iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

The Power of One

As I encouraged a group of children’s ministry volunteers at Mt Calvary in Morgantown WV the one thing that I wanted them to hear and believe is that they are valued and their ministry is vital to building the kingdom of God. I shared the following, ‚ÄúA student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.‚Äù

This is not some profound statement from a teaching manual, seminar or workshop for teachers, this is a statement that Jesus himself made in Luke 6:40

Jesus needed his disciples to help him, to learn from him, and to eventually become the leaders after he had gone away. Jesus also says in Matt. 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

We are doing what Jesus himself did on earth. How awesome is that?

There are people all over the world that have a passion for reaching children with Jesus’s love and forgiveness. They may use different methods, curriculum and approaches but their desire to teach so that students will learn is the same.
You may not see immediate results and you many not see your impact until you get to heaven, but be encouraged that you are making a difference.

One Young Boy

Edward Kimball, a shoe clerk and a Sunday school teacher in Chicago, loved boys. He spent hours of his free time visiting the young street urchins in Chicago’s inner city, trying to win them for Christ. Through him, a young boy named D.L. Moody got saved in 1858. Moody grew up to be a preacher.

In 1879 Moody won to the Lord a young man by the name of F.B. Meyer, who also grew up to be a preacher. An avid enthusiast of personal visitation, Meyer won a young man by the name of J.W. Chapman to Christ. Chapman, in turn, grew up to be a preacher and brought the message of Christ to a baseball player named Billy Sunday. As an athlete/evangelist, Sunday held a revival in Charlotte, NC, that was so successful that another evangelist by the name of Mordecai Hamm was invited to Charlotte to preach. It was while Hamm was preaching that a teenager named Billy Graham gave his life to Jesus.

It all started with the winning of a child to Jesus. We may not all be a D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday or Billy Graham, but we can all be instrumental in beginning that process in the life of someone who will be.

Man Plans But God Directs His Steps

I just finished reading a book “Whose Child is This” by Bill Wilson and he made a statement that resonates in my heart. He said, “We have to come to the point where we are willing to win the nation one person at a time.”

As we make plans for 2010, we desire to reach children one at a time until we see the millions come to know Jesus as their friend and Savior.

Here are a few things we are planning and would appreciate your prayers as we work out the details.

South Dakota Indian Reservation
Together with Pastor TJ at Warwick AG, we are heading to the Sioux reservation where we’ll be working with Missionaries Tim and Elaine Harris. With two teams of twenty, comprised of adults and children ages 10-15 we are planning evangelism and some hands-on projects.


Homeless Women and Children
We are praying that we can partner with Hope Alive, a Christian ministry called to embrace homeless women and their children with the life-changing love of God. They provide transitional homes and the skills they need to live self-sustaining lives filled with hope and a future. With a team we are offering our assistance with hands on projects as well as evangelism.

Ecuador Missions Trip
I am also planning to be part of a training team to Ecuador in September. Many missionaries around the world need experienced children‚Äôs leaders/workers to come and train children‚Äôs workers in their countries in skills for reaching kids. As part of the team I will be helping to equip leaders/workers in that country to be more effective in sharing the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness.

Urban Church Plant
We are also in the process of joining with a pastor of an urban church plant. We’d like to take a mission team into that community to conduct a fun day and three-night crusade. Such an outreach has the potential of bringing more people into the community of believers and changing lives for eternity.

Training and Encouragement
Along with several weeks of kids camp during the summer we will also be conducting training workshops for those serving in children’s ministry. On a regular basis we visit churches to teach the children how they can help people locally and around the world. We encourage them as we share how they can be a powerful tool in the hands of God as missionaries to their community.
Although we make the plans it is God that directs our steps. Be in prayer that as we plan, God will open the doors and direct our steps so that we see his purpose revealed in all we do for Him.

Write a letter to “Hades”?

Today I received a letter from a friend asking for my best advice. She and her family are strong Christians and have been raising their daughter to believe in God as the one and only true God. I have seen this young girl grow in her faith and she is committed to Jesus Christ. She was given an assignment by her elementary school teacher to write a letter to the Greek god ‘Hades’.

When I first read her question, several things went through my mind but I wanted to make sure that I responded rather than react to her question. After talking with a friend here was my response.

First I would ask the teacher if she could modify the assignment and share with her why you do not want your daughter to write to a greek god of the underworld which is equivalent to who you know as satan. Ask if she could write a letter or essay telling about another god other than hades and then tell about the God she does believe in?

Secondly, if the teacher will not modify the assignment then you need to question her purpose for this type of writing assignment. I would then question the principal if this is state required material and give suggestions on alternative writing projects that would meet the state requirements.

This is a good opportunity to talk with your daughter about the difference between little ‘g’ and big ‘G’ when using the term god and that you know the only true God and the others are false gods. There are gods that people have worshiped throughout the ages but that doesn’t mean they are real.

How would you have responded to this question? I’d love for you to leave a comment to this blog.

Just talked with a friend and she gave me a great idea. Take this opportunity to write to Hades and let him know that his life could have been different had he trusted Jesus in his life. Take the opportunity to tell Hades about Jesus and share the entire salvation message. What do you think about this direction?

Excuses vs. Reasons

Acts 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help…

“Cut! Cut! Cut! No more excuses. It’s time to seek out reasons to help. I’m directing a movie that confirms the need to help people suffering from social injustices throughout the world. There are people inflicted with, poverty, hunger, illness and homelessness that need our help. This film will help viewers recognize the need and help them to realize ways in which they can provide help.

As the director of this film I know that there is a huge amount of talent in this room. It’s up to me to bring out that talent and to help each of you discover how you can provide help to others. I will not stop searching until each and everyone of you has had the opportunity to audition and become part of the movie.”

I was portraying the director of a movie bringing about the awareness of social needs throughout the world. As leaders you are directing an even more important movie. Your movie/ministry directs children everyday and it is up to you and I to help them discover their gifts and talents and how they can help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. We can not allow excuses to prevent them from taking action. Rather, you and I need to help them recognize reasons why and how they are able to provide help.

Acts 20:35 “And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‚ÄúIt is more blessed to give than to receive.‚Äù

Kids-N-Ministry Festival

One of my favorite times of the year is when I am able to direct an event that brings kids from all over our district together to share their gifts and talents with others. Kids come prepared to present human video, puppets, dramas, short sermons, poetry, photography, vocal, instrumentals and so much more.
KNMdrama

Kids-N-Ministry (KNM) is an opportunity for kids to present their gifts and talents before the Lord and a panel of coaches in a safe and encouraging environment. They are evaluated and given suggested on how to improve. They are evaluated on their individual skills and are not competing against one another. It is a time of discovery for some kids as they step out and try different ministry gifts. Kids come filled with excitement and joy as they anticipate their time to share. They get to watch other kids in their area of gifting and often times go back to their church and want to try themselves.
KNMgiftsIt is so important to give kids an opportunity to discover who God has created them to be. We have to provide opportunities for them to use their gifts and talents and to encourage them to minister to people around them. If we are going to see healing in a people that have turned from Christ we must entrust ministry to our children. They will impact their families, communities and the world if given a place of value and importance.

1Tim. 4:12 “Don‚Äôt let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Let us all be the ones to encourage our children and strengthen them in their faith as they step out into the world to reach people with the love and forgiveness that only Christ can give.