Spiritual Heroes

Easter Sunday is in the books! We saw many new faces as well as familiar ones. We were able to open two nursery rooms again, and Hildreth Hall was full of children.  NUMC is experiencing growth and momentum, and as Matt mentioned in his post last week, it’s all happening at an exciting speed. So, what now? It’s time for the church to embrace the young families that have been coming in and engage with the next generation. There are toddlers, preschoolers, school-agers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers that are looking for spiritual heroes right here at NUMC. As you get to know me, and my husband Chris, you will learn very quickly that our passion is for the next generation. You may not have children, or your kids may be grown and out of the house, but this post is for you as much as it is for those currently parenting little ones.

One of my favorite verses is from the book of Psalms, 78:4 “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and mighty wonders.” We must get the word out!

We know that parents play a vital and critical role in guiding, directing, and raising their own children, but I believe this call to tell the next generation extends to other people’s kids too. We have all been called to love God and love people… and that includes children. They are not JUST kids, they’re our future and the church’s future. Our responsibility to them as a body of believers, as Christ’s followers, is to understand and embrace how important their role is in the body of Christ.

What our kids need are spiritual Heroes. So, what’s a spiritual Hero you ask?

A spiritual hero is someone who comes into your life and leaves a lasting impression that points back to Christ before it points back to themselves.

I think we can all look back on our childhood and have someone come to mind that we looked up to and admired. A coach, a relative, a teacher, a pastor- someone who made a genuine impact on you. So how do we now, as adults, become spiritual heroes for the next generation?

I know some of you right now might be thinking “I am not called to kid’s ministry, teaching, or coaching…kids are not my calling or my gifting.” That is OK! We know from 1 Corinthians 12 that the body of Christ is made up of many different parts that are all important. You may not be actively engaged with a group of kids so to speak, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you’ve got at least one kid (or more), that God has put in your sphere of influence. That could be your grandkids, your nieces/nephews, your friend’s kid, or your neighbor’s kid! They’re out there! They are here too, right in our church waiting for us to step up and lead the way.

The first step to becoming a spiritual hero is to live out your faith. Pastor Reggie Joyner said, “The best way for a kid to know God, is to know someone who knows God.” Let your own kids and those around you see your excitement and love for the things of God. It’s one thing to tell a child how they should act and live, it’s impactful and memorable when they see you do it.

The next step is to invest some time. Be there and show up. If a teen from youth has a softball game, get there! If a single mom in your neighborhood has a child that needs to get to VBS, bring them. Ask kids how they are and actually listen! Pastor Joyner also said, “The reason you build a history with kids is so you can earn the right to influence their future.” I’ve only been here a very short time, but we have met some amazing kids at NUMC. All with their own talents, giftings, and unique callings. Every one of them has a story worth listening to.   

Last, and certainly most important, pray for the next generation AND for their parents. In today’s day and age, it is harder than ever to be a kid with what they’re facing. It’s also unbelievably challenging to parent them through it. As a body of Christ followers, we must all stand strong together and be a voice for those kids in our church and our communities. We need to pray for kids and their parents to find Jesus in a radical way. The next generation needs us to rise and be adults worth looking up to, and ones that are going to point them to Jesus.

Now don’t get me wrong, this is not just an attempt to try and get you to volunteer for nursery, kids, or youth ministry. Although, I will most certainly grab you an application if you’re feeling that heart tug. I’d also like to help break down any walls you may have put up about joining us in ministry. There is no age limit, or “cool quota” one must meet to make a difference in a child’s life. All you need is a desire to listen, show up, and share Jesus. No experience is needed, we will train and equip you! But even more importantly, I want you to finish reading this with a burden to pray for and be there for a kid who needs it; whoever that may be that God is putting on your heart. Every one of us has a child in our sphere of influence.

In fact, I’d love for you to pray with me today.

Lord, we thank You that You have called us to love God and love people, and we say a special prayer of thanks for all the children and young families that have come through our doors.

Lord, we thank You for all the people that prayed for and invested in us and helped shape and mold us into who we are today.

We ask that You help us to rise to the call of sharing Your word, Your goodness, and Your mighty works with the next generation. Let it consume us Lord, where we can’t keep that excitement in. Let it pour out to those around us, especially the children.

We pray for divine appointments with those kids that need a touch from You, reassurance, and encouragement. Holy Spirit, help us to be open and sensitive to those promptings.

We pray for our own kids. Ones that are on their way, ones that we are currently raising, and even the ones that are now adults and on their own. We especially pray for the prodigals, Lord. Place spiritual heroes in their path to point them to You when it matters most.

Speak to us today, Lord, about those kids you need us to minister to specifically.
We thank You and praise You for all our current NUMC kids and parents You’ve placed in our lives. Help us to stay focused on You as we all work on carrying out Your mission.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.