I’m writing a quick post to let everyone know that I’ve been quiet for a week and will probably be quiet for another week because I’m on vacation! We’ve been on the beautiful island of Kauai in Hawaii for a week and leave tomorrow to spend a week in Orange County, California. I’m looking forward to In-n-Out, Sprinkles (haven’t been there but Jim Wideman told me not to miss it), taking Beth out to eat at Las Brisas on Laguna Beach, buying my very first iPhone at Mission Viejo (I’m saying goodbye to my Blackberry), and spending more quality time with Beth and Luci.
Have a great week! Remember that you are loved and appreciated. If you need anything - let us know.
I’m writing this post to you from my BlackBerry on my way to teen camp. I was just looking through the photos on my phone, and noticed one that I had taken at IKEA just last Saturday.
The photo was of the entrance to the Children’s IKEA area. On this arch are written the words: “For the most important people in the world.”
IKEA has figured it out. Most people reading this blog have figured it out at some point. Children are the most important people in the world.
So many times, it’s easy to forget this, even as children’s ministers. Children’s ministers spend so much time “doing their jobs” that they forget what’s truly important: building vital relationships with children to transform their lives for God.
You also have to remember to remind your pastors and church members why children are so important, because they don’t see the ministry at work week to week. They’re even harder to remind.
I don’t know about you, but I want to do with my life what is most important. Kids are that thing. So just remember: the world has figured out how important kids are. We need to remember that too. And that’s the way I see it.
This week I had the opportunity to speak at Camp Patmos to a group of two hundred 4th-6th graders. Camp Patmos is located on the beautiful Kelleys Island on Lake Eerie. My schedule doesn’t allow me to do much camp speaking (although I love it) but I accepted this invitation from one of my best childhood friends.
The theme of camp this summer was Pursuit. I decided to speak on Jonah each night (a guy who made one bad choice after another and was pursued by God) and Corrie Ten Boom each morning (a lady who made one good choice after another and pursued God). The story of Jonah is always a hit with kids. I wasn’t sure how Corrie Ten Boom would go but really felt compelled to share her story. These tweens loved Corrie’s story.
Question: How much time do you give to sharing the stories of great Christian heroes of the faith? As children’s pastors, we are the first one to shake our heads at Miley Cyrus and other famous people that kids choose as heroes.
Think about the lives of great people like Corrie Ten Boom, Jim Elliot, Amy Carmichael, Fanny Crosby, Martin Luther, Joni Eareckson Tada, and others. How will the kids in our churches learn about them if we don’t tell them? Are we justified in “preaching” to them about bad role models and heroes if we don’t tell them the stories of the good ones?
I think there needs to be a return to telling some hero stories - intentionally. That’s the way I see it.