Kidpower…
Ok - I’m now five days into the week and still “numb” from some of the things Don Triplett shared at Bethany this past weekend. (there is a link coming for the message - just hang in there, or go to www.bethanywyckoff.org and check the messages/sermons section and the message for 2/17)
Anyway, when I was a teenager, the world changing movement was called “flower-power”. A bunch of “pot-smoking Hippies” me included really believed we could change the world if we simply stuck a flower in our hair and made a stand for peace through protests and passive resistance. Well, I need to tell you - the Hippie movement didn’t change the world - but it had a profound affect on not only a nation - but an entire generation.
Well if Don Triplett is right it seems like a new “movement” is in the early stages of taking place… and no, it’s not “flower’power” - it’s kidpower! When Don shared the optimum age for a child to make a solid spiritual decision for Christ was six to seven….I was amazed. I would have thought much older, but my wife reminded me - all three of our children made confessions of faith at age five…and my grandaughter, Sarah did too.
Now granted at that age they are not yet “apostles”, but they are obviously ready for a lot more than we give them credit for! So I am here to tell you, I am asking God to help me understand how “kidpower” can work not only in our church - but also in our region and nation! I have asked both Gwain and Anthony our children’s leaders to make their way into the prayer closet and “wrestle” with this whole thing.
And for you parents reading this…and grandma’s and grandpa’s too… will you please join me in re-thinking this whole thing about kidpower? Will you please consider what you are personally doing to help (or hinder) the potential spiritual dynamo living in your house who may only be nine or ten years old? Will you also consider if you have your child so involved in things outside the church that their spiritual side is being shut-down by the spirit of busyness?
If children and teenagers under 18 years of age in El Salvador can share the gospel with over one-million people - then why can’t we learn the lesson for our own nation? Just a thought from someone who is processing this whole thing just like you are!
Donna’s confessd that even in serving at MOPS (Mother’s of Preschoolers) it was always a task - but now her prayer just this morning as she left was - “Lord help me to realize, we are here to impact these kids!”
