The Family & The Kids
I was really blessed last Sunday as I attended a talk for the parents-to-be given by our family group.
I was blessed to see our family group giving good practical and biblical advice to the young parents-to-be. The teachings were very real and practical. It would certainly help the younger couple to have a realistic picture of what life with children is really like.
At the same time, the commitment to Jesus and His cause remain strong at every station of their lives. They even shared about how they "use" their children to help in reaching pre-believers! This is most commendable and encouraging to hear and to observe.
Since we believe that children are a blessing from God, then it should not detract us from loving Jesus and loving people more. We must love the Giver (God) above the gift (our family).
During one the teaching session, Jimmy Chang shared about how one of his son asked him to explain what loyalty was all about. Jimmy used the story of Judas to share what loyalty is not when he betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. This illustration did indeed help the son to understand what loyalty was and wasn't.
But what really amazed me was that the young son actually asked Jimmy why Judas had to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins since God is so rich. Judas could have just asked God for the money!
Jimmy said that he was pleasantly surprised with the response and asked him where he had learnt this lesson that God is rich and that He longs to provide for us. The young boy simply replied that he had learnt in Hope Kids from Uncle Hong Teck. And this was taught many moons ago and not a fresh lesson that was taught on the previous week.
This is amazing to me. Children are learning much more than we even know. They are indeed like wet cement: whatever imprints we made, it would last for a long long time.
I am so thankful for our Hope Kids leaders, teachers and volunteers. All their effort had indeed not been in vain!
Church, when it functions well, is indeed a place where we can grow from the womb to the tomb. I am very glad to be serving in a church like ours. Despite all its flaws, it is still the radiant bride of Christ that Jesus is coming back for!
I was blessed to see our family group giving good practical and biblical advice to the young parents-to-be. The teachings were very real and practical. It would certainly help the younger couple to have a realistic picture of what life with children is really like.
At the same time, the commitment to Jesus and His cause remain strong at every station of their lives. They even shared about how they "use" their children to help in reaching pre-believers! This is most commendable and encouraging to hear and to observe.
Since we believe that children are a blessing from God, then it should not detract us from loving Jesus and loving people more. We must love the Giver (God) above the gift (our family).
During one the teaching session, Jimmy Chang shared about how one of his son asked him to explain what loyalty was all about. Jimmy used the story of Judas to share what loyalty is not when he betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. This illustration did indeed help the son to understand what loyalty was and wasn't.
But what really amazed me was that the young son actually asked Jimmy why Judas had to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins since God is so rich. Judas could have just asked God for the money!
Jimmy said that he was pleasantly surprised with the response and asked him where he had learnt this lesson that God is rich and that He longs to provide for us. The young boy simply replied that he had learnt in Hope Kids from Uncle Hong Teck. And this was taught many moons ago and not a fresh lesson that was taught on the previous week.
This is amazing to me. Children are learning much more than we even know. They are indeed like wet cement: whatever imprints we made, it would last for a long long time.
I am so thankful for our Hope Kids leaders, teachers and volunteers. All their effort had indeed not been in vain!
Church, when it functions well, is indeed a place where we can grow from the womb to the tomb. I am very glad to be serving in a church like ours. Despite all its flaws, it is still the radiant bride of Christ that Jesus is coming back for!
posted by Jeff Chong at 7:10 pm
4 Comments:
Wow, amen, yes as a volunteer with HopeTots, really agree with what you say - children really are a blessing from God! I like to joke that the little ones are angels in disguise... sometimes they disguise themselves so well tt i can't tell they're angels! ;) hee hee... just kidding!
Think if you become a father in future, your children'll be really blessed... :D and i'd really love to help take care of ur kids during HopeTots! :)
But in any case, you've been a great spiritual father to us in the tertiary congregation... i'm looking forwards to learning more of God's truths from you as i cross over into Adults ministry soon! :)
Jiayou for Jesus!
YA
Yup, it's very encouraging to hear that Family Group people are sharing tips on growing up children.
This is so very important and often overlooked. Church is not only about overseas missions or whateer.
Actually, sessions such as what you have described are very essential to parents in teh church.
I have seen cases of children not brought up properly by parents who are Christians serving in church. This shows that we cannot assume that well-intentioned believers instinctively know how to mould their children. Some are overprotective, don't know how to handle it when their children cry or test the limits, or have other problems.
Please organise more sessions for parents !
Who can help to arrange or facilitate these sessions? The Family Group and other people (e.g. school-teachers who are also members in the church , because school-teachers often have many insights into children that others don't since they deal with all kinds of children and clueless parents every day).
Noted and we will plan to do more of these sessions in days to come...
Thanks YA. Glad to have the chance to talk to you on Sat..
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