Dear Hope Family,
This Sunday we have an opportunity to grow in prayer as we turn to Luke 11:1-10 together. There are, of course, many wonderful truths in this passage, but two in particular have struck me this week. First, Jesus encourages his followers to pray with boldness and persistence. Jesus is not at all bothered by our prayers and openly invites us to ask, seek, and knock. Second, I was struck by how often the language of fatherhood and childhood is used in this passage. As God’s children, he loves to give us what we need as we turn to him in prayer. Pastor Tim Keller combines these two remarkable truths in his great quote, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00am for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”
All throughout the Gospels Jesus holds children up as exemplary members of God’s Kingdom. Perhaps the clearest instance of this is Matthew 18:1-3 – “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Even as we’re called to disciple and shepherd our children, they reflect back to us our beautiful, complete dependence on our Heavenly Father.
The pastors, elders, and staff at Hope love, value, and care for your children. They are vital members of and partakers in our community. It is a great privilege to teach them about and model for them the love of their Savior. We love to see them in worship, nursery, and Sunday School, and we love to see families (and single people, couples, widows, and more) worshiping together. We know that Sunday mornings are not always easy – sometimes the wriggles, tension with a sibling, or downright stubbornness make things difficult. Please know that your children are not at all a distraction or burden to us. The old adage often rings true – it takes a village to raise a child. As a community of God’s people, we desire to be a vital part of that village for you.
We also know that within a village there are many different perspectives and opinions about how to care for, protect, and guide our children. We’re thankful that many of you have shared your thoughts or concerns with us over the last few weeks and months. As David shared in the worship service last week, that’s a healthy way to enter into community together. We want to make sure that your voice is heard and valued. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the pastors or children’s and nursery staff if there are ways that we can serve your family and you.
We actively pray for your children and you. It is a privilege to watch them grow in their faith here at Hope. Thank you for the opportunity you give us to serve your children and you.
In Christ,
Davis