We have been looking at how we can help our young people not walk away from church and/or faith in their early adolescent years. This is the 5th key or formational experience in part of a series on Making Young Disciples. For other articles in this series check out the link at the bottom of this article.
Our children are acutely aware of the brokenness in the world which surrounds them. They have hopes and fears about the future. Too often we provide our children with the adult solutions to some of the world’s problems rather than presenting them with the issue at hand and inviting their suggestions for what could be done. The Internet is filled with stories of children today who are changing their community and the world in their own way. What might be possible with your children if they were given the opportunity?
A common scenario is that one of the parents will deliver a meal to a needy family in the community while the other parent stays at home to babysit the children. Or both parents are involved in meeting a local need and they hire a babysitter for the children for this time. How much better would it be, in terms of deepening faith, if the children were involved not only in the delivering or the outworking of this compassionate response but also in the planning and preparation of what is to take place.
It is time for some fresh thinking, some creative thinking, some risky thinking about how we can empower our children and give them a voice to be agents of change in our broken world.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15
Principles and practical ideas to inspire you as you implement this Formational Experience into your 10 year plan:
Principles
- How to we help children to respond to the needs they see when they feel so powerless? Underlines the importance of a family table routine where these issues cable explored together and prayed through. Plus the benefit of a mentor to talk and pray with.
- Take some risks – exposé our kids to the brokenness and allow the Spirit of God to work through our kids. Confront our kids.
- Embrace a heart of compassion.
Practical Ideas
- Post some stories of kids responding in our Aussie context so as to inspire others
- Post pictures and stories of kids from around the world helping each other ( World Vision website)
- Build connections between children in ‘sister churches’ eg.church has a link with community in Vanuatu and the children send letters to each other.
- Kids have taken up a cause to recycle food
- Encourage families to engage with opportunities in their communities, working with initiatives that are taking place eg. Community Christmas lunch for those in need.
- As a church name a day/month to participate in something – give suggestions
- Living on $2 a day challenge
- ‘Go, Grow, get together’ fortnight ‘– eg. Go to local shopping centre, help elderly, wash windscreens…
- Compassion close to home seems to be more difficult than responding to needs far away
- Kids are very compassionate and respond well to modelling of compassionate attitudes and behviours. DVD “Children see, Children do”
- Giving kids a platform to be honoured in their initiatives. Eg. Creating ‘Compassion Awards’ so the stories of what children are part of can be told publicly.
