families we have not reached before, most of whom were previously unchurched.
This, of course, is what the church should be doing, but it also
poses challenges that can be difficult. Children who have not grown up in
the church don’t always behave in the ways everyone would like. A few
church members expressed concerns to me about the behavior of these
children. Still, as I walked into our fellowship hall recently, three young
children from one of these families ran up to me with great big smiles, the
joy shining from their faces, yelling “Pastor!” Their excitement at seeing
me is not something I often experience in the church. One by one, they
each gave me a big hug. They were delighted to be in the church (just
imagine that!) for they knew that they were loved in the church. In that
moment, I saw Jesus in their faces and I felt the Lord’s touch as they
hugged me. He truly is at work in their lives.
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for showing us your presence among us. You invite
all your children into your life. Forgive us for resisting and for seeking our own expectations
instead of your grace-filled purpose. Amen. ~The Rev. Jeffry J. Roberts
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