My family moved to Lenoir, NC, when I was in the second grade. My dad was called to FBC Lenoir to be the minister of music and youth, and the church had something I had never seen in a church before…a balcony in the sanctuary. My friends and I would always sit on the front row in the bottom right corner of the balcony. The sun would come through the stained glass window and warm up the pew just right in one particular spot. That spot was the sacred, most-coveted seat for my group. The warmth of the sun made you comfortable and relaxed, and we were boys so we needed something to compete over.
In thinking about that spot, I reflected on my childhood and teenage years at FBC Lenoir. It was full of VBS, Day Camp, Caswell, Mission Trips, and so many wonderful memories of church activities…most of those trips and moments formed me in ways I never realized. Like that seat in the balcony, the church was a comfortable, relaxing, and accepting place. Adults, adults not related to me, took me seriously as a person, and it made all the difference in my own spiritual walk.
This past Sunday we talked about the importance of the 4-14 window. This is the window of time between the ages of 4 and 14 that many people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This summer is packed—it is SLAMMED—with amazing opportunities for our church to minister to children and youth. We can all be a part of this very special season. Whether you are preparing meals for Camp HoriSon, teaching littles at VBS, leading a crew on a mission trip, or praying for these kids at your kitchen table, you can be a part of what God will do in the lives of these young people this summer.
The summer season is here. It is my hope and prayer that we won’t take these holy moments for granted. Let’s be “the spot” that young people look back on and remember that PSBC was a church that showed them the love of God and is where they began their own walk with Jesus.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Prayer: God, thank you for the opportunities we have this summer to minister to children and youth. Help us show them the love of your son Jesus and His saving grace. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Aaron
pastoraaronhinton@gmail.com
(704) 300-0081