I am the child of a carpenter. I know you are too because of Christ, but I mean I literally am the daughter of a carpenter/builder. Building proper foundations was a huge part of my dad’s successful career and lasting good reputation, and I fondly remember games of tag and hide & seek around many foundation wall ditches with my brother & sister. (There’s also the memory of us leveling the brick mason’s sand pile one Saturday, but that’s another story.)
Just like my dad, my job as Children’s Ministry Director has a lot to do with foundations.
Recently, Luke McDonald made a decision with his mom and dad at home to accept Christ as Lord and Savior and when I hear news like that I am always reminded of my own kids’ decisions years ago. These decisions are never made without a foundation of information to begin the thought processes of who God is and why Jesus came to earth, and they certainly don’t go forward very far without a continuation of “foundation building” from the family and the church. When I think about who helped build my own kids’ foundations, so many people’s names and faces come to my mind—grandparents and great grandparents, aunts and uncles, Sunday School teachers from younger ages and even to today, VBS teachers and leaders, pastors & youth pastors, Christian coaches and teachers, college professors, close friends and many more. I really think that there are easily over 50 specific people thus far who have intentionally laid spiritual blocks on the foundations of my kids’ lives. (THANK YOU!!)
I believe if we saw being involved in our children’s & youth departments as an opportunity to be a KINGDOM BUILDER, FOUNDATION LAYER, DISCIPLE MAKER instead of a duty (because our kids are in the department or we haven’t “served our turn”) or an obstacle to not being in our own activities (believe me, I know it is easier to be taught than to teach), we would have the ability to build up an army of Christ followers from our kids’ & youth departments—all with a strong foundation in Him. So the next time you are given the opportunity to serve & interact with our children and youth, will you pick up the trowel of service and help build the kingdom?
Again, THANK YOU to all who have built, are currently building and will build onto the spiritual foundations of my kids—my physical ones and the ones under the care of children’s & youth ministries right now.
“…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
–Ephesians 4:12
Let’s Build!
Becca Hungerford, Children’s Ministry Director