Nuturing Young Spiritual Leaders by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 06/01/2009 at 2:00 PM

I applaud Ted for overcoming his fears and serving at his church's VBS. I wrote about my experiences working at VBS last year here and here. My experience was immensely rewarding. Next week, I'll once again head up the sixth grade Counselor in Training (CIT) program for my church's VBS.

In my experience, there are few things more rewarding than nurturing the spiritual lives of children. Too often these little ones are overlooked and yet they are precious to God (Matthew 18:6; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:14; Mark 9:36-37). This weekend I heard a sermon preached on Josiah, the king of Israel who was crowned at age 8.

The pastor brought an 8-year-old boy onto the stage and asked us to imagine the little guy being the president of the United States. He asked the boy, "How would you feel to be the president of the United States?" and the lad replied: "I'd be depressed as all get out!" (I was in the south, mind you.)

The congregation erupted with laughter at the boy's honesty, but the point hit home when we looked at 2 Kings 23:25:

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

There is immense potential for God to raise up powerful spiritual leaders from among the youngest of us all. One of them may be in Ted's pack of 10 little ones. You may not be a kid person, but at least recognize the implications of investing in the lives of children. Props to Ted for stepping out of his comfort zone on this one. It's a step toward the heart of God.

Nuturing Young Spiritual Leaders by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 06/01/2009 at 2:00 PM

I applaud Ted for overcoming his fears and serving at his church's VBS. I wrote about my experiences working at VBS last year here and here. My experience was immensely rewarding. Next week, I'll once again head up the sixth grade Counselor in Training (CIT) program for my church's VBS.

In my experience, there are few things more rewarding than nurturing the spiritual lives of children. Too often these little ones are overlooked and yet they are precious to God (Matthew 18:6; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:14; Mark 9:36-37). This weekend I heard a sermon preached on Josiah, the king of Israel who was crowned at age 8.

The pastor brought an 8-year-old boy onto the stage and asked us to imagine the little guy being the president of the United States. He asked the boy, "How would you feel to be the president of the United States?" and the lad replied: "I'd be depressed as all get out!" (I was in the south, mind you.)

The congregation erupted with laughter at the boy's honesty, but the point hit home when we looked at 2 Kings 23:25:

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

There is immense potential for God to raise up powerful spiritual leaders from among the youngest of us all. One of them may be in Ted's pack of 10 little ones. You may not be a kid person, but at least recognize the implications of investing in the lives of children. Props to Ted for stepping out of his comfort zone on this one. It's a step toward the heart of God.

Comments

[1. Dan Gill said the following at 6:44 AM on Jun 2:]

1

I've been teaching in our children's church (called PowerKids) for most of the last 20 years. I love it, both for what it does for the kids and what it does for me. We use a drama format, and those of us doing this have more fun than the kids do. They have so much love, and they accept love and attention so freely. We take a break for several weeks in the summer, and I really miss it then.

[1. Dan Gill said the following at 6:44 AM on Jun 2:]

1

I've been teaching in our children's church (called PowerKids) for most of the last 20 years. I love it, both for what it does for the kids and what it does for me. We use a drama format, and those of us doing this have more fun than the kids do. They have so much love, and they accept love and attention so freely. We take a break for several weeks in the summer, and I really miss it then.