Did you know that during the month of March we are praying together as a church for the children of BridgeWay? Here's some of what I shared this past Sunday with the congregation that will fill you in on what's happening...
Take a look at this tiny pair of baby shoes. It’s hard to believe that anyone could ever be small enough to actually fit in shoes this size. Here at BridgeWay, we have lots of little baby shoes entering our doors each week.
When you think of some of the faces that belong to these shoes, they are so sweet, so innocent, and so full of promise. At this young age, it’s hard to imagine what these children might grow up to be and adulthood seems so far away. I don’t have my own children but it seems like it was only yesterday that my nephew, Kipp, (who is now almost 14), was wearing lhis baby shoes. Whether we like it or not, the truth is that with every passing day, our children are developing, learning, being influenced, and leaving their baby shoes behind.
In the time that passes from childhood to adulthood so much happens to influence our children. And in the midst of this crazy world, God has chosen to use us...you and me...to help promote and nurture His plans in children’s lives. We take our rightful place as parents and the church community to help connect children to God through Jesus Christ so that today and when they have grown into that man or woman of the future, they will be all that God intends.
And so today I want to focus in on children’s ministry. Ministry to kids is a community effort which requires the talents and contributions of many. It’s a privilege to be able to lead this ministry, but the real shepherding, the real week-in-week-out spiritual nurture of these children is done by the volunteers who give their time to connect with kids and help them develop a relationship with God.
As I am asking for you to join me and the rest of the BridgeKids volunteer staff in strengthening BridgeWay’s children’s ministry. We have two ways for you to do that. The first is to take part in a church-wide challenge that will only take 20 seconds of your time each day.
We call it the 20/20 Challenge because we want to bring your understanding of children’s ministry into focus. We ask that you would set aside 20 seconds of your day to pray for the children at BridgeWay for the next 20 days. If you choose to accept this challenge, we’ve made it easy for you by providing short, written booklet of prayers for you to take before God each day. They are meant to help you focus your 20 seconds of prayer. (You may pick up one of these booklets from BridgeWay at the Welcome Center or at the 20/20 Challenge table.)
The second is to consider serving in BridgeKids children’s ministry. We have a vibrant team of volunteers and we’re looking to grow that team by giving you an opportunity to make an eternal difference in a child’s life. You can serve directly by helping in a classroom on the weekend (we’re looking for 40 people to sign up and do that) or you can serve indirectly by becoming an at-home helper, doing handyman task, using your organizational skills, etc. Stop by the table in the lobby for more information.
And, just because incentives are fun, anyone who does begin serving, your name will be entered into a drawing for an overnight get-away for two, including accommodations, dinner and breakfast at the Walden Inn in Greencastle.
Today begins a new day for children’s ministry. We have a marvelous opportunity to spiritually nurture all the “baby shoes” that run, hop and jump, crawl and skip in our halls each week. Please join with the team and me to begin this new season with 20 days of prayer to strengthen our efforts to disciple children to become all that God intends.
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