SHEPHERDING GOD’S CHILDREN

Parents are the shepherds of their flock of children. We have the privilege given to us by God, to nurture our children physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally, and spiritually. His plan and purpose for the Christian family is to bring another person to him to be his child and heir to the Kingdom of Heaven for all of eternity. Christian parents, with God’s Word, guide the process of forming an all around mature person. God takes our efforts and makes the changes each and everyday in our children. Parents are in a partnership with God in shaping the children he shares with us.

God created humans in order to have a personal relationship with his creation. Our uniqueness physically, emotionally, psychologically, mentally and spiritually makes nurturing a child a delicate process. Over time children can become stronger in all these areas. He created us to be multifaceted individuals to benefit him in our relationship with him and our relationships with each other.

Spiritual nurturing binds the strengths of children together. Christian parents will concern themselves with their child’s spiritual nurturing. The source for spiritual nurturing is the Bible. It is through His Word that God reveals himself and his truth. God’s Word is both life-changing and life-giving. His Word is what changes us to mature in belief, character, and conduct. A person’s response to God’s truth determines how they will mature as adult Christians. In turn this impacts how our children will mature.

Scripture contains, what God wants each person to know about him and themselves. In his word he connects these two lessons together for a person to become who God wants them to be. For our children to mature all around and have a lifelong relationship with God, they need to understand scripture and internalize what it says. Parents, because they spend the most time with their children and are living closely together by God’s design, have been given by God the opportunity to shepherd, guide, counsel, teach, befriend, be a companion to, discipline, and be a role model for their children. Because of living in a sin filled world, parents also are a refuge from life’s storms. Parents are the ones who equip their children to navigate and weather these storms.

God has given parents the Christian Church to be their shepherd, guide, counselor, teacher, friend, companion, disciplinarian, role model, and refuge while they journey through their life. The Christian Church can partner closely with parents to help them to guide their children towards God and eternal life in heaven. The Christian Church will, when needed, within God’s defined boundaries, change or shift its ministry to better support families in solidifying their lifelong bonds. More often the people of the church will not be able to be as close to or with the members of a family as much as the family is able to be with each other. For this reason, the Christian Church will do what it can to minister to the entire family who is the lifelong support network for each family member.

Our pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and church leaders recognize the monumental responsibility parents have been given by God. We seek to do our best in assisting you. Our prayer is for our children to be with Jesus in heaven. Let us help you.

Staff Minister Timothy Schultz