Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/79

Contributor - Katherine Heetderks

Title - The Year of the Child: As the Church Members Relate to It.

Topic - Children

1979, the year that the United Nations has declared the International Year of the Child. Ten months of the year are now past, and this is a good time to review what the churches can do are doing to improve the plight of the world's children. More significantly, however, each member within the church can ask himself/herself, "What am I doing to help children? Does God want me to give more of my time, my abilities, my money, to reach out to children in His name?"

To begin with the children that God has put within the church families, church members, whether parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, catechism teachers, camp counselors, or other brothers and sisters in the Lord, share in bringing up God's children. Whether we like it or not, our lives teach a lesson to the children about Christian living.

The church presents Christian education through various programs for the children, such as Sunday School, bible Club, Calvinettes and Cadets, catechism, worship services, youth groups. Parents have the responsibility to make sure that their children are able to participate in learning situations. The promise made at the time of baptism, "to instruct this child in the truth of God's Word and in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ; to pray for him and to teach him to pray; and to train him by your precept and example, as God may give you grace, in all holy living, and in the nurture and worship of the church"* is a promise to provide Christian education for each child.

In addition to the lessons about Jesus and His love, children in the church should know that they are important within their families. They must enjoy happy experiences with parents who have time for them and show their love for them. They must also learn that their parents love them enough to set limits for them and to enforce those limits through proper use of discipline.

The second opportunity for the church and church members to serve children is through reaching out to children outside the church. Many churches offer programs such as day care, VBS, Bible club. By financial aid we also reach out to children in the name of Jesus through supporting Compassion, World Vision, Youth for Christ, Christian Television, Annville Institute, inner city mission projects, Church World Service. On an individual level, there are almost limitless opportunities for the body of Christ to reach out to children, some of which directly teach about Jesus' love and others which indirectly show His love through a caring person. To name some: sponsoring an orphan, being a foster parent, teaching in Sunday School or Bible club, being a Big Brother or Sister, helping to resettle refugees, leading a choir, coaching a sports team, serving at Camp Shalom, providing day care. When God's people take part in any of these activities and do them to God's glory, His love will shine through to the children.

Another consideration for the churches in this Year of the Child is the fact that we are all children. Since I am a child of God, this Year of the Child is a time for me to consider what kind of child I am. In the same way that a newborn baby is completely dependent on his parents, we children of God are completely dependent on Him for everything in our lives. It is good to recall that we are children and for each of us to endeavor to be a loving, obedient child of our heavenly Father. Let us strive to keep the family together by working, studying, worshipping and enjoying fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

In recalling that we are children of our heavenly Father, let us also keep in mind that we are children of our earthly parents. Let us honour the mother and father that God has given us, if we still are so blessed. As children, we can too easily be caught up in our own activities, leaving no time for parents. But just as the young child needs time and attention from his parents, parents of adult children need time and attention from their children. Ideally, parents and children can visit back and forth and care for each other. Often today, though, distance prevents actual meetings taking place except on rare occasions. We can still keep in touch by writing letters or telephoning. For those of us blessed with living parents, let us do what we can to maintain or renew a close relationship with them, especially in cases where only one parent is left or where illness has become a way of life.

1979, the International Year of the Child. As the year ends, we will celebrate the birth of God's only begotten child, the most important child in our lives. In thankfullness to God for this precious gift of His child, let us each carefully, personally, answer these questions; "Does God want me to do something more to reach out to His children? Am I the child God wants me to be?"

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