How do we grow churches. We don’t — God does! We work cooperatively with God, of course, but it is God who grows the Church. Read I Corinthians 3:6. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” The children of Trinity who attend our Trinity Learning Center, participate in our WELL, sing or play chimes in worship, attend Kid’s Night Out, Vacation Bible School, and a plethora of other children’s activities plant seeds by running to tell their friends about the love of Jesus they have discovered at Trinity United Methodist Church. Those kids then tell their parents that they want to go and the parents bring them to Trinity for worship, learning, and friendship. Our kids are “planting seeds.”
Next, these seeds need to be watered. Our team of faithful servant/leaders water the seeds which our kids have planted. They do this through teaching our children about God’s love for them and how important it is to love Jesus. Through people like Denise Davis, Vinny Thomas, Amanda Bova, Nancy Norrid, Ashley Baker, and the countless adult volunteers who serve, they are actually watering the seeds which the kids have already planted.
Then, in the mystery of God’s ways we begin to see exponential growth! These children delight our souls and inspire our hearts.
Is it any wonder Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14 and And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”?
Very special thanks to all who water the seeds our children are planting — seeds of faith that all may come to know Jesus who is The Son, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. — Colossians 1:15.
Have you hugged your child today?
Love,
Rev. Jim