As the weather cools into fall, we are transitioning into a new season of programs at Flemingdon Park. Our kids and youth are returning to our programs a little older, a little taller. We have a number of kids who have grown out of our Kids In Community (KIC) program. Elaine and I have thus launched Junior Extreme (JX) and Education Provided In Community (EPIC) for youth this fall. There is a bit of a wistful feeling as I see some of our kids growing into teenagers, but I am also excited for their growth in this new season.
Each of our youth volunteers at KIC, leading the programs they once participated in. It’s great to see them take ownership of their roles as leaders for the younger kids in the community. Elaine and I get to pour into the youth during JX where we get to share devotions, have discussions, and hang out together, either by playing games or doing some kind of cooking activity. In our first meeting, we emphasized that our purpose in JX was to help the youth become disciples of Christ. They in turn (in time) would disciple the kids under their care. We had an interesting follow-up talk where all of our youth professed Christ as their Lord and Saviour, but when asked to explain the gospel, they all had difficulty articulating the good news.
I spoke with Elaine the following week about teaching the gospel (again), clearly and effectively as possible. It just seemed appropriate to do so after that initial talk because they have heard this message before. Whether the gospel message will take root in their hearts is up to God and His timing, but our hope is that they would grow in this next season pursuing Christ together. Please pray for teachable and open hearts in our youth as they attend our programs.
We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
His power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,
Which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,
So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,
And they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds,
But would keep his commands.
(Ps 78:4-7)