So I realized that my job is to equip.  Maybe plant seeds for kids, but the family as a whole is more my concern.  My eyes were opened and I have realized how true this is.  I have seen many kids go through our programming over the last eight plus years and I would be able to tell you which families talk about and practice faith at home.  I have elementary aged kids who come from Christian homes who can discuss a bible story with me and know it.  I also have kids who come from Christian homes who cannot find the book of Genesis.  I wish I was joking here.  I am not.

Recently I have attended a couple of conferences.  One was specifically on family ministry and one was on leadership.  I have been challenged again.  It’s tough to get parents to do take home sheets or attend events.  It’s tough to have families willing to sit in church all together.  I would like to just give it up.  I’m tired of pushing against a wall.  Our culture is too busy for families to spend time together talking about God and definitely not time to worship together.

But God said to me… hold on a second.  I have asked you to advocate for kids.  I have asked you to lead at Cornerstone and I have not asked you to give up.  Family units are crumbling in our society.  Kids are forced to worry about their parents divorcing, whether or not they have the coolest, newest piece of technology, and to avoid being bullied at school.  Jesus rarely comes to mind.  Jesus is not at the forefront.  And I realized that it isn’t on their parents’ radar either.  That is why marriages are suffering, children are neglected and families break.  Grandparents, aunts & uncles are not exempt from this.  If parents aren’t stepping up, why aren’t you helping fill that void?  Your influence in kid’s lives is still far greater than my own.

So I challenge you all.  Not just parents.  Is Christ at the forefront of your life?  If not, fix it.  Get on your knees before God because the children in your life are suffering.  You are influencing their spiritual life and there is too much at stake for you to do nothing.  If sports and things are more important to the kids around you than Christ, then you need to be pointing them in a different direction.

My heart breaks for my own nieces & nephews. I pray for them, I invest in them (and should do so more!) because I want them to choose to follow Jesus.  I want them to live their lives for Him.  I don’t want them to waste life on meaningless things.

My heart breaks for the kids in this church.  When an elementary child from a Christian home says to a leader “I’m glad Eve ate that apple and sin came into the world. It makes the world more interesting” we have a problem.   This breaks me.   And I hope it breaks you too.

So this is what we are currently doing to equip and support you to raise your children for Christ:

-          Family services - Worshipping together as a family is an opportunity!  It doesn’t matter if your kids are getting loud – direct them and teach them.  Talk to them and share with them what is going on around them!  How confusing communion must be to a child unless you TELL them what it means. The first Sunday of each month will be a family service because your family is more important than any program we offer.

-          Gr. 5/6’s Volunteers in Training – we have just started this, this year.  We have noticed that kids drop off in this age bracket and so we are creating opportunities for these kids to take ownership of their church.  To begin to understand what it means to serve. Demonstrate this in your own life.  Preteens are so willing to help & serve and we are giving them the opportunity.

-          Family Resources – we have many books upstairs for families of all types (singles, grandparents, youth, young children etc.) to borrow.  We add to it frequently and are open to any topics or suggestions you may have.  Take advantage of this!  Spend time reading a book to stretch yourself as a spiritual leader in your home.

-          Child Dedications – these are a physical symbol of parents taking the role as spiritual leader in their home.  How we do these dedications is intentional in the vision for families at Cornerstone.

-          Take home sheets – Any programming under Gr. 6 has take home sheets.  If your child doesn’t have it – ask them to go get it!  Read them.  Talk to your kids about them.

-          Website – If you go to our church website there are a few website ideas for elementary kids.  They are a media driven generation and there are tons of great sites that will teach them biblical truths. There are also links I have placed for parents to access.

-          Midweek – our kids’ midweek program is for your kids to invite their friends.  It is an awesome opportunity for kids to learn how to take the good news to their friends by bringing them and building relationships with them in a God honoring environment.  This is not just another Christian program for your kids.  It’s intentional.

-          We strive to coincide Russ’s teaching with what the kids are being taught.  No it may not be the exact bible story, but look at the themes.   This is an ongoing process that we are moving towards.  If it doesn’t seem to coincide, still share what you learned with your kids and use their take home sheets to inform yourself about what they learned, because I know they will tell you that they learned ‘nothing.’

We are always taking steps to provide places and opportunities for families to worship together at home and at church.  Our church vision is to change the world and what a great example to the world to have families that are thriving and healthy. We are here to support & equip you and I hope you will contact me or other staff if you ever need guidance as a family.  We are learning too.  We are always stretching and growing ourselves and we ask that you join us as we seek to follow Christ in everything we do and to advocate for our kids’ spiritual well-being.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deut. 6:5-6

MONDAY, October 10

Travel day!  Those are always fun.  Pretty uneventful day.  Smooth sailing from Saskatoon to Toronto, where we we’re a bit delayed before making our way on to Miami for night.  Got checked in to the airport hotel, then all seven of us: Stephen Thiessen, Joe Harms, Jay VanBinsbergen, Jeremy Patkau, Steve Eymann, Mitchell Janzen, and Marshall Heppner- hopped in a cab and headed for Bayside, the downtown waterfront area of Miami to have supper together.  Good chance for guys to get to know each other a bit, and rest together before really getting things going.  Cab ride back to hotel, into bed for an early AM wake up to head through security.  Easy day done!

TUESDAY, October 11

Up early!  Met up with a few of the other guys coming down to work: one from Surrey, BC (Surrey Alliance), one from Red Deer, AB (Crossroads), and a team of people from Medicine Hat, AB (The Link church), including 4 guys, and 3 ladies who had previously been planning to come.  Also on the plane: A couple from Moose Jaw, SK who will be staying at team hosts and coordinators here in Haiti till Christmas, Marc and Lisa and their kids on their way back from summer holidays, and a looooot of other people.

Once on the ground, we got “organized” (it’s immigration procedures in Haiti.  ”Organized” is not part of the vocabulary), through customs, into the trucks and off.  No problems or issues… till we got to the compound and realized three bags with alllll of Marc and Lisa’s kids clothing and gear were missing.  (Thankfully, God graciously allowed us to be absent minded while still in the terminal, and after a long drive back, the bags were right there waiting).

The drive through Port-au-Prince was fascinating.  For those going through for the first time is was a shock, as usual.  For some of us, it was the first exposure to a 4th world environment.  For me, it was strangely encouraging.  Still miles to go, but a ton of rubble had been cleared, saw a few municipal trucks trying to work on power line, a small crane replacing some items, even some new sidewalks being poured, and some roads repaired.  The bridge outside Grand Goave, which had previously been ruined (forcing us to drive through the riverbed) was functional again.  Signs of some progress however small (some memorable buildings were still in shambles, including one house that is almost completely on it’s side post-earthquake).

The presidential palace, however, is still seemingly untouched.  It’s much more startling in person then in pictures, and sobering reminder that it is still a deeply wounded city and and country, in infrastructure and beyond.

Got settled on the compound:  Technical school has the footings completed, and a team is coming in the early new year to do the next phase.  Medical clinic is coming together as well, and the “temporary” school added a few new rooms (and another 100 students!)

Off to bed, with a 6.30 start coming in the AM…

WEDNESDAY, October 12

Kidding!  Make that 5.30AM!  Big shout out to Marshall for getting his time zones confused, and graciously waking us up at “6.20″, just in time for us to all get up, head down for group devotions…. and be told it’s 5.30.  This, naturally, resulted in Saskatchewan jokes the rest of the day.  And another hour of sleep.  Win some, lose some.

After rebooting an hour later, it was a slow start to the day.  It’s the first day back for Marc and Lisa as well, so literally everything is ramping up.  By lunch, guys were frustrated, doing lots of leaning on shovels, and digging a few holes.  We had one pillar in for the wall (the wall is built with a pillar every 5ft, then panels that slide down grooves between the pillars) by the break.  Not great.

Afternoon, however, different story!  We kicked it in to high gear and got going.  Here’s the day “By the Numbers”:

17 Posts set
1 Tarantula killed
1 Cow patty stepped in
180 panels stacked and ready to rock
32 Holes dug

And 1 sandal destroyed, resulting in me walking back from the beach barefoot (and grateful it was pitch black, so I couldn’t see what was squishing under my feet).

Progress is being made!  two full sides and the main gate are now in–pray that we can finish the back piece in some denser jungle, which is were they have been having the most difficulty with the mayor and such.  On a positive note, Marc and Lisa have had a chance to show to conceptual video to some of those who were opposed, and it made a big difference, and gained some new supporters.

Pray for energy tomorrow… our collection of farm boys tried to work farm boy speed today… and got their butts kicked by the heat and humidity.  Pacing is a good lesson, and heat headaches are an unfriendly teacher!

If you are interested to going to Haiti in February 2012 please complete an application form and give it to Loretta Penner, Pastor Russ or Brad Banman.  The application forms are at the Mission Bulletin board or you can contact Loretta. We are able to send 10 – 15 people and we would like to confirm the people going by September 2011.

Thank you for your continued commitment to the protection of our children and youth.

As part of our protection plan we require annual training for abuse prevention.

We are pleased to offer on-line Winning Kids Inc. Plan to Protect training which you can do at your convenience.

PLEASE CONTACT JESSICA if you you want to take advantage of this online option and then you will not be required to attend a training session in the fall!

email: jessica@cornerstone-church.ca

I encourage you to keep Christ in your summer.  There are amazing small portable bibles (or you can download a version for your phone, ipad, playbook etc.)  Family is important yes, but Christ should be more so.  Don’t come back in the fall empty but filled.  Reading our bibles and spending time with God should not just be something we do in the winter when we are sitting around more.  Christ needs to be a part of our lives at all times, no matter what the season.

D6 family magazine from Jessica Braun on Vimeo.

d6family.com

go deeper – d6curriculum.com

splink – d6family.com/splink

This Sunday, November 7, is specifically Orphan Sunday.  Churches and organizations around North America recognize this Sunday, by making people aware of orphans around the world and then strive to do something about it.  Go to www.orphansunday.org to learn more about orphan Sunday and how you can be apart of it.

Focus on the Family also has fantastic resources if you are considering adoption or want to know how to support those who are adopting.  Go to www.icareaboutorphans.org to watch videos and learn more about adoption and what it can mean for you.

If you know someone who is adopting, has adopted or does foster care pray for them.  Find out how you can support them.  Educate yourself on what adoption is!  Consider adoption or foster care in your own home.  Through our own adoption experiences I have met many families of all ages and sizes who need support and they need you to understand what adoption is and what it is not.  There are many misunderstandings when it comes to adoption and I just encourage you to be someone who understands.

In our family resources we have a few books that talk about orphans and adoption.  I also have personal books I would love to lend to you!  Check it out and make yourself aware of adoption this month.

I grew up in the church.  I have gone to church my entire life.  Yet I am at the stage in my life now where some of the people I grew up with are not in the same space as I am.  The people I grew up with in the church have either completely turned from God and church or they are fitting into the ‘Christian’ mold.  Adults who went to the same church, the same children’s ministry, the same youth group, even the same families are vastly different.  Some now call themselves atheists, while others post scripture on their facebook statuses.

Unfortunately I don’t always like what I see in Christians.  Instead of a relationship with Christ that is lived out in love and actions,  I see religion or Christian talk but not a lot of Christ.   In his book, Sawler talks about why young people leave the church.  Sadly the reason is usually because they are not seeing Christ in the church or at home.  They get questions and false truths about their faith thrown at them every day through media and at school.  They see negative portrayals all around them and often we don’t address it at church or in our homes.

At Cornerstone church, in our youth & children’s programs we do what we can.  But our time is so limited with them.  Kids need parents and mentors to surround them and fill them with TRUTH.  They need to be taught how to live out 1 Peter 3:14-16 To ‘always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’

It starts in the home and in the church.  What messages are we sending our young people about who Jesus Christ is?  Is church all about rules, judgment and what we are against in this world?  Or is it about loving, encouraging and sharing the truth of who Christ is.  Are we helping our children understand God and draw near to him?  Or simply teaching them to attend church.  Because sadly, if attending church and following  traditions and rules is all your children are learning, statistics show they will leave the church as young adults.

I have seen it.  I am watching it happen in those closest to me, and it breaks my heart.  I know it breaks Gods heart too.

David Sawler says this ” It is far better that our youth and young adults hear about questions they are going to face from someone in the Church than those trying to destroy their faith.  We must encourage people to talk about the questions they have before they walk away.  It is even okay to say we don’t have all the answers and we will try and find them.  Because of the growing amount of negative material, knowing about the failings of the past presents an incredible opportunity to ask for forgiveness for past mistakes and to show how we have changed. ”

Is this a losing battle against the world and what messages it is sending our children?  No.  But we as leaders and you as parents need to be turning your children towards Christ.  Not by quoting scripture at them or attending church semi-regularly.  But through our actions, in truth and in love.  “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NLT

Instruction that comes from the Lord can only happen if you have a right relationship with Christ.  If you do not have a right relationship with Christ you can not expect your children to.

Your children will still grow up and make the choice to follow Christ or not.  But God has entrusted you with your children.  There is purpose in that.  Talk to your kids.  Let them ask you tough questions and don’t try to have all the answers because you and I both know – you don’t!  But the more you seek to know Christ the more clarity you will have in raising your children.

I have heard from parents and kids that ‘we just don’t have time for that’. I agree we do live in a very busy culture and as a result time as a family suffers.   The bible tells us “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

This short video talks about how you can teach your children in todays busy world and it’s importance.  Family Role

Jessica

Great resource sites for parents.  They give you ideas and conversation starters.  Check it out…

Rio Family

D6 Family

It might seem like a lot of extra giving, but building the church is never supposed to be convenient or easy.  In fact the temptation is very strong to neglect the house of the Lord.  The Israelites experienced this when they came back out of exile.  They resettled in and around Jerusalem, and quickly became content with their lives once again forgetting that they were issued a decree to go and rebuild the temple.  And in the midst of their contentment, they were missing out on blessings that God wanted to give them.  Haggai speaks to the reason for this in chapter 1 of the book he wrote.

Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. Haggai 1:9b NLT

I certainly need to be reminded of this on a regular basis.  My heart can turn very quickly to my own house, my own castle, and the things I want to fill it with.  If I’m honest, I have everything I really need, and way more than I want.  Regularly I go through and throw away things that seemed so necessary at the time, yet no longer seem relevant to my life.  I over fill my house with stuff and yet sometimes find that I am less generous when it comes to giving to God.  Yet God’s house needs to be honoured by my willingness at times to give sacrificially to build it.

And this is only one way in which the church is built.  Another way is through the exercise of our spiritual gifts.  We don’t spend a lot of time talking spiritual gifts, yet they play an important role in the impact the church will have in the world.  Paul talks about spiritual gifts in his letter to the Corinthians:

God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… 1 Corinthians 12:6,7

It’s important to note here that we are all given something special by God to do His work in the church.  And it is quite simply not for us and our own prestige, advancement or enjoyment.  We are to use our spiritual gifts to help build each other up in our relationship with Christ.  Some of us have a special ability share our faith with others, some of us are good with our hands in use craftsmanship for the benefit of the body.  Some of us are leaders, some are teachers.  Some of us are more concerned with relationships so we exercise hospitality, mercy.  Some of us are servants that are willing to help anywhere necessary.  Some of us are very creative and use arts and music to encourage each other in the body.

I guess I’m passionate about building the kingdom of God and seeing that expressed here at Cornerstone Church.  This is true worship, to fulfill in our lives the kingdom of God.  So if you by God’s grace are compelled to give:  then give with joy.  If you aren’t exercising any kind of spiritual gift in service here to the people that make up the church; then discover them and use them. If the challenge seems too difficult don’t be afraid of the small steps you need to take.  God told Zechariah in chapter 4 to not “despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”  And if it seems overwhelming in your own strength, God also told Zechariah that “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit.  I am confident that God will continue to build his church.  I want to be part of it, and I want to invite you to come along on the adventure.

Pastor Lorn