I was fortunate enough to grow up in a church that loved children. Every year, we had a wonderful Vacation Bible School led by adults who understood the balance of fun and faith. Our pastor interacted with us and reminded us that church was not meant to be boring. And we had some caring adults who invested a lot of time helping us learn how to be the church. Royston First UMC reminds me a lot of the church where I grew up.
Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not flee from it.” As I think of my childhood, I am grateful for the people who helped train me in faith. Many of my friends from that church have also followed God’s calling into ministry, and I believe it is because of the firm foundation that began when we were children.
It is often said that children are the future of the church; but I believe kids are the church in the PRESENT DAY! When the disciples tried to keep the children away from Jesus, he instructed them to “let the children come to me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” (Matthew 19:14). And when asked about who was the greatest in God’s kingdom, Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:3).
Over the next few weeks, we have some wonderful opportunities to be in ministry with the kids from our church and in our community — beginning with Vacation Bible School next week. On Friday of next week, I want to invite you to join me for a prayer walk at Royston Elementary School beginning at 10 AM. Finally, we need 6-8 volunteers to help us hand out snow cones at Royston Elementary on August 7 from 4-7 PM. The kingdom of heaven belongs to our children — the kingdom that is yet to come and the kingdom that is here and now. I hope you will join me in being the church to advancing the kingdom.
Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to being with you in worship on Sunday!
Grace and peace,
Matt
Royston First United Methodist Church 