In a little over 48 hours Christmas morning will be here! Kids all over will be running to the tree to find their "treasure". I remember the laughs and the faces of joy that were on the faces of our boys as they opened their gifts. Those memories will always be a part of my life. This year Paul will begin to build his memories with his 18 month old boys. I am sure his house like many others will be full of excitement!
At our last kid's church service I asked the kids what they thought Christmas was all about. The overwhelming response was Jesus! Well that wasn't the answer I gave them. Christmas is all about gifts. The look on their faces was priceless! Now don't worry I haven't been teaching kids any wrong messages. Christmas is all about gifts, actually it is about a gift. The gift of God's love by sending His son Jesus to us. What better gift could there be?
When Christmas morning does come I guarantee you that the kids will run to the tree and when they see a present with their name on it they will tear it open eager to see what is inside. I have never been one to carefully open a present trying to save the pretty paper, nope I tear into it just like a kid. Wouldn't it be silly to receive a gift and not open it? Yep it sure would!
God has given us a gift and He wants us to open it. It is the gift of salvation through His son Jesus. Just like we give gifts to our children out of love, God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life! See I told you Christmas is all about gifts. God Bless you and Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas 2011
This Christmas season is starting off to be the best ever. We just finished our church's Christmas production " Welcome to our World". We had 5 shows and every night was a packed house. Most of my role was singing in the choir except for a short role as King Herod.
One of the most impressive things about the production this year was the presence of many teenage kids that were part of the children's ministry. I call them my "babies". I love to see the kids that were part of the kids church take part in ministry. I felt like a proud dad watching them dance,act and sing. The main role of Mary was played by Alexis and she did an excellent job. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was in kids church? Our kids grow up so fast. I hate to sound so cliche' but cherish the moments that they are young because before you know it they are all grown.
Christmas is a time of wonderful traditions. If you don't have a tradition yet this year begin one with your children. The most important tradition we can have during Christmas is to teach our children that Christ, Emmanuel came to our world. This is wonderful opportunity to help our children connect with the God who came to us. George Barna of The Barna Research Group says " if you want to change your society, connect kids to God". I encourage you to seek every opportunity to connect your kids to God. Our kids team is committed to partnering with parents to help them achieve this.
My prayer for you this season is to teach your kids that Emmanuel has come. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
One of the most impressive things about the production this year was the presence of many teenage kids that were part of the children's ministry. I call them my "babies". I love to see the kids that were part of the kids church take part in ministry. I felt like a proud dad watching them dance,act and sing. The main role of Mary was played by Alexis and she did an excellent job. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was in kids church? Our kids grow up so fast. I hate to sound so cliche' but cherish the moments that they are young because before you know it they are all grown.
Christmas is a time of wonderful traditions. If you don't have a tradition yet this year begin one with your children. The most important tradition we can have during Christmas is to teach our children that Christ, Emmanuel came to our world. This is wonderful opportunity to help our children connect with the God who came to us. George Barna of The Barna Research Group says " if you want to change your society, connect kids to God". I encourage you to seek every opportunity to connect your kids to God. Our kids team is committed to partnering with parents to help them achieve this.
My prayer for you this season is to teach your kids that Emmanuel has come. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Billy
In the spring of '99 we held our first of many outreach crusades. Up to this point we had been busing kids in from the community to take part of our traditional church VBS. Earlier that spring Bill Wilson from Brooklyn New York had visited our church to speak about his ministry to inner city children in Brooklyn. Bill is known throughout the world with his sidewalk Sunday School trucks and for having the world's largest Sunday School at 45,000 kids! After he spoke we had the opportunity to sit down with him and pick his brain. One question we had was it a good idea to combine kids from the traditional church and the kids from the projects who did not have a church upbringing. His answer was no! To be honest I didn't believe him thinking that well it is different here than there. Boy was I wrong! We quickly learned that it was not a good idea to combine the two. Thus we started a crusade to target the children in the community with the same message but with a method that was different.
Billy was 4 years old when he came on the bus with his older siblings, yeah we knew he probably wouldn't get it but we felt it was safer having him there for 5 nights rather than in the neighborhood where he was living. My wife agreed to help monitor the children to help maintain some type of order. The rules were simple: 1.stay in your seat 2. whistle means quiet 3. respect each other 4. have fun! Billy was in the section my wife was monitoring. Billy tried to break the rules by keep getting out of his seat and my wife kept telling him to stay seated. Billy did not like that and began to yell at my wife calling her "every name in the book" and threatening her that he was going to have her beat up. All for trying to keep him seated!
It would have very easy and some would even justify leaving Billy at home thinking that he was causing too much trouble. In my last post that is what a hired hand would do, give up because it is too much work for one kid. But the shepherd in us said to keep at Billy because he was created by God.
I was the bus driver on Billy's bus and kept him close to me so I could keep an eye on him. Billy kept coming every week and to be honest we didn't see much change. One night I was driving the kids back home and Billy was about 6 years by now and he still sat behind me. I was turning the corner and Billy leaned forward and ask me " Pastor John do you think Jesus loves Me?" I answered " yes Billy He loves you very much, do you love Him?" Billy answered "Yes!" My heart burst along with the heart of God. That day the angels rejoiced!
Billy soon afterward moved to another neighborhood beyond where the bus went and we didn't see him for several years. The next time I saw Billy he was a teenager and I asked him if he still loved Jesus and he said "Yep." I hope that Billy and I will meet again in heaven.
I share this story in seminars,teacher meetings and any chance I get. Why? Because God has a plan for every person, even if that person is Billy. And God has a plan for your kids too. I want to encourage you to give your kids every opportunity to connect with God. A good place is kids church where kids worship with kids and hear a message geared toward them to help them connect with their maker.
Billy was 4 years old when he came on the bus with his older siblings, yeah we knew he probably wouldn't get it but we felt it was safer having him there for 5 nights rather than in the neighborhood where he was living. My wife agreed to help monitor the children to help maintain some type of order. The rules were simple: 1.stay in your seat 2. whistle means quiet 3. respect each other 4. have fun! Billy was in the section my wife was monitoring. Billy tried to break the rules by keep getting out of his seat and my wife kept telling him to stay seated. Billy did not like that and began to yell at my wife calling her "every name in the book" and threatening her that he was going to have her beat up. All for trying to keep him seated!
It would have very easy and some would even justify leaving Billy at home thinking that he was causing too much trouble. In my last post that is what a hired hand would do, give up because it is too much work for one kid. But the shepherd in us said to keep at Billy because he was created by God.
I was the bus driver on Billy's bus and kept him close to me so I could keep an eye on him. Billy kept coming every week and to be honest we didn't see much change. One night I was driving the kids back home and Billy was about 6 years by now and he still sat behind me. I was turning the corner and Billy leaned forward and ask me " Pastor John do you think Jesus loves Me?" I answered " yes Billy He loves you very much, do you love Him?" Billy answered "Yes!" My heart burst along with the heart of God. That day the angels rejoiced!
Billy soon afterward moved to another neighborhood beyond where the bus went and we didn't see him for several years. The next time I saw Billy he was a teenager and I asked him if he still loved Jesus and he said "Yep." I hope that Billy and I will meet again in heaven.
I share this story in seminars,teacher meetings and any chance I get. Why? Because God has a plan for every person, even if that person is Billy. And God has a plan for your kids too. I want to encourage you to give your kids every opportunity to connect with God. A good place is kids church where kids worship with kids and hear a message geared toward them to help them connect with their maker.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
From my heart
As December is almost here my thoughts go back to December 1995. This was the time that I answered the call of God to be a Children's Pastor. I entered the ministry with a whole bunch of questions (the biggest one "are you sure you want me Lord"?). Surely there is someone better than me. But God was clear when He called me. Was I afraid? Absolutely! But with the "call" in my heart I said yes and I have not regretted it since.
Over the past 16 years I have seen children grow and some have even gotten married( I have performed a couple of weddings) and now their kids are in kid's church! Wow are those kids getting old! And oh boy the stories I could tell! One of these days I am going to put all the stories in writing and publish a book.
I have been asked what I enjoy the most as a Kids Pastor and the answer has always been the same. I love seeing kids connect with God. The times around the altar whether at kids church or in the neighborhood is a very special moment that I hold dear to my heart.
In January 1998 Andrea and I went to a children's pastors conference in Nashville Tenn. On the long bus ride home (I don't enjoy flying) God spoke to my heart about the ministry. God wanted me to shepherd His kids. Being an under shepherd to the Lord is a huge wonderful responsibility. If you would stop by my office you will see what I am talking about. On my back wall is a huge picture of a shepherd walking down the road with his sheep following. I want to help lead the kids down the road toward God. John 10 speaks about the shepherd and the hired hand. I don't do this to get paid or because it is my job. The call of God is what drives me and it is His love that compels me to do what I do.
On my door there is a sign ( I borrowed the quote from the Air Force and adapted it) it reads " my business is kids ....so every kid is my business. I truly mean this. I am here 24/7 for you and your kids, please do not hesitate to call on me.
I have created this blog to connect with you and to share what God is doing in the ministry and in your kids lives. Thank you for allowing to be a part of your family.
Over the past 16 years I have seen children grow and some have even gotten married( I have performed a couple of weddings) and now their kids are in kid's church! Wow are those kids getting old! And oh boy the stories I could tell! One of these days I am going to put all the stories in writing and publish a book.
I have been asked what I enjoy the most as a Kids Pastor and the answer has always been the same. I love seeing kids connect with God. The times around the altar whether at kids church or in the neighborhood is a very special moment that I hold dear to my heart.
In January 1998 Andrea and I went to a children's pastors conference in Nashville Tenn. On the long bus ride home (I don't enjoy flying) God spoke to my heart about the ministry. God wanted me to shepherd His kids. Being an under shepherd to the Lord is a huge wonderful responsibility. If you would stop by my office you will see what I am talking about. On my back wall is a huge picture of a shepherd walking down the road with his sheep following. I want to help lead the kids down the road toward God. John 10 speaks about the shepherd and the hired hand. I don't do this to get paid or because it is my job. The call of God is what drives me and it is His love that compels me to do what I do.
On my door there is a sign ( I borrowed the quote from the Air Force and adapted it) it reads " my business is kids ....so every kid is my business. I truly mean this. I am here 24/7 for you and your kids, please do not hesitate to call on me.
I have created this blog to connect with you and to share what God is doing in the ministry and in your kids lives. Thank you for allowing to be a part of your family.
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