Dear Friends in Christ,

When Pastor Pablo described the turnout for La Primera Iglesia Bautista del Norte’s Children’s Water Festival, he said he was overwhelmed by the number of families that showed up.  When I describe the number of children who enrolled in Grandma’s Garden, I too use the word overwhelmed.  I was overwhelmed by the number of families who wanted their children to attend our program.

These were two very different events, but they both showed us, the organizers, that families are eager to show up for programs sponsored by churches.  We saw this at Zion’s Grandma’s Garden Petting Zoo and see it at St Anne’s Parking Lot Ministry as well.

It is true that there are more children outside of our churches than inside them.  It is also true that offering programs to children who are not formally associated with our churches is an act of unselfish generosity that is hard to maintain.

Jesus said to Let the children come onto him.  The children are coming to us.  As we invite them in and provide opportunities for them to flourish in communities of their peers, supervised by loving adults (who have done their Safe Church Training), we are growing into the Body of Christ that we are meant to be.

Faithfully yours,

Rebecca