What a joy it was to start our Sunday School classes back up last Sunday! Praise the Lord! I encourage you to take advantage of this Bible-teaching, unity-building ministry, for the benefit of both yourself and your children. Classes start at 9:30 am. If you have questions or need more information, contact Donna Lingerfelt at
rccnextgen@gmail.com.
To celebrate our return to Sunday School, I’ve resurrected and revised a poem I wrote several years ago to express my gratitude for the church and its vital role in my life and the life of my children and grandchildren. I offer this up once again with a grateful heart for all of our Sunday School teachers who are giving of themselves on Sunday morning to bless our children and our entire church family.
You may think it’s a little cheesy, but that’s OK – it expresses my grateful heart:
It takes a village, some will say, to raise kids in the proper way.
But no village will stand before our God on that great accounting day.
There will be no call to “the village” to come before His glory.
Only parents will be called to rise and tell the Lord their story.
Of how they raised their children in the instruction of the Lord,
And how they pointed them to Christ and His all-sufficient Word.
When my day comes, I’ll be prepared to speak with a grateful heart
Of all the people in my life who helped me do my part.
I’ll start with family members who gave my kids their time –
Grandparents, aunts, and uncles who helped them reach their prime.
But also on the “thank you list” will be those were not blood-kin -
People who loved my girl and boy and encouraged them time and again.
Those in the nursery and extended care, and loving Sunday School teachers;
Deacons and elders and godly peers and several godly preachers.
Leaders in worship and leaders at camp all labored to show the way.
My thanks knows no bounds, my heart is glad, and that is why I say:
I love the church for many reasons, and a tear may come to my eye -
When I ponder the way she helped Amy and me to raise my Donna and Ty!
I’m a grateful man! God’s grace is real! His people have brought me great joy!
So thank you, church, for all you’ve done for the growth of my girl and my boy!
And I bow here today asking the Spirit to help us do it again -
A third generation is desperate for God to save them from their sin.
So church, as you lift the name of Jesus high when you teach and sing and pray -
Will you show God’s love to Levi, to Natalee, to Henry, and to Trey?
Will you be that godly presence and speak often of the old, old Story?
Will you be the church in a Christ-like way for Evan and A.J. and Tori?
Now let’s ponder together the awesome wonder of God and His salvation -
And how He seeks lost boys and girls to give them regeneration.
He uses “means,” the Bible teaches, to call His own to His Son -
Means of grace like the Word and prayer, but also a surprising one:
In an amazing way He uses us to teach the girls and boys.
We give the words; He gives the life, and they receive the joy!
So may all our kids know this wonderful joy of being born again!
Please use us as You save them, Lord, in spite of all our sin.
So do it, Lord, is the cry of our heart! Raise up the next generation!
That they may know You, the one true God, and the joy of Your salvation!
That’s what we want, right? That’s what we long for and pray for and cry out for – that our children will know God and joyfully glorify Him with their lives.
Dear Sunday School teachers, God has called you to be His instruments in fulfilling that desire. Thank you for answering the call. Your church family loves you and is with you in prayer. On the authority of God’s infallible Word, I can say confidently that your labor will not be in vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:58).
Pressing on with you, with our eyes on Jesus,
Pastor Butch
