Thursday, February 9, 2017

Sunday Reflections - February 9, 2017

   BREAKING NEWS…BREAKING NEWS…BREAKING NEWS

94% of Adult Christ Followers Made Their Decision BEFORE
The Age of 18

Got a minute? I’d like to chat with you about the kids - The Children of
Deer Flat.

According to The Barna Group, only 6% of adult Christians made their decision to follow God over the age of 18. That means 94% made decisions as children that follow with them throughout their life. Wow. That is encouraging. That means that there is no time like the present to be investing in their young lives.

I know that everyone must decide to follow Christ on their own and, as parents, we know we cannot make that decision for our children. We can, however, expose them to an outstanding environment (Deer Flat Children’s Ministries), where they learn the stories of Jesus, God and the Bible. We can also live a life for God that encourages our children in their own spiritual journey. 

A new study from LifeWay Research reveals that more than two-thirds of young adults who attend a Protestant church for at least a year in high school will stop attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.  As students transition from high school into the workforce or college life, they are faced with many choices - including whether or not to stay connected to the church. This makes reaching people while they are children even more important.  Let me give you some of the Best Benefits of having a Vibrant Children’s Ministry:

It promotes their eternal happiness.
It helps them make sense out of life. Only understanding Who made the world, what went wrong and God’s plan to fix it can explain this world we all experience.
It’s their best chance to accept Christ. Research has proven that kids tend to be more receptive to the Gospel than any other age group.
It helps avoid some negative outcomes of sin.
It can help counter balance worldly influences. Everyone knows the harmful influences present in our society. Kids need positive influences to tip the scale.
It can help them learn to love others. The 2nd greatest commandment is to love your neighbor.
It is something fun to do. Do you know who invented fun? God did.
It helps kids want to come to church.
It helps them make new friends.
It helps children get to know their pastors and leaders.
It gives kids some great memories. Those VBS and Sunday School years provide unforgettable moments and truths that last for years to come.
It allows them to make friends with adult volunteers in a safe context. In our culture child safety is a constant concern, and rightly so. But there is still great value in kids finding adult mentors in the church.

There’s far more benefits for Children’s Ministries than these, but you get the idea.  NOW, HERE’S THE DEAL – we ALWAYS need capable volunteers, people who love children and are willing to give some time, love and investment in these little lives that God has entrusted to us at Deer Flat Church.

This is a GROWING group! How exciting! Would you be willing to prayerfully consider being a part of the Deer Flat Children’s Ministry team? We have some urgent needs in the first hour. The opportunities to serve come in a variety of categories. Not everyone who works with the Children are teachers. So, don’t count yourself out so fast. Why not contact our Children’s Ministry leader, Julie Walker?  You can call her or email her and let her know of your interest. You can mark your communication card this Sunday, and Julie will call you. The future of Deer Flat Church is very bright. We expect the church family to continue to grow throughout 2017. We can use some great volunteers. I encourage you to step up and watch what a blessing you’ll be and what a blessing you’ll get!

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday! We have an unforgettable morning prepared for you! I LOVE MY CHURCH!

Loving Him and Loving You!

Pastor D

208.459.3845

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