Scripture with kids. Over the past week, I have been serving Hope Baptist in helping with their children's camp in a place called Surduc. There were around 75 children from 2nd to 8th grade representing three different churches. I must be honest about this. I'm not used to being around children, much less serving and working with them. Now, I feel somewhat comfortable with crowd control, and tying a shoelace here and there would not hurt. But giving 20 minute lessons every night is some kinda mountain to climb for me. Now I was thinking, how can I entertain these kids in a way that they can enjoy and learn? I had terrible thoughts in mind: redicuolus costumes, acting out crazy stories and perhaps puppets (no offense puppet team) for an audience of sticky kool-aid stained fingers and snotty noses. Needless to say, a renaissance was needed. I started thinking, what did I like growing up? I realized that the Spiritual nourishment I cherished most was when my dad read to me the classic stories of the Bible before bed time. He read them aloud and made sure to emphasize the parts that spoke to my heart as a wild boy. For example, David waving Goliath's head before the Philistines and Deborah jabbing a tent stake through some guy's head will get any boy excited and listening.
Disclaimer: I know that violence isn't what should be solely emphasized. However, I can see now what my dad was doing: He was letting the Scriptures draw his son to God by saying "Look here! This is a cool story. Let me read it to you for what it is." Through this camp I was able to have those stories jump out at me again afresh and anew. Honestly, I can't think of a better renaissance example. Just as Michelangelo saw something new in David through the Greeks, I was seeing something new in David through the Scriptures. The kids loved the stories; I loved sharing with them how Christ is our ultimate warrior king. On Thursday, after sharing some kid stories about shame and discouragement, I shared the story of Jonah and about how he was ultimately running from God by seeking his own comfort. I was somewhat discouraged while I was giving the message because I felt that it was a little over the kids' heads, but much to my joy I learned that a 3rd grader prayed at end the message that he would run after God's presence no matter what the discomfort and shame in order to serve God. What a blessing it is to know that God's word never returns void, so lesson learned. I guess I needed to be reborn in the way I look at teaching children. Kate gave me some good advice, "Just be yourself." I love Scripture for what it is and what it means and I think kids can too. (Pictures below of camp)
