WHO.SOMEONE.CHILD OF GOD.

By Ronda Ziakris Education Director, Alberta Conference

Three of the most potent influences in the life of a Christian child are the home, school, and the church. What an excellent opportunity we have to paint a dynamic picture of love when these three spheres are working harmoniously together.

We are likely aware of the account in Luke about a woman afflicted with a physical ailment who touches Jesus' garment in hopes of healing. I recently attended a meeting in which the devotional from Pastor Wayne Williams challenged me to hear this story from a different perspective and, even more importantly, apply this story within the context of the youth in our Adventist schools.

The story begins in Luke 8:43 with the woman seeking to touch Jesus' robe — a simple, anonymous touch. However, Jesus stops and responds by asking, "WHO touched me?" (verse 45). When Peter questions Him about this, being as they are in a crowd of people, Jesus says, "SOMEONE touched me" (verse 46).

Notice that Jesus refers to the woman as "Who," then, after power has escaped Him, as "Someone," and then, after the woman identifies herself (because she realizes her touch won't go unnoticed), Jesus says, "DAUGHTER, your faith has healed you" (verse 48).

Jesus took this meek and ashamed woman from being a "who" to a "someone" to a "daughter." In a single moment, she went from being an unknown person in a crowd to a woman who was loved and valued beyond measure as a child of God.

How does this Biblical narrative translate to our Adventist school system? Let me illustrate using the Latin phrase omne trium perfectum, which means that "everything that comes in threes is perfect, or, every set of three is complete." We have examples of the strength of three all around us (tricycles, tripods, braids, etc.), but we also have a power of three within our Adventist framework: the home, church, and school.

I want to suggest that three of the most potent influences in the life of a Christian child are these three entities. What an excellent opportunity we have to paint a dynamic picture of love when these three spheres are working harmoniously together! I would encourage us to be the ones who make each child in our care feel like they have journeyed from being a "who" to a "someone" to ultimately a "child of God." Jesus did just that.

The ‘harmonious development’ of our youth is an intentional process that home, school, and church have to collaborate in creating.

Dr. Josh Anguiano-Vega, EdD | ValueGenesis Researcher La Sierra University