I have the following three quotes next to my desk in my office.

“When you welcome a child you welcome me.” - Jesus

“If you reach the family, you reach the world.” - Bill Bright

“The role of the Church is to mentor parents, the role of the parent is to mentor their children, and the legacy of faith continues to the next generation.” - Ed Cole

These quotes serve as daily reminders to me of what we are to be about as parents and a church family.

The first reminds me of my call to ministry and why I do what I do. Though I spend a lot of time teaching, explaining, giving advice, or offering guidance it is I who learn so much from our teens. I learn about Christ, God, real faith and many other things. I think in this way, I discover more about who Jesus is than in just about any other way.

The second reminds me that a family who loves the Lord deeply is one that can be agents of transformation. Your teens’ friends in your home, your relationships with your neighbors, your participation in your childrens’ schools are ways in which you can be salt and light in this community.

The third reminds me that we should raise our children in the community of faith. That’s the essence of what Moses shared with the Israelites just before they entered the Promise Land. His command was to remind the children of all God has done and to teach them how to follow him. The charge was to all of them. I want to be a part of a church family that encourages and supports us parents as we do our best to teach our children and disciple them.

That’s why I think last night was important. It’s all too easy to focus exclusively on youth events. It’s good to occasionally slow down, pause and remind ourselves and our children that the parents are the biggest spiritual influence in our children’s lives.

So, I want to say thanks for being at Refuge last night. What you saw is what we do every Wednesday night. We try to create a space for teens to feel safe, experience the love of Christ through one another, and slow down long enough to consider God and worship him. I’m so grateful you could be there last night.