2009 Letter No 08

Each month Bill writes a pastor's letter for our monthly church magazine called 'The Messenger'. Here is the letter for August:

I am excited about the “Treasure Island” Holiday Club taking place at the end of July and the beginning of August. This is a new venture for us. Our work with primary school age children has grown over the past few years, and I sense God’s hand upon it.

First we ran a special week of after-school clubs in July 2005 when the team from the First Baptist Church of Richardson in Texas were with us for a week of mission. Because so many children attended during that week, we started our Friday Kids Club shortly afterwards, and this has likewise been well attended. There is a sense of vibrancy about it, and quite a few people from church have become involved as volunteers, either on a regular basis or as occasional helpers, being responsible for the teaching sessions for the children.

The “Treasure Island” holiday club has grown out of our contact with the Kids Club children, but we hope that some of the Brownies and Guides, some of the children who attend ‘The Base’ and some children in the locality with whom we currently have little or no contact will also decide to come. The good news we have in Jesus will be presented in various ways, and we hope that the children will not only have fun, but will also encounter God in a fresh way.

I have been encouraged that quite a few folk have volunteered to get involved. It is important that the church as a whole feels a sense of ownership and involvement in our mission initiatives. We are in this together for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

And this leads me to think about two key issues for the future.

First, what will happen if and when children make commitments to Christ? How will we nurture them so that they will grow in the knowledge and love of God, within the fellowship of his people?

Second, what can we do for the children who become too old for Kids Club? We have a number of young people who now attend secondary school, but who were once part of the Kids Club. In fact, some of them still come along as helpers. Could we start a new club for these older children? Who would volunteer to get involved? Who could help to lead the group? Without people willing to commit themselves to the work it is pointless to start a new initiative. Is this something to which God may be calling you?

These are just some of the issues facing us as a church, as we consider our involvement in God’s mission together. We cannot do everything. We cannot act upon every good idea that someone has, but I do sense that God has blessed our work with these children, and that may be a clue as to where our priorities should lie in the future.

What do you think?