Children Need Us, Not Programs

12/30/2006

Is it in the Bible to have a goal such as, “After three years we want to have these kinds of young people in the Church”?

Why not just pour our lives out for our children today and tomorrow and the next day and see what happens? I don’t think we need to have any goals. Why not just every day and every time we see a way to help or encourage or teach or walk with them or play with them—we just do that? Why not every chance we get for the rest of our lives, we do that and then just see what happens?

So having a program is not important?

We’ve had zero programs in twenty years.

The system is not important? Of what we should talk about or what we should do?

Jesus said, “I didn’t do anything I didn’t see the Father doing. I never said anything I didn’t hear the Father saying.” If we’d all cultivate that kind of relationship where we’re walking with God and with one another, then we’ll do ten times more than any program could ever do.

We are very inspired and believe that the next generation will become parents and bear children and become the workers in the church. So, at this very moment, we are very eager to lead them in the best way that we can.

Amen. If our average twelve—or fourteen—or seventeen-year old youth was to write on a piece of paper the names of their ten best friends, seven or eight of those ten best friends would probably be adults.

If not ten.

Yeah, maybe all ten. Our children’s friends are adults, not just those who are the same height. The children are not all running around separately from the adults.

So, adults in the Church have a very important or vital part with the children?

Yes, every day. Every single day. It’s a vital matter to the adults to be involved. A hundred mothers, brothers, sisters and children. We share the responsibility to make sure that when we see other children in our life, we look them in the eye and talk to them. We give them a kiss on the cheek and do things like play with their little cars with them or throw and kick a ball with them. We make sure that we are a part of their lives because God has invested in us His wisdom and His truth and they are only at the beginning of learning these things.

Who will they learn it from, a bunch of other midgets? A bunch of other short people? Are their peers going to teach them the Ways of God, and help them see how to apply the Word of God? Teenagers or younger ones don’t know the Truths of God. They haven’t suffered like we’ve suffered when it comes to embracing the Word of God. God has not given them the years, the wisdom and the knowledge. Children cannot disciple children and were never meant to.

If we are not their friends, many will grow up to be rebels, and they will fall away. Maybe years later they will come back or maybe they won’t. But it is not even necessary that we have to go through all of that because the children are meant to grow by our nurturing, wisdom, favor and love. Parents and other adults are to pour into the children. If we’re doing that every day, then it is far better than any program could ever be.

Your heart for the children is beautiful. Now the way to do that becomes the next question. I would suggest that the way to raise a child is the same way we raise each other as adults. And that is, “As we rise up, as we sit down, as we walk along the way.” That is Deuteronomy 6 and 11, and that is what God said is the way to raise children. “As you rise up, as you sit down, as you walk along the way, tell them about God’s love. Put it on the doorframes of your houses. Tell them about My great deeds.” That’s the beauty of relationships, with adults and children. The children are not a separate “thing” to us, and so it doesn’t need to be a program. It’s just our life and our heart to love them. Does that make you sad….or happy? (Laughter)

Because we care for the children, we want what is very best for them. We want to make sure we choose ways that bear fruit—that are God’s Ways—and not just “occupy them.”

•  Children Need Us, Not Programs