City Violence

In the city of Chicago we’ve had more than our share of violence. Since the start of the school year numerous kids and teenagers have been shot (some killed and others survived), and then there was the weekend of April 22nd. Over the course of the WEEKEND there were 36 reported shootings and 9 homicides - in ONE weekend!

What’s the solution? Is it tougher gun laws? Probably not. Is it righteous indignation? Closing our eyes to the problem and ignoring it or embracing it as a norm of city life?

Here’s my pastors thoughts on violence in the city.

 

Kids Just Get It!

“I want the white one!” These were the words of a a preschooler in our ministry. As one of the creative communication team members shared the message of the gospel using the Wordless Book and long after we had moved on to another part of our time with the kids, these words were shared.

Snack was done. The lesson was complete. And still she exclaimed: “I want the white one.” To what was she referring – to the message that she heard moments earlier. The white page simple referred to the forgiveness that God makes available to us in Christ! As we began involving kids in the process of a connecting activity of making “wordless” bracelets, she began crying because of what she didn’t think she could do. She sat in the corner to have what may have been a tantrum, and when asked if she was ready to join the group again, it was then that she exclaimed “I want the white one” – meaning she wanted the white part of the wordless bracelet. Still she wouldn’t rejoin the group, and it was then that another member of the team approached her, sat down beside her and as she expressed uncertainty about whether she was welcome back into the group, the leader then talked to her about the color “white” from the wordless book and reminded her of the meaning we applied to that color in the book and then went on to mention to her of what white stood for in the gospel message and that God forgives her and still loves her no matter what she does – she stopped crying and started asking questions and making statements like “you mean God’s not mad at me? But what if I do something really bad….” She was then told that we forgive her too, just like God does. As these words were shared, her face brightened with a huge smile and she reached up for a hug! This was a significant WOW moment for me as God reminded me of the significance and power of the Gospel to transform young lives – even the lives of very young children!! They can receive the gospel, intentionality is the key and refusing to let teachable moments slip us by because of how children are acting out at the moment. What a difference it would make if we look beyond their behavior and see their souls.

Aim Lower: Does The Church Get It?

Chris Brooks shared this and I thought I would share it here also. Many churches have a great grasp on this, yet many more don’t seem to have a handle on this. What is the evidence that you get it? Here are some questions:

Does your adult ministry space look great, while your children’s ministry spaces are in shambles?
What percentage of your church’s overall budget is allocated for Children’s Ministry?
Is children’s ministry at your church optional or a nonnegotiable factor?

Just questions to think about as we aim to impact!

Kidology Leadership Lab

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A Child’s View of God

 “But God is mad at me.” As I was getting ready to begin a Bible message in Kids Church, before I could even get started good, these words flowed from the lips of a 5 year old boy. His words stayed with me. His words caused me to wonder. His words caused me to pray. His words caused me to feel compelled to give this child and perhaps other children like Him a correct view of God. Did he get this thought and belief from home? From church? From Somewhere else? I’m not sure. But my mind reflected on some of the words I have in the past heard adults utter to children when trying to help them behave. Statements such as “You better be good, because God is watching you” came to mind. Could this child’s view of God have come from statements such as this that promote fear, i.e. be good or else. Well, I’m not sure, but it was a reminder to me of just how significant my role as a Children’s Pastor really is. It is an opportunity to help children understand who God really is, and to shape their views of Him and of themselves as it relates to Him. Ironically, the message the next week was on the love of God, with the big idea being “God loves me even when I do something wrong.” I viewed the contents of the message with this child and other children like him in mind!

Kyla’s Victory Over Cancer, Again!

CANCER, not a word any of us want to hear the doctors utter to us about us, or about those that we love. It’s definitely not a word that a mother wants to hear the doctors utter about their 5 year old child, but two years ago this is the message Diane heard about Kyla. These are the words I heard as the phone rang at around 7am. The beginning of a long battle that ended after several difficult treatments.

We celebrated her healing only to discover a year later that cancer had returned once again, and this time more aggresively. As Kyla faced her second battle with cancer, her mom and all of us who love her experienced hearts filled with fear, pain and despair – not this again! But the strange thing about it is that Kyla didn’t seem bothered by it at all. As she went in for her first surgical procedure, she was laying on her bed singing the words of a song. From her lips flowed the words “I’ve got victory, the sweet, sweet vicory in Jesus….”

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise… (Psalm8:2a)

Could it be that the faith of this 5 year old far surpassed and surpasses that of those of us in her life that have walked with God much longer and know of His power to heal and give victory? I think the answer is yes. No wonder Jesus holds children up before us and encourages us to follow their example – they teach us so much.

Kyla’s treatment became complicated along the way. The problem was that, according to the doctors, “she was healing too rapidly.” Why was this a problem? Because if they continued the treatment when there was nothing there to treat, there was risk of damaging her boday in a way that would effect her as an adult. If they stopped treatment, they risked having the cancer return later on at some point. It was a tough place to be in, but her mom decided to continue treatments, and Kyla recently completed her treatments for cancer and continues to sing praises to God. She loves Jesus, talks about Him everytime I talk to her on the phone, and she was correct – she does have victory in Jesus!

Kyla & her Mom Diane are able to smile once again. By the way, her mom recently told me that her hair is finally coming back, but she’s cute with or without it.