, there are approximately 2.9 million cases of child abuse reported in the U.S. every day.
“These kids need it,” said Angie Warga, the group’s sensei for the evening. “I’ve seen such changes in kids and I came from an abusive marriage and this totally changed my life.”
Warga, a Port Orange resident for the last 18 years, comes from a background of working with abused children.
She told a story of a 4-year-old girl in Syracuse, New York who went from clinging to the leg of her parent in fear to raising her belt in pride and ready to take on whatever challenge she faced.
So now she wanted to do the same thing at New Life Church in Port Orange.
She taught the kids a medley of kicks, punches and self-defense techniques. There was also a lesson about what a bully is, and the group identified the characteristics of bullies and why they do what they do.
Warga emphasized that bullies abuse because they don’t have self-confidence or feel jealous of someone else. The lessons learned from Markoff, Warga and the entire Our Children First group are a good reminder for the kids to understand that they matter regardless of what anyone says, and they can defend themselves when they need it.
As for Markoff, she’s pursuing her passion and what she feels is the most important thing in the world — raising a child in the way it should go.
"I'm blessed to be able to have the family I have," Markoff said. "I run this group and want it to be something that people can come to and feel like they're welcome."
Our Children First is a nonprofit, faith-based group and for any questions, go to www.ourchildrenfirst.org.
