Page 20 - Sept 2024 News On 7

THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." – Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

This past week, many children from our community participated in Madoc Baptist Church’s annual Vacation Bible School
(VBS). Throughout this week-long event, they learned about God’s love through an exciting underwater adventure. The
theme was "Dive Below the Surface to Build a Strong Faith!" which explored how deep and endless God's love is.

To wrap things up, the kids did a brief presentation before today’s Church service to share what they had learned. They
sang songs to express their gratitude, thanking God for who He is and all He has done for us. At its conclusion, Pastor Steve
West shared the important message that these children are more than just the next generation; they are the future worship
leaders, Sunday school teachers, VBS volunteers, elders, ministry leaders, and pastors who will continue our faith. Simply
put, these children are the future of the church.

Watching the VBS kids share what they had learned and seeing their enthusiasm was a powerful reminder of the
importance of nurturing our faith in the next generation. Once again, it struck me how vital it is for us, as a community, to
invest in our children’s spiritual growth.
As we enter a new school year, it’s essential for us—parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens—to reflect on what this
means for the youth in our community. Children all across our area are preparing to return to classrooms filled with diverse
ideas and values. How can we ensure they are equipped to navigate a world that often presents messages contrary to the
Christian faith?
Recently, I spoke with the father of a young man who is getting married next month. Since the couple is having a very short
engagement, I asked how the wedding planning was going and if it felt stressful. He mentioned that, while he wasn’t heavily
involved in the preparations, what weighed most on his mind was whether he had successfully prepared his son for
manhood.
He reflected on the burden a father has to help his son grow in his faith and get ready to take care of his future wife and
family. He pointed out that preparing a son for these responsibilities can't be done at the last minute when he meets
someone special. It needs to be done with care and thoughtfulness at every step of the boy's development.
This perspective emphasizes how crucial it is to instill strong values and a solid foundation in our children from an early
age. As Christians, we understand that Biblical wisdom serves as the best foundation for preparing them for a God-centered
future and the teachings found in Scripture offer timeless principles that can guide young boys and girls in their personal
development and relationships.

It's worrying to see how our public (and even Catholic) schools are being shaped by ideas that clash with the Christian
values we hold dear. We should be concerned about how these mixed messages could impact our children and society as a
whole.
As Christians, we must take back control of how our children are educated and ensure they learn essential Godly values.
Values such as the importance of knowing our identity in Christ; God’s perfect design for men, women and the family;
commitment; humility; hard work; caring for others; and self-sacrifice—are crucial lessons that need to be emphasized.
Reflecting on how we raise children with strong Christian values and faith can be challenging, especially in a secular world
that is increasingly opposed to Christianity. Given these challenges, we should consider the following questions:

To read more click here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NpQ2ljZXKxGIx8t11xgvyaR5mrxce3uBDLpxHtcHYMI/edit?usp=sharing

Tracy is a Marketplace Minister, licensed wedding officiant, life/marriage coach, and funeral celebrant.
For more info, visit xolifecelebrations.com.