This past year I have had the opportunity to work with elementary school kids within my home church of Johnson Ferry Baptist ( Marietta, Ga) and it has truly opened my eyes to the importance of reaching the young about the Truth of the Gospel. Today's world is increasingly deceptive in what it promotes as "necessary and essential " lessons for kids; now days a parent must be more diligent than ever in protecting the innocent from a fallen world which happily pushes a
"Christless" , ammoral / immoral , transgender/ trans-whatever, truth bashing curiculum . I have seen this secular method show up on Sesame Street , Walt Disney and some elementary school settings and it makes me furious. Children have enough set against them as it is without these supposed "Do-Gooder/ Traditionally Safe" outlets programming and filling their young minds with worldly crap that is dead set against the life saving truths of the Bible. That is where the role of godly parents as well as the Church itself is to step in and encourage and teach about how much Christ loves them and that eternal life is a gift from God Almighty himself. Furthermore, this teaching can be fun and enjoyable instead of dry and boring. Long story short, given that kids also have a somewhat mercurial attention span, our Sunday School team( along with Angela Rogers and Callie Bogle) suggested / requested that I begin ilustrating black and white coloring pages for the kids that would be in step with the lesson for any given Sunday and/ or be based on the series our pastor might be touching upon. Granted, Bible based coloring books and curiculum have been around for a while but our team has taken it to a custom level ; once a Bible verse is selected, I would illustrate the scene to match that verse and all of a sudden we have an image that is indeed unique and a one of a kind. In short, getting to play this role, no matter how small has made me thankful. I might not see any fruit from this immediately but I do think that the simplest of gestures and images-if done as unto The Lord- will bring the Lord Himself honor and help to shape a child's view of Jesus and the Bible. I also see just how great our JFBC children's ministry is with the team headed by Sheryl Gates: everyone in their camp is on board to make sure ministry is carried out with excellence so that the Gospel and Salvation of Christ is taught to every child that walks through their door! |
AuthorGerald Jones Archives
January 2024
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