I was 14 when my parent’s turned to me while driving down the road and said, “Son, your mom and I are going to start a church, we are going to pastor.” I was flooded with all kinds of emotion. First, I equated church to poverty, so I thought we were going to be poor. Second, I equated church to popularity, so I thought I was going to be popular. Third, I equated this change to absolute insanity, so I thought any minute someone would come and take me from these nutcases.
At first our church was in our home, so every Sunday night people would come to our house to eat food, sing songs and listen to my dad share from the Bible. I usually found myself in my tree fort hanging out with a few kids who came with their parents. As the church grew eventually buildings entered the vision. Food would be replaced with banquets, sing songs turned into worship and dad sharing from the Bible became preaching. I’d often be at the building 3-5 nights a week doing homework, working on my ground balls for baseball, messing around with a musical instrument.
A couple years ago our little girl entered our life. I began to consider how her life as a PK will be so different than mine. First, she’ll have targeted gospel messages every Sunday. Early on we didn’t have youth or children lessons and ministry. With dad, mom and technology like the iPad, who read to her, she will experience the Word of God by the time she starts school! Second, she’ll have adult leaders who are compelled to equip the next generation to fulfill a GIANT purpose in God. I can’t wait to see what our kids are capable of as they grow with Jesus. Third, she’ll have like-minded young men and women around her, passionate about doing something for God! It will be incredible for her. Our kids are destined for greatness with the gospel in heart, caring adults in character and like-minded friends for life–I love a strong local church!
Unfortunately she’ll have the dark underbelly of the PK life also. Like I was, she’ll be betrayed, by “friends who say they are family.” She’ll be criticized for her choices, no matter what they are. She’ll live under huge expectation, and won’t be able to deliver. And still, through it all, she’ll choose Jesus! She will choose to serve Him with everything that is in her!
One day she’ll read this:
Speed, what I want you to know more than anything is how proud dad and mom are of you. There is nothing in the entire world you cannot accomplish. I know, not everything about being a pastor’s kid is easy, but it does have it’s perks. Think of the people you get to meet, the mighty men and women of God who know you by name and pray for our family all the time. Think about the places God has sent us as a family. We’ve seen some of the greatest parts of the world, it’s big, huh? Think about the stories of God’s goodness in the midst of challenge–He’s always on your side! There are so many things I’d like to tell you about Jesus; instead, I’ll show you for the next 20 years. Oh yeah, one thing your Grandpa Joe would to tell me when I was a PK, He’d say, “If you get in any kind of trouble always remember to turn to Jesus. He loves at all times, is quick to forgive, and is so proud of you.” There is a great assignment for your life, and your dad is your biggest fan. I love you.
1 comment