I thank God for the grace that he has extended to me. Like many people, before I was saved, I did not think I was that bad. That was a huge stumbling block until I finally realized I was desperately lost without Christ in my life.
In my early years, I remember attending church sporadically. When I was 5 years old we changed churches so that my sister could be with her school friends, and so that she would enjoy church more. At the time, I recognized the importance of this. At home there was never a prayer, Bible stories, or Bible reading. Therefore a personal relationship wtih Christ was not an option for me.
About the time I entered Junior High, we switched to what was Dad's home church where I think he felt more comfortable. Dad was with his childhood friends and enjoyed this. At this church, none of my school friends attended and I never really felt like I fit in. Fitting in is so important to teenagers. I believe that BFC, where several schools are represented, makes a real effort to reach out to all teens and help them mix with others and feel a part of the fellowship. I feel that if planning only fits one school schedule, some teens might feel slighted and left out.
Towards the end of my Senior year I started dating Dana. Mostly we attended youth group meetings. The interdenominational youth group was a mixture of kids from several small country churches. We rotated to the represented church for a Sunday everning service once a month. At one of these evening services, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit bore a hole right into my heart and I knew that I was not living for Christ. That night, in early June, 1973, I yielded my life to Christ.
Over the past years I have grown in faith, maturity, love, and understanding of God's word. I was reluctant before to help with children's ministry, but since coming to BFC, and listening to Pastor Larry preach for the past 5 years, I feel I have a responsibility to be involved in ministry. So, when I was asked to teach Caravans, I had to say yes.
Teaching Caravans is very rewarding. I am fully convinced that a kids' chances of spiritual survival is greatly increased if he/she comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus before becoming a teenager. I believe teens today have a lot of pressure and knowing Jesus at an early age will help.
In Caravans I hope to plant seeds that will help children grow in faith. I know that my class of children are young, but I know that even little seeds need the right conditions to sprout and little sprouts need the right nuturing to grow.
I have a dream for Bluffton First Church of the Nazarene and it is that we have 200 kids in children's ministry. Also, I pray for the children's chapel to be full and every classroom full.
May God enable us all to do his work.
