The Bible is filled with stories of people who heard God’s voice, calling them to do something hard, something sacrificial. God’s specialty is using ordinary people to do extraordinary things, despite their own fear and obvious roadblocks.
Noah took a risk, even when it didn’t make sense; building an ark with no sign of rain seemed ridiculous! God encouraged Moses to step up beyond his fears and objections. Joseph lived out the call of God despite the mistakes that he made as a young man, and the mistakes others made around him. God used Rahab despite her background and Gideon despite his lack of confidence. God called Samson, even when his habitual sin kept getting in the way. God chose David amongst seven older brothers even though the path was not always straight! Nehemiah’s call was borne out of his deep distress for the brokenness around him. As for Esther, God used Mordecai to push her, even when all hope seemed lost. Mordecai knew she was born for “such a time as this!” There is no shortage of “calling” stories in the Bible, but perhaps my favourite calling story was of the boy Samuel. A child brought to the temple by his faithful mother, serving the worn-out priest, and sleeping at the very foot of the Ark of God during a time when the word of God was rare. God calls once, then twice, and a third time before Eli finally realizes that God is calling the boy’s name.
So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:8b-10
To all those who invest in the next generation, week after week, and wonder if children are even listening…keep preaching and teaching the call of God. Why? Because God does speak to children, they can hear God’s voice and respond to him even at a young age. We just need to be there to help them understand that it is him who is calling. Create space in your children’s services for children to be still and listen for God’s voice. Children need frequent back-and-forth conversations with God and with those who love God, to launch them into the purposes he has placed on their lives. Children’s Ministry is the long game! Let me encourage you, God is working in the hearts of children because of the faithfulness to the “call” of many who raised their hand and said, “Send me” to the basement of the church, to the chaos of the children’s chapel, to the small group room with the tiniest chairs, or to a crazy week at a summer camp! It is a calling that will sustain the church for years to come! Don’t become weary in well-doing!
Verse 19 of 1 Samuel 3 says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.”
That is my prayer for the next generation, children growing up to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, so, Pastor, I want to help! If you have a lay person or new Children’s Pastor who has raised their hand to answer the call of God to lead at your church, in Children’s Ministry, and they are feeling a bit unqualified, I will be offering the Children’s Ministries Leadership Course by Zoom, for free on Tuesday nights in the fall. Please email me at jenni@bcyd.ca to learn more. I’m so looking forward to investing in a new group of leaders.
Cheering you on,
Jenni Colwell
Children & Family Ministries Director
