We hope that our site can be a place to gather information and inspiration. The photo on our home page -- of a child's hand placed in an adult's hand over the Bible -- captures the essence of our mission: to pass the truth and love of God from one generation to the next. The hands in the photo belong to church members Stanley Dydek, 93, and John Haralson, 4.
The Christian community is alive today because of faithful adults who have taken the time to hold the hand of a child. Is this not the Christmas story? Mary and Joseph held a special baby so divine love could be born on earth. All children embraced with love are freed to live---really live, with meaning, purpose and direction. The saints who smile at squirming children in worship, the adults who get their hands dirty during craft time, play games and sing silly songs, don't just tell the story of Jesus, they reveal it.
Mrs. Alexander, my fourth grade Sunday School teacher, was such a saint. For as long as anyone could remember, she taught the children of our little church in south Texas. One Sunday, she placed a mustard seed in the palm of each student's hand and explained, "Jesus said if you have even the tiniest bit of faith, as tiny as this mustard seed, God will find a way to work a miracle through you." That was decades ago, but it remains a powerful image in my mind's eye. As I have faced the common struggles of adulthood -- seasons of grief, health issues, failures -- I remember that tiny mustard seed in my palm. So far, I've found that Mrs. Alexander spoke the truth. God can make a way for a miracle even when we say, "no way." Mrs. Alexander has long since passed, but her Sunday school lessons continue to live in the hearts of those she taught.
I do not know what struggles our children and our children's children will face. The world that 4-year-old John is entering is far different than the one Stan entered almost a century ago. I can only imagine how far technology will advance by the time our youngest members are in their nineties. The church must learn to blog and twitter and post on Facebook to keep up with the times. But far more importantly, the Spirit-filled church must continue to extend the hand of Christ to God's children, young and old alike, as they journey through this ever-changing world.
May our hearts and hands remain open to Christ's love so that we can pass the miraculous story of new life to future generations.
Keep the faith!
Pastor K
