Homefront oct 2015

OCTOBER 2015

a spiritual parenting resource

faith community homefrontmag.com

God’s family cares for each other and worships God together.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

GETTING STARTED

14 NEED SOME DELICIOUS NEW RECIPES FOR YOUR CROCK POT?

26 INVITE YOURSELF INTO YOUR CHILD'S ENVIRONMENT

38 WHO'S DEFINING YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER?

OF WORSHIP AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S GLORY TOGETHER!

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Birds of a feather flock together!

We have all seen it: flocks of birds flying together in close formation—the flocks can vary in size—but flamingos fly with other flamingos, as do crows, geese, and most feathered beings. Birds live in community with other birds of their type.

It is the same with people; we tend to associate with others who share similar interests, morals, and values. We too see the power of community—especially when it comes to our faith in Jesus. We want to surround ourselves with other believers who can pray for us, worship with us, and come alongside us to offer support while engaging with a world that denies the truth we live for.

This issue is filled with ways to connect with your faith community. From the CONVERSATION STARTERS (page 20) where you can get to know the people in your faith community to the EVERYDAY MOM BLOG (page 32) where a third-grade girl reached out to be sure everyone in her community felt included, you won’t be disappointed.

You will want to plan to play GAME TIME (page 12) the next time you get together with your friends, neighbors, and faith community and be sure to serve the KIDS IN THE KITCHEN Pie Pops (page 18) when you do!

It is not surprising that Paul wrote in Hebrews to “not [give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (10:25). Paul understood the potential we have when we flock together! Our prayer at HomeFront is that you do as well!

CONTENTS FAMILY TIME Family Verse

5

Capturing the Season

6

Storytelling

8

Create

10

Game Time

12

Family Time Recipe

14

Kids in the Kitchen

18

Conversation Starters

20

Traditions

21

Prayer

22

God's Word

24

Worship

26

Blessing

27

Taking Action

28

Global

30

Feather Wall Hanging Birds of a Feather Wings Like Eagles

Flock Together

Crock Pot Luck Pie Pops

Who Do You Know?

Community Blessings Prayer Feathers The Early Church And a Child Will Lead Them

Royal Family Kids

Dominican Republic

INSPIRE, EQUIP, SUPPORT Everyday Mom Blog

32

Everyday Dad Blog

33

Tough Topics

34

Marriage

36

Student ID

38

Tot Time Rhyme

40

Pure Hospitality Door to Door

Debbie Guinn

Reality of Relationship

Editor in Chief David C Cook debbie.guinn@davidccook.com

It Takes a Community

Let’s Be Social!

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Sit at Home

Design, Layout, and Photography by Stephanie Reindel (stephanie.reindel@davidccook.com) © 2015 David C Cook

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It’s our pleasure to offer HomeFront in print!

We couldn’t be more excited to offer individual subscriptions as well as bulk orders delivered right to your doorstep.

Simply go to the link below to subscribe today:

homefrontmag.com

Michelle Anthony

Vice President and Publisher of Learning Resources | David C Cook

Here’s to a new step in our adventure of spiritual parenting!

T witter @TruInspiration

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s chosen teacher.

It is He who causes spiritual growth and formation when and as He chooses. As such, we have articulated 10 distinct environments to create in your home. We desire to create spiritual space, which we refer to as an environment, in which God’s Spirit can move freely.

God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in proximity to one another. The faith community serves to create an environment to equip and disciple parents, to celebrate God’s faithfulness, and to bring a richness of worship through tradition and rituals, which offer children an identity.

FAMILY VERSE Memorizing Scripture can be an incredible practice to engage in as a family. But words in and of themselves will not necessarily transform us; it is God’s Spirit in these words who transforms.

We come to know God more when we’re willing to open our hearts and listen to His Holy Spirit through the words we memorize. Have fun with this verse, and think of creative ways to invite your family to open up to God as they commit the verse to memory.

In this issue, we explore the environment of FAITH COMMUNITY. The Bible refers to this community in many ways: the body of Christ, the believers, and those who walk in the faith. Since God designed us to live in community, some experiences with Him can only be had within the context of relationships. In those relationships, we experience aspects of God’s character that are new to us, we receive a fuller picture of who we are, we get new pictures of what our Father’s love looks like, and we learn to embrace our true identity in Christ as it is affirmed and called out by those who love us.

Consider purchasing an 8" x 10" frame to hold your family memory verse each month!

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

c a p t u r i n g t h e s e as o n

Feather Wall Hanging God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in close proximity to one another. Our home is the nucleus in which we can live out this communal experience. More than any other group, our family teaches us how to love God and others.

Each family member has his or her own unique identity and beauty—but when we flock together, we become strong and can reflect God’s love in even more beautiful ways.

This month, create a wall hanging to represent the faith community within your family. Remind your children that all families look different. Allow each family member to find or purchase a feather to best represent themselves. Feel free to include your extended family as well. Talk about how your family’s faith has influenced your lives. Then, take all the feathers and hang them together.

Debbie Guinn Debbie is the Editor in Chief of HomeFront. She has over 25 years of experience working in children’s and family ministries. She is passionate about equipping parents to become leaders of God’s truth in their own households.

Instagram @homefrontsp

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • twine • feathers • stick or twig • board • permanent marker WHAT YOU’LL DO 1. Tie a single piece of twine to opposite ends of your stick to create a triangle.

2. Tie the feathers with twine and attach them to the stick. You may want to use a drop of hot glue to hold them in place.

3. Use the marker to write the word "Family" on your board. Depending on how well your board balances on your stick, you may want to hot glue them together.

4. Hang the wall hanging as a reminder of the beautiful community in your own family when you flock together.

Twitter @homefrontsp

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

sto ry t e l l i n g

Birds of a Feather Simon held the feather in his hand, carefully inspecting both sides of the soft, gray quill. He was on his way to the meadow to join some boys for archery practice, but Simon was in no hurry. Unlike most of the boys he knew, Simon wasn’t very good at shooting a bow and arrow. When the large, shiny feather caught his eye, he stopped to pick it up. The feather reminded Simon of what his father, Abba, had taught him earlier that morning.

“Hey! You should put it on the end of one of your arrows,” Joshua suggested.

“How good it is,” Abba read as he opened the scroll filled with Scripture, “when God’s people live together in unity."

When Simon and Joshua got to the meadow, they watched as the other boys practiced. Most of them hit the red bull’s-eye in the center of the target with ease. Joshua took a turn and hit the bull’s-eye, too.

Then it was Simon’s turn.

"It pleases the Lord when His children love one another. Do you understand?” he asked.

Liking the idea, Simon pulled an arrow from the pouch on his back. He untied the string at the top and replaced the old, worn feathers with the sleek, gray ostrich feather. Simon held up the arrow and smiled.

“Perfect!” Joshua said.

Simon picked up his bow and ostrich-feather arrow. He put the arrow in place and raised the bow. Slowly, Simon pulled back the string and POW! released the arrow. It sailed up ... up ... up ... over the target with a SWOOSH and landed in the tall grass on the far side of the meadow. Simon took a deep breath and sighed. The other boys laughed.

“Yes, Abba,” Simon answered.

“Yes, Abba,” Simon’s older brothers answered.

Simon’s little sister, Sarah, shook her head. “No, Abba,” she said.

Abba gently pulled Sarah onto his lap. “My sweet Sarah, God is our Father, which makes us His children. Just as your mother and I want you and your brothers to love one another, God wants His children to love one another as well.” Sarah smiled at her father and nodded her head.

But Joshua didn’t laugh. Joshua said, “Hey, Simon, try keeping your arm a bit straighter and loosen your grip on the bow so the arrow won’t wobble.” Simon practiced straightening his arm and loosening his grip on the bow. Soon he was hitting the target! Simon could hardly wait to tell Abba.

“When people share faith in the Lord,” Abba continued, “when they read the Holy Scriptures and worship together at the synagogue, they become like a family. Like birds with the same color feathers, our faith makes us alike. We stick together.”

As the boys walked home from the meadow, something shiny caught Simon’s eye. Could it be?

Yes! A big, glossy gray feather. An ostrich feather!

Simon ran to pick it up. “Here,” said Simon, handing the feather to Joshua.

Simon was still standing on the side of the road holding the gray feather when a group of boys ran past, each clutching a bow and carrying a pouch of arrows on his back.

“Really?” Joshua asked. “I can have it?”

“We are birds with the same color feathers,” Simon said. “We stick together.”

“You'd better get going, Simon!” one of the boys called.

“It will be dark before you get to the meadow!” another shouted. The boys laughed and kept running. Only Joshua, a friend Simon knew from the synagogue, stopped to wait for him.

by Kathryn O’Brien Wife, mom, and award-winning children’s book author, Kathryn serves as an administrator for Stoneybrooke Christian School in Southern California. She is most grateful for family, fun, and the daily grace of a loving God.

“Wow! Where’d you get that?” Joshua asked, pointing to the feather in Simon’s hand. “It looks like it’s from an ostrich.” Simon nodded.

Website kathobrien.com 9

FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

c r e at e

Wings like eagles INSTRUCTIONS Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.

1. Cut a piece of paper tape about two inches long.

2. Stick the three feathers' ends at the top of the paper tape so the feathers' tops stick out.

Isaiah 40:31 NASB

3. Grab your pencil.

4. With the feathers sticking out the eraser end, begin winding the paper tape down the pencil by starting at the eraser and working down in a diagonal fashion.

Have you ever worked or played so hard that you felt so tired you just couldn't do one more thing without laying your head down and resting your eyes for a bit? After rushing around from activity to activity and trying to remember all of our responsibilities each day, it's no surprise that we can often feel run down or low on energy.

5. On the piece of paper, consider and write how you can gain strength when you feel weak.

• What foods will you eat?

• When will you rest?

Here are two simple ways we tell our own four kids to gain energy: eat food or get sleep. However, we also have another powerful way to replenish energy—the Lord. Christ gives us strength and endurance to run life's race when we think we can't keep going.

• What can you pray?

• Is there someone in your faith community that can come alongside you?

As you see the feathers, remember that the Lord is our strength and we will "mount up with wings like eagles ... " when we wait for the Lord and ask for His replenishment (Isaiah 40:31 NASB).

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • scissors • wooden pencils

by Josh and Trisha Berry

• 3 feathers (for each pencil)

Josh and Trisha are the founders of Family Box. They have four children ages seven, five, three, and one. They reside in Nebraska and are passionate about bringing Christ into your family's home in a fun and easy way. Family Box is a subscription ministry with a monthly box of four devotions, four crafts, and four memory Bible verses.

• paper tape • paper

www.thefamilybox.org

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family time

game time

flock together

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • 6 pieces of paper numbered 1–6 • 6-sided die (use a regular die or create your own out of fabric or foam) BEFORE YOU START Number the pieces of paper from one to six.

Then spread them out in a large space. If you are playing with a small die, make sure there is something flat to roll it on.

Invite your faith community, friends, and neighbors to play this game together—the more the merrier!

TIME TO PLAY! Choose one person to be the first game master. This person will stand in the middle of the space with the six-sided die.

Have everyone else start by standing by one of the six numbers.

The game master will count down, “Three, two, one, go!” and everyone will need to move around the numbers. Then the game master will yell, “Stop.” (For added fun you can also play music to cue when people move and when they stop.) Everyone should stop at one of the numbers, and it’s okay to have more than one person at each number. The game master will choose an action (e.g., 10 jumping jacks, act like a lion, dance like a ballerina, sing “I’m a Little Teapot”). Once he has called out the action, the game master will roll the six-sided die. Anyone standing at the number rolled will have to do the called-out action. After that group completes the action, the game continues and everyone is able to walk, hop, skip, or run to another number. After a few rounds, switch the game master so everyone gets a turn to call out actions and roll the die.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

game time

REMEMBER In the game we just played, it was much more fun to do the actions when we flocked together with our friends.

The more people we had at a number, the easier it became to obey and to be silly.

God has created us to live in community. When we work or play together with others, we are experiencing part of who God has created us to be.

by Krista Heinen Krista is the Family Director at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI. Krista helps equip and support the families at Elmbrook through resources, events, and conversations.

Twitter @KristaHeinen

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

Crock pot luck I’ve worked at a church for more than 15 years now, and eaten somewhere around 3,000 lunches at my desk. Ministry can be much like parenthood—there is ALWAYS something that needs our attention—right now.

A few years back, one of my co-workers had the genius idea for an all-staff “crock pot luck.” She sent out an email inviting everyone to participate, and participate they did. Many showed up early in the morning to get their contributions going so they would be done in time for lunch. Some combined their efforts; one brought the main dish and others brought the toppings. They brought main dishes, side dishes, bread, and dessert—anything that would cook in a slow-cooker was offered that day. Others brought salads to go with the hot dishes. And quite a few just showed up to eat. But that didn’t matter, because for one of the few times in all the years I had been there, we ALL gathered in the staff lounge, got our yummy food, and sat down and ate together. It was a beautiful picture of love poured out in creativity, generosity, appreciation, gratitude, and fellowship.

This month, consider having a Crock Pot Luck with your faith community. Here are a few fun recipes to get you started.

by Donna Wells Donna’s Instagram pictures are a direct indication of what she’s crazy about: food and family. She loves spending time with her husband, daughters, and grandchildren. Donna serves as the Lead Associate at ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa, CA. Instagram @dwells44 14

FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

hearty sirloin chili Prep Time: 30 min. Cook Time: 6 hrs.

• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

Yields: 6 servings (doubles easily)

• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

WHAT YOU'LL NEED • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1/2 cup flour • salt and pepper • 2 pounds sirloin, bite-size chunks • 2 large onions, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped • 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped (optional) • 2 tablespoons chili powder • 1 tablespoon cumin • 1 teaspoon oregano • 3 cups beef stock • 4 cups canned crushed or diced tomatoes

• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed • garnish: shredded cheese, red onion, scallions, chopped fresh tomatoes, chopped jalapeño, sour cream, tortilla chips * For an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

WHAT YOU'LL DO 1. In a large resealable bag, combine salt, pepper, and flour. Toss sirloin cubes with flour to coat. Shake off excess flour.

2. Heat oil in large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sirloin in pot until browned on all sides. (This is the key to deep flavor!) Remove meat to a plate.

3. If necessary, add more oil to pan and add onions and garlic.

Cook onions and garlic over medium heat until onions begin to soften. Stir in green and red peppers (and jalapeño, if you choose), and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin and oregano. Stir until fragrant.

4. Combine sirloin and vegetables in crock pot, add broth, beans, and tomatoes, and stir gently until blended. Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 10 hours.

5. Serve with garnishes.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

Slow Cooker Cornbread Prep Time: 10 min.

Cook Time: 1 1/2 – 2 hrs.

Yields: 8 servings Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 6-quart

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

WHAT YOU'LL DO 1. Melt butter in a 6-quart slow cooker on HIGH heat, and spread it around so it coats the bottom of your slow cooker.

2. Stir together cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder in a medium mixing bowl. Then stir in buttermilk and eggs. Pour the mixture over the melted butter and spread evenly.

• 1/4¼ cup butter

3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.

• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

4. Use a toothpick to check for doneness. Insert the toothpick into the middle of the cornbread. If it comes out clean, it's done.

• 2 tablespoons sugar

5. Let cornbread cool slightly and serve with a spoon.

• 1 tablespoon baking powder • 2 cups buttermilk • 2 large eggs * For an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

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family time

fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

Apple Crisp with Walnut Topping Prep Time: 30 min.

Yields: 6–8 servings

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cook Time: 2–4 hrs. depending on heat setting (see below)

* For an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

WHAT YOU'LL DO

FILLING

FILLING

• 1/4 cup butter, melted • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar • 1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 6 large tart cooking apples, cut into 1/2-inch wedges (10 cups) TOPPING • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

• vanilla ice cream, optional for serving

1. Coat the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker with melted butter; set aside.

2. In an extra-large bowl, combine granulated sugar, flour, ginger, and cinnamon.

3. Gently stir in apples. Transfer apple mixture to the prepared cooker.

TOPPING 1. In a small bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

2. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle topping over apple mixture.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours, or on HIGH for about 2 hours (partially uncover in the last 30 minutes to harden the topping), or until apples are tender. If desired, serve with ice cream.

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family time

k i d s i n t h e k i tc h e n

pie pops These fun little Pie Pops will be a huge hit at your next faith community gathering. The best part will be that your kids will be able to tell everyone in attendance that they helped make them.

Prep Time: 15 min.

Cook Time: 15–20 min.

Yields: 16–18 2" pops

WHAT YOU'LL NEED • store-bought piecrust dough • ½1/2 cup all-purpose flour • canned pie filling (peach, cherry, apple, etc.)

• 6″ lollipop sticks (available at craft stores, including Wal-Mart) • 2 tablespoons butter, melted • coarse sugar or sprinkles for top • cookie cutters *F or an easy metric conversion chart, search the Internet for “metric kitchen.”

WHAT YOU'LL DO 1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Roll out pie dough on a floured surface about 1/8 inch thick.

4. Have your kids cut out shapes (2 matching for each pop) and place them on your baking sheet.

5. Allow kids to place about 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling on one cutout, keeping it at least 1/4 inch away from the edges.

6. Lay a 6-inch lollipop stick in center of shape, with the top of the stick near the top of the shape.

7. Next, have the kids place the matching shape on top and press together gently with their fingers to seal the pieces together.

8. Use a fork to crimp edges, being careful to seal edges around the stick. Then poke a fork into the top of the pie pop one time so steam can vent.

9. Brush top of pie with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.

10. Bake pies for 15 to 20 minutes until barely golden brown.

11. Cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

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FAITH COMMUNITY IDENTITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

co n v e r sat i o n sta r t e r s

This conversation starter will be a fun way for you to get to know the people God has placed in your faith community. Once you play this game one time, encourage your family to try and find out more facts to stump other members for the next time you play.

who do you

GET YOUR CHILDREN TALKING Each person takes a turn quizzing the group about something they may not know about someone in your faith community.

FOR EXAMPLE • Guess which person in our group spent a year serving as a missionary?

• Guess who in our faith community went to college in another country?

know?

• Guess who in our church played semi-pro baseball?

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family time

traditions

Community blessings

A few years ago, our church changed the way While that was a beautiful thing in a formal we dedicate babies and children. We moved setting, blessing our children can be part of dedications to an intimate time outside the busyness your normal rhythm. In Michelle Anthony's book, of a normal weekend service. We created an Becoming a Spiritually Healthy Family, she says, intentional environment for families to invite the "In the midst of raising our children in imperfect people they want to stand with circumstances, we cannot afford them as they raise their child. to neglect serving and blessing We encouraged them to bless others in our local churches. We Child dedication is a that child together as a group. build "family" in the truest sense of the word when we do so, and the gathering where parents join In our dedication class, dividends are eternal." (p. 124) we talk about the power of

with their faith community

blessing our children as well I encourage you to build a to make a vow to become as give them examples of how tradition of blessing your children the spiritual leaders of their to do it. At our most recent with your faith community. It can dedication service, there was be as simple as starting a tradition children's faith. a family dedicating their two of blessing at birthday parties, or preschool-aged children. maybe at your weekly life-group They had taken what we had gathering. I have even seen some talked about in our class and told their life group parents ask friends and family to send blessings and family about the differences between a regular on important dates like the first day of school or prayer and a blessing. They explained that a prayer graduation. Whatever you choose, blessing your is having a conversation with God and a blessing is children and the children of your faith community is speaking truth over our children and to them. When an act with eternal rewards. it came time to speak the blessings, they passed the children around from person to person. Each

by Angelina Pavone adult either knelt down to look in the children's eyes Angelina Pavone is the Early Childhood Director at or picked them up to their own level to speak their ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa, CA. She loves being blessings over them. There was not a dry eye in their a wife and a mama to her two boys as well as serving the circle or with our staff! It was absolutely beautiful. families in her ministry.

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family time

p r ay e r

prayer feathers If you are a part of a faith community, you know they are the people you call first when you need prayer. You understand that you can count on them to stand in the gap for you and your family when things are rough. They will also be the first people you call when God has answered your prayer and you want someone to rejoice with you.

This month, as a way to remember the prayers of your faith community, create these paper prayer feathers and write their requests on the feathers. Place the feathers in a prominent place in your home so you see them often and remember to pray. Be sure to add praise reports on the feathers too. Doing this will encourage your children to pray for others and not just for themselves. It will remind them that we are all part of one big family that cares for each other and worships God together.

by Debbie Guinn WHAT YOU’LL NEED • colorful paper • scissors • feather template (on page 41) WHAT YOU’LL DO 1. Trace the feather template on the colorful paper.

2. Trim the outside edge of the feathers.

3. Write names of people to pray for, prayer requests, or praise reports on the feathers.

4. Find a time to pray together for your faith community.

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g o d ’ s wo r d

the early church And so it went, at house after house in Jerusalem.

But it didn’t stop there. And it didn’t stop then. In fact, the invitation to live like Jesus’ first followers is still offered to us today! What will we do? How will we respond?

Parents: The following is a story based on Acts 2:42–47.

Jerusalem was abuzz with excitement. Something was happening. Something big.

HEAR IT

The young couple, along with their three small children, felt energy in the air as they walked down the dusty road to the meeting place. As they entered the already-crowded house, they were greeted with hugs, kisses, blessings, and smiles. As the family made their way further into the home, the husband met his wife's eyes and winked. They were surrounded by people who loved them, despite hardly knowing them at all!

Have someone in your family read Acts 2:41–47.

Explain how this was the beginning of what we call the “church.” Following Jesus meant these people's lives were characterized by things such as generous sharing, enjoying meals with each other, healings and miracles, worshipping God together in prayer, and learning from the apostles’ teachings.

This couple, like so many others in the room, were new to this group of Jesus followers, and they were almost in disbelief of what they were experiencing.

As they scanned the room, they agreed they had never seen life lived like this before!

Discuss the similarities and differences between how those in Acts 2 experienced “church,” and how you experience being part of the church now.

People of all ages, backgrounds, and economic levels were under one roof, eating together, praying, laughing, sharing stories, and crying together.

DO IT

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to creatively “be” the church in a way that helps another Jesus follower feel supported, loved, and provided for.

Here are some ideas:

The two older men sitting against the wall had been bitter enemies for decades. Then they heard about the One who forgave even His executors, and amazingly, the men forgave each other and were now sharing a meal!

1. Visit someone who is sick or hurting. Have your children paint pictures, make cards, etc., to remind your friend that he or she is not alone.

Pray for healing, peace, and strength.

The woman pouring wine had been sick to the point of death just a week ago, and the doctors had given up on her. This group of believers-in-Jesus went to her house and prayed for her ALL night, and in the morning she woke up miraculously healed!

The man near the doorway had lost his job and had no money for food for his family of eight. His neighbor, the elderly woman holding the baby, sold some of her family’s land and gave the man enough money for three months of food!

2. Share a meal in your home with a person or family with whom you would like to display God’s love, generosity, and hospitality.

3. As a family, choose several possessions and sell them (on craigslist.com or at a garage sale, for example), and give the money to a brother or sister in Christ with a financial need.

by Jason Kliewer

It was examples like these, acts of love and generosity, that had attracted the couple to the group and to Jesus. If His followers can serve each other this well, they thought, Jesus must be who He claimed to be. Their response was to follow Him too!

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Jason is a dad of two daughters and a Community Pastor at ROCKHARBOR in Costa Mesa, CA. He has a Masters in Biblical Studies from Grace University in Omaha, NE.

FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

family time

wo r s h i p

And A Child Will Lead Them My earliest memories of “big church” were sitting with my mom and singing hymns at the top of my lungs. I would pretend to read the lyrics from the hymnal and everyone around me would say how cute it was. There were no musical instruments at our little church, so you can imagine how loud I really must have been with just voices to carry the tune.

I was born with a birth defect that caused me to be completely deaf in my right ear. Even so, as the years went by, I found a rooted love of all types of music. This led me on a journey to explore gospel music, southern gospel, and eventually mainstream worship music. Regardless of the genre, from pop to jazz, music has always been spiritual for me. It has been an incredible gift as a way to learn Scripture and to learn how to worship.

Now, as a parent, I have seen the effects of how exposing my children to different styles of worship music at young ages is influencing them. My oneyear-old daughter, Mazie, who was born with the same birth defect as I was, is already showing signs of being a music lover. I remember when my son James was two, we started bringing him in to worship with us on the weekends. He would sing at the top of his lungs—yep, just like mama! We were worshipping together as a family and showing him what it looks

like to worship as a faith community. We were amazed at how quickly he learned the songs and would just randomly start singing them at home while playing with his super heroes.

Isn’t it interesting that at the youngest of ages, worship is defined and understood within the confines of music and music alone? Music is a great starting point for understanding how to worship our Creator. This foundation has allowed me to further expand my definition of worship and recognize that worship exists in other ways, too—sacrificial giving, prayers of adoration, and so much more. It’s an obvious practical step to suggest that as parents we invite our children into our environment of worship in “big church,” but wouldn’t it be interesting this month if you, the parent, invited yourself into your child’s environment of worship? To have our kids see us worshipping alongside them in ways we might see as silly or goofy is actually an opportunity to affirm their approach to worshipping their Creator. In this way, we allow their foundation to be further cemented by our example. My prayer for you this month is that through these practical steps you will have a hand in shaping the next generation's approach and understanding of worship that includes, but is not limited to, music.

Parents: Consider joining your children in their environment this month and allow them to lead you in worship.

by Keri Larson Keri Larson is a studio-session singer in Los Angeles, CA. She is the co-creator and co-producer of The Black & White Sessions, a YouTube channel project that launched in April 2015. She lives in Costa Mesa, CA with her husband, Tommy, and her two children, James and Mazie.

Website theblackandwhitesessions.com Instagram @theblacknwhitesessions Twitter @blknwhtsessions YouTube the black and white sessions

Mazie Larson, one year old

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family time

blessing

not as single individuals seeking God alone.

We are one body because we are made that way through Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:12–13).

READ Parents: Read 1 Corinthians 12:27 over your children:

I love seeing my kids interact with other kids from our faith community in worship, friendship and celebration. Once these relationships are built, imagine how a group of friends can make an impact for Christ in their own generation.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

During the exile, Israelites began to gather together in special meeting places. It is likely the main focus of these early gatherings of Jewish people, or synagogues, was simply to maintain their identity as a people living in a foreign and pagan country. The synagogue was a perfect example of a faith community as it evolved into schools, meeting places, courtrooms, and a place of worship. This meant that worship and study, friendship and community celebration, and even the governing of the community, were all done by the same people in the same place.

BLESS Pray the following blessing over your child: (Child’s Name), may you live a life worthy of your calling to the body of Christ. May you be completely humble, gentle, patient, and most importantly, show love to others.

by Matt Richards Matt works with elementary students at First Christian Church in Kernersville, NC. He and his wife have four boys and three simple house rules: Love God, Love People, and Love Sports.

The new community of early Christians was born out of the synagogue. Believers were to grow together in faith communities,

A BLESSING CAN BE A PRAYER OF COMMISSION, A BIBLE PASSAGE, OR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. BLESSINGS CAN BE SPOKEN OVER A CHILD FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECLARING GOD’S PROTECTION, JOY, AND WISDOM OVER HIM. 27

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ta k i n g ac t i o n

Royal Family KIDS is the nation’s leading network of camps and mentor clubs for children of abuse, abandonment, and neglect.

In 1990, Wayne Tesch left a church position to launch Royal Family Kids’ Camp, Inc. In 2008, the organization expanded to include a school-year club and mentoring program, and changed its name to Royal Family KIDS®.

In 2012, Royal Family KIDS served over 6,000 children in 160 camps in 35 states and 11 international countries.

Eighty thousand children have been enrolled in the camps since 1985.

Wayne and his wife, Diane, feel a profound sense of joy and urgency to reach out to the battered, abused, and neglected children in the United States. They want to see every foster child, ages 6 to 12, experience a life-changing camp, club, and mentor. Wayne and Diane have seen thousands of volunteers and dozens of supporting churches all over America help out … but they still have a long way to go.

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ta k i n g ac t i o n MISSION STATEMENT

DONATE

VISION

Royal Family KIDS is proud to have people like you who stand alongside us. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of children in foster care!

Every foster child, ages 6 to 12, experiences a lifechanging camp, club, and mentor.

Create life-changing moments for children of abuse.

Your support is very important to us. We want to see 100,000 kids experience a life-changing camp, club, and mentors program. You can help us change the life trajectory of children in need.

PURPOSE

TO LEARN MORE OR DONATE, VISIT:

MISSION

royalfamilykids.org

Mobilize the faith community to confront child abuse.

STRATEGY Launch and sustain camps, clubs, and mentors.

VALUES • Treat people royally • Keep moving forward • Make moments matter

CHILDREN IN THE U.S. FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

408, 425

GIRLS IN FOSTER CARE PREGNANT BY 19

50%

PRISON INMATES WHO WERE ONCE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

74%

YOUNG ADULTS INCARCERATED WITHIN 2 YEARS OF "AGING OUT" OF FOSTER CARE

50%

DEATH ROW INMATES WHO WERE FORMER FOSTER CARE CHILDREN

80%

Statistics provided by the US Administration for Children and Families, the US Department of Justice, the Casey Foundation and the National Foster Care Coalition. 2010-11

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family time

g lo b a l

Where in the World Is ...

dominican republic Atlantic Ocean

Awakening a compassionate heart and a global mind-set in children for people beyond the boundaries of their own neighborhoods.

Haiti

A country occupying the eastern twothirds of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti occupies the western third) between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Dominican Republic has an area of 18,815 square miles. It has a total coastline of 800 miles, and shares a border with Haiti.

NOW THAT WE KNOW THE LOCATION OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, LET’S MEET ITS PEOPLE. There are more than 10 million people who call the Dominican Republic their home.

If you lived in the Dominican Republic you would most likely eat something called Mangú—a very popular dish consisting of mashed plantains, usually served with scrambled eggs, fried Dominican “salami,” and queso frito (fried cheese). It is mainly served as a breakfast dish, and sometimes it appears on the dinner table.

If you went to church in the Dominican Republic, you would most likely go to a Catholic church.

To talk to your friends in the Dominican Republic, you would speak Spanish. To say hello in Spanish you would say: "Hola," pronounced "oh-la," remembering to keep the "h" silent.

Dominican Republic

POPULATION 10,780,670

Caribbean Sea

LANGUAGE Spanish

RELIGION

Catholic 57% Protestant 23% Unaffiliated 18%

DID YOU KNOW ?

• The Dominican Republic is the oldest country of the Americas, and the first place Christopher Columbus reached in 1492.

• The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world with a Bible on its flag.

On July 5th, 2015, twenty anxious high school students and six undercaffeinated adults embarked on an adventure that would soon become a milestone in their individual spiritual journeys. For sixteen days in the Dominican Republic, this team from ROCKHARBOR in Costa Mesa, CA witnessed God's almighty power.

They first partnered with Niños de la Luz, a ministry that seeks to house and help homeless, abused, and abandoned young boys in the northern part of the island. After just a few short days there, the team moved to the southern end of the island, where they worked with David C Cook and El Circulo Church. The three partnerships worked together to put on The Gathering, a conference designed to equip, refresh, and rejuvenate family pastors and youth workers from all over the Dominican Republic. Then, for five days, the team travelled back and forth from the capital city to Cotuí (a small rural town in the middle of the island). There, the team helped a church put on a VBS for about two hundred children. Through the craziness of it all, the team watched as God poured out His love on the children of a very poor, very violent community. One thing was evident in every step of the journey: God is continuously on the move in His global faith community.

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HOME | ABOUT ME | EVERYDAY MOM | EVERYDAY DAD PURE HOSPITALITY | VANESSA HUNT

In our home, the arrival of church summer camp is always a momentous event—one that we look forward to with excitement and sometimes even a little bit of nervousness. This year, as the first day approached, my daughter and I had several conversations about friendships and the importance of including others. While I could tell she was a bit worried about the possibility of not knowing any of the girls in her small group, she was quick to assure me that if she didn’t know their names, she would simply just ask them. As we arrived at the church early in the morning and joined the throng of bleary-eyed kids, their parents clutching their coffee cups, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that my daughter had several familiar faces in her group. The kids gathered together as parents stood off to the side and, after chatting for a few minutes with my own friends, I began to notice something happening with my daughter’s group. It was very subtle. So subtle that I’m pretty sure I was the only one who noticed. This subtle happening was so precious and yet so powerful. As the group got larger, there were obviously some girls who knew each other really well and others who did not.

But then, I watched as the girls all began introducing themselves to each other, welcoming the new as warmly as they did the familiar. One girl, who arrived nervous and tearful, was quickly surrounded by others who were ready to comfort her. Several moms were taking the time to whisper in their daughters' ears reminders of how to be a friend, of how to make sure no one felt left out.

There I stood in the church lobby at 7:30 in the morning witnessing something incredible. What I witnessed was inclusiveness. What I witnessed was young girls extending to other young girls. What I witnessed was hospitality in its purest form. And in a culture where all we seem to hear about are the cat fights and the bullying and the pettiness among girls, today I got a different glimpse. A glimpse of the future.

Of young women with a foundation based on a willingness to tend to the needs of others. It filled me with so much hope. And it reminded me of the responsibility we have to teach our children to reach out, include, and offer friendship.

We have to help them realize (and we as their parents have to realize) that when we are secure in who we are, it takes nothing away from us to extend to someone else.

We can start by adjusting our definition of hospitality. Because, it really has less to do with our homes and more to do with our hearts. For some of us, extending ourselves in this way comes naturally, while for others it may feel awkward and uncomfortable. But the reality is that God calls all of us to act hospitably. 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” I don’t know about you, but this sounds far more like a command to me than it does an option. So, what would happen if we started looking at this differently? What if we realized that hospitality is simply about loving and caring for others? It’s about them, not about us. And that this can take place anywhere. In our homes, in line at the grocery store, or even in the church lobby on a Monday morning as a group full of third-grade girls head off to summer camp.

Vanessa Hunt is the author of the lifestyle blog At the Picket Fence where she hopes women of all ages and stages will feel folded into a community. At the Picket Fence is the place to meet for inspiration, encouragement, ideas, laughter and support. Vanessa writes and creates from her home in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon and, while she doesn't hug trees very often, she does take her coffee very seriously. She shares her home with her husband Robb and their two children.

Website atthepicketfence.com

Facebook At The Picket Fence

Twitter @meetuatthefence

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FAITH COMMUNITY | homefrontmag.com

BLOG

HOME | ABOUT ME | EVERYDAY MOM | EVERYDAY DAD DOOR TO DOOR | RANDALL MCKEOWN “It appears that way, yes, sir.”

We signed up for our church's VBS street team and came up with a strategy and script to go door-to-door and invite kids to VBS. Regardless of whether there were kids in the house, we asked each person how we could pray for them. I was a little over excited at the idea and grabbed about 100 flyers with no idea what we would be walking into.

He shook his head and started crying again. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card, said he was a graphic designer, and would do anything our church wanted. He asked if we had a website or needed flyers made or anything like that. I thanked him and gave him a VBS flyer and invited him to join us at church on Sundays. He gave me a big bear hug and smiled down at the kids, shaking his head the whole time in disbelief.

Walk, knock, and pray we did.

We walked right into some very heavy households.

One in particular, was a house with an unusual number of people inside. It seemed like there was some kind of party, but no one was smiling or having a great time. We said our rehearsed lines. My kids do all the talking, I do the praying.

We hit a lot of houses in the weeks leading up to VBS—all over our city. We put our hands on so many people and would open our eyes to see them in tears.

People dealing with the death of a sister, father, or friend; serious health issues, from a child with leukemia to a mother just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“Do you have any kids?”

“No.” “Is there something you would like us to pray over?”

There was the woman who lived alone who had never seen or met her grandchildren but desperately wanted to, and stared longingly at my 10, 9, 6, and 3 year olds.

“What?”

“We would like to pray for you.

How can we pray?”

I have my kids memorize one short Scripture a week, and that week was 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God’s love and power was on full display shining through four little prayer warriors who didn’t know any better.

“Someone very close to me just died.”

I realized right then that my happy, goofy kids and I had just interrupted a memorial service.

“Let’s get some hands out, kids,” I said, and the four children and I all put our hands on him and prayed over him and his family. We opened our eyes to see tears streaming down this man’s face. I didn’t want to intrude any further, so I expressed my condolences, wished him well, and turned to walk away.

I couldn’t help but imagine how we must have seemed to the people on the other side of those doors. They were just living their lives, minding their own business, burdened with the trials, sufferings, and weight of the world. Strained by their worries and pain.

And God sent four little prayer warriors marching right up to their doors to shower them with love and prayer.

He came out and stopped us on the driveway.

“That’s it? That’s what you came for?”

I hope each one was reminded that he or she wasn’t forgotten, that someone cared and now shares those burdens with them.

“Yes, sir, that’s all.”

“Who are you? This is just what you do?”

I got the impression that he had been waiting for the presentation, for us to pitch him something, ask for a donation, or sell him salvation.

Randall McKeown Randy is a single father of four children who lives in Orange County, CA. Aside from coaching baseball, football, and taking his kiddos on campouts, Randy is active in various ministries that serve broken and lost souls.

“We are from a local church, just out praying for people and inviting people to our VBS.” “So God sent you here to pray for me today?”

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to u g h to p i c s

reality of relationship Chances are you're reading this magazine because the idea that God created the faith community resonates within you. Perhaps you are involved in a life-giving faith community at your church and these people are like your family or perhaps you are longing for deeper relationships and looking for tips on how to build one for the very first time. Wherever you are, you know the reality of this relationship stuff is tough!

Everyone has challenges with family and faith community. This is because relationships are so important. God says the church is the bride of Christ. It is His perfect plan for spreading the gospel. We must commit to being part of community in the good and in the hard times.

When you press in and come out on the other side of challenges within a faith community you will be truly fulfilled and alive because it is what you were made for.

During the fall of 2013, my family felt God calling us to believe for a way to walk deeper with a faith community. We had community in our neighborhood, our church small group, at work, and we even had close relatives who lived in town, but we longed for a day-to-day faith community we would call our family. We wanted to see the good, bad, and ugly, and love each other in spite of it all. We desired for our kids to have role models in their lives. We wanted to press into those challenges. Ultimately, we wanted to live out the Acts 2:42–47 community we saw in God’s Word.

For us, this new step of risk came in the form of buying a house where two newly married couples and another single young adult eventually lived with us. We had family night where we shared life, ate dinner, and spent time together every other week. It was not without challenge, but we saw God fulfill His promise to us of pressing into the challenge and breathing life into a new faith community.

WHERE CAN YOU PRESS INTO COMMUNITY IN THE SEASON AHEAD?

Our story is just one simple slice of what God has in mind for a faith community. Being a part of a faith community is God’s plan for His church, for His family—for your church and for your family. Over the past 10 years we have seen friends on scooters and catching rides to work only, in turn, to have their faith community present them with a new car. We have seen people share their most hidden secrets of addiction and a faith community hold their arms up when divorce was a very likely option. However, we have also seen the mundane realities of a family whose husband is out of town have a meal made and brought to them. We have seen bedtime phone calls to a member of a faith community who just needed to experience the love of her heavenly Father that could only come through another’s humanity.

God offers us all this beautiful mosaic of family He calls faith community with its joys and challenges.

by Noah Hutchison Noah and his wife, Allison, have been married for six years and have two beautiful girls, Grace (four) and Harper (two). He works as the Children’s Pastor at Antioch Community Church in Waco, TX. He is passionate about equipping leaders and seeing families resourced so homes are discipleship centers that work in tandem with the local church.

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God’s gift of community is a remarkable resource to sustain his people from the cradle to the grave.

The Scripture uses “one another” over and over. We are care for one another, serve one another, receive praise from one another, be devoted to one another, forgive one another—and the list goes on. I remember a time in my marriage when the “one anothers” were given to us through our faith community.

(John 13:34–35)

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support

m a r r i ag e

it takes a community Several years ago, while struggling to balance the responsibilities of work and family, I developed a couple of close relationships with two men on our church basketball team. One man was a father of two children much older than mine and the other was a peer.

Both were devoted husbands, fathers, and a part of our faith community.

At the time, I was burdened with feelings of isolation as a church leader.

My marriage was going through the challenges and transitions of two small children and living a great distance away from family and established friends. The older man, affectionately called Big Mike, came alongside me often to ask, “How are you doing, buddy?” He would then tell me, “Hang in there—know that we love you and your family.” Big Mike and his wife loved on our kids much like an uncle and aunt. He often invited our family to his home after church for homemade dinners and NFL Sunday games. We often laughed together until we cried and went home with sore face muscles.

“go to” couple for attentive ears and comforting presence. They built-up and encouraged others even while going through their own problems. They prayed with and for the families in our church and were always available in times of need.

Big Mike and his wife modeled their love for God and family to several couples in our faith community.

When younger couples were struggling with their marriages they were the

Website Therelationshipwarehouse.com

As I look back, I see God’s hand in our marriage then. We weren’t in a crisis, but very well could have gone into one if we had not experienced the safe community of Big Mike and his family. Their love and care was more caught than taught. Unconditional love and support are powerful and last a lifetime. It is wise to pursue and receive the available benefits of faith community in order to establish a lasting and healthy marriage.

by Guy Grimes Guy is a the Founder and President of The Relationship Warehouse in Costa Mesa, CA. He is a counselor, professor and public speaker.

His newly released book, Relationship Matters, is available everywhere books are sold.

Facebook Relationship Matters Foundations for Lasting and Healthy Relationships Twitter @GuyGrimes

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st u d e n t i d (6 t h

to

8th grade)

guard your heart Facing nearly constant pressure from peers, popular media, self-doubt, and even adults in his life, my son struggles to truly know who he is.

A few years ago my wife and I took my kids to Legoland for a day of fun together in the theme park. During the day, I told each of my four children that they could pick out one souvenir and we would buy it for them. Three of the kids picked out what they wanted immediately, but my middle son, Hank, was visibly perplexed and could not find what he was after. In an effort to help, I asked him what he was looking for, to which he replied, “Dad, the only thing I want is a Legoland Finger Necklace. Would you help me find it?”

The trouble we had at Legoland when he was small happened because he had redefined something that already had a name and an intended purpose.

Sure, you can put a keychain around your finger and call it a necklace, but a keychain is what it is because the person who designed it made it and named it intentionally.

These days I’m incredibly grateful for our church, his middle school youth group, and the broader faith community around him that serves as a constant reminder of who he is in the The faith community midst of so many other conflicting voices and opinions. The body of around my son is Christ not only speaks truth into preventing his heart from Hank about who he is and why he exists, but it also purposely being deceived by sinful points him back to the Lord Jesus notions and encouraging who created him on purpose, calls him a son, and loves him him daily with the truth of unconditionally. Hank knows that who and whose he is. nobody else gets to define him, or name him, because Jesus has already done that!

“A finger necklace?” I replied with confusion, “I’m not sure I know what that is.”

And so began a long and embarrassing visit to every shop in the park asking clerks, wandering aisles, and barely staving off impatience and frustration on our quest for the ever elusive “finger necklace.”

By the end of the day, we’d had absolutely no success and Hank was frustrated and sad. When I asked him if he wanted something else, he refused.

Finally, five minutes before the park was set to close we were wandering in a shop we’d already been in twice, and I heard his jubilant voice from across the store, “Dad! Here they are! I finally found them!”

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” The faith community around my son is preventing his heart from being deceived by sinful notions and encouraging him daily with the truth of who and whose he is.

I rushed toward the sound of his voice and found my son standing in front of a beautiful floor-to-ceiling display covered with glittering souvenirs. Hank spread his arms wide, gesturing at the trinkets in front of him and shouted, “FINGER NECKLACES!”

by Darin McWatters Darin McWatters is the Pastor of Teaching and Mission at Arbor Road Church in Long Beach, CA (arborroad.com). He was also the Program Director and Founder of the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake Christian Camps, and lead singer of the Christian band, Everybodyduck. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Darin and his wife, Shannon, have been married for 19 years and have four children: Jack, Hank, Lily, and William.

To which I replied, pointing at the wall in front of us, “You mean ... keychains?”

Now, several years later, my son Hank is in eighth grade and I see him living in a world that is constantly trying to define him on its own terms.

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tot t i m e r h y m e ( ag e s 3 & u n d e r )

get up

lie down

Sit at Home

Stressing the importance of being a part of a

faith community can start at the earliest of ages. This month, while you are hanging out at home, sing this rhyme to the tune of “Yellow Submarine.” Have fun and see if you and your child can add some

ng the roa alo

extra verses highlighting how your family experiences community.

d

at home sit

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit

Listen here when

at home and when you walk along the road,

viewing the enhanced

when you lie down and when you get up.

online issue at

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

homefrontmag.com!

We all live in a faith community, a faith community, a faith community We all live in a faith community, a faith community, a faith community We stick together in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community We stick together in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community We help each other in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community We help each other in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community We love each other in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community We love each other in our faith community, our faith community, our faith community

by Tommy Larson Tommy has been serving as a pastor at ROCKHARBOR Church for the past 11 years. He was part of the development team of the Tru curriculum. He lives in Costa Mesa, CA with his wife and two children.

Repetition is fundamental to almost any learning style, so when you’re teaching your children, use repetition!

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resources p r ay e r ( pag e 23)

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10

ENVIRONMENTS The order of the 10 Environments listed coincides with the monthly distribution of this resource.

1

“God has entrusted me with the things and people He created around me.”

Responsibility This environment captures the ability to take ownership for one’s life, gifts, and resources before God. A child must be challenged to take responsibility for his or her brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as for those who are spiritually lost.

Our hope is that the Holy Spirit will use this environment to allow each child to understand that God has entrusted His world to us.

3

“Asks the question, ‘What needs to be done?’”

Serving This posture of the heart asks the question, “What needs to be done?” It allows the Holy Spirit to cultivate a sensitivity to others and focuses on a cause bigger than one individual life. It helps fulfill the mandate that as Christfollowers we are to view our lives as living sacrifices that we generously give away!

4

“God fills me with His love so I can give it away.”

5

“God has a big story and I can be a part of it!”

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2

“God transforms me when I step out in faith.”

Out of the Comfort Zone As children and students are challenged to step out of their comfort zone from an early age, they learn to experience a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.

Love&Respect Without love, our faith becomes futile. This environment recognizes that children need an environment of love and respect in order to be free to both receive and give God’s grace. Innate in this environment is the value that children are respected because they embody the image of God. We must speak to them not at them, and we must commit to an environment where love and acceptance are never withheld due to one’s behavior.

Storytelling The power of The Big God Story impacts our lives by giving us an accurate and awe-inspiring perspective into how God has been moving throughout history. It is the story of redemption, salvation, and hope and tells how I have been grafted into it by grace. It further compels us to see how God is using every person’s life and is creating a unique story that deserves to be told for God’s glory.

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7

6

“I belong to God

“God knows me, and

and He loves me!”

I can know Him.”

Knowing Nothing could be more important than knowing and being known

by God. We live in a world that denies absolute Truth and yet God’s Word offers just that. As we create an environment that upholds and displays God’s Truth, we give children a foundation based on knowing God, His Word, and a relationship with Him through Christ. God is holy, mighty, and awesome, yet He has chosen to make Himself known to us!

9

“When I get off track, God offers me a path of healing.”

10

“I see Christ in others, and they can see Him in me.”

8

“God’s family cares for each other and worships God together.”

Course Correction This environment flows out of Hebrews 12:11–13 and is the direct opposite of punishment.

Instead, biblical discipline for a child encompasses: a season of pain, the building up in love, and a vision of a corrected path for the individual with the purpose of healing at its core.

Identity This environment highlights who we are in Christ. According to Ephesians 1, we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed, and given an inheritance in Christ … all of which we did nothing to earn. This conviction allows children to stand firm against the destructive counter identities the world will offer.

Faith Community God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in proximity to one another. The faith community serves to create an environment to equip and disciple parents, to celebrate God’s faithfulness, and to bring a richness of worship through tradition and rituals, which offer children an identity. Our love for each other reflects the love we have received from God.

IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT HOMES AND CHURCHES WOULD CREATE THESE ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN TO LIVE IN SO THEIR FAITH WILL GROW IN A COMMUNITY OF CONSISTENCY, COMMON LANGUAGE, AND PRACTICE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THESE ENVIRONMENTS CAN IGNITE A TRANSFORMING FAITH IN YOUR FAMILY, WE SUGGEST YOU READ:

Modeling Biblical content needs a practical living expression in order for it to be spiritually impacting. This environment serves as a handson example of what it means for children to put their faith into action. Modeling puts flesh on faith and reminds us that others are watching to see if we live what we believe.

SPIRITUAL PARENTING: An Awakening for Today’s Families

BY MICHELLE ANTHONY © 2010 DAVID C COOK

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan.

All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

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This Halloween, give kids a sweet treat that will last. The Story of Jesus is a fun, just-for-kids comic book that brings the Bible to life with colorful pictures, engaging stories and life-changing truth for kids of all ages. Each pack of 25 you purchase helps give The Story Of Jesus to 250 children around the world, in their own language.

ORDER BY OCTOBER 15 AT WWW.GLOBALSTORYOFJESUS.COM TO ENSURE DELIVERY BY OCTOBER 31.

Available in English and Spanish. Perfect for trick-or-treaters or Fall Festival guests!