Impact for a Lifetime?

I'm just mulling over some thoughts about a passionate promise we make sometimes: "Use this and you'll impact children for a lifetime." Or, "You'll help kids love Jesus for a lifetime."

Man! That's what I want! That's the passion of my heart. But lately, I've been wondering if that's a realistic promise. And is it what God calls us to? And does it overestimate my--or anyone's--influence?

Would it be enough to say "use this and right now, this day, help children love Jesus"? Seems to me it would be more accurate.

Faith development is a journey. And the Holy Spirit is the travel guide. And to believe that a one-time hit is going to be the end-all and be-all, that just may be arrogant. I love what Ali Thompson said about this: "The bottom line: God can use the little things all together to change someone's life. The Holy Spirit guided each of those people in my life, but even more than that he wove their voices together to create the tapestry of my spiritual formation."

Is it enough to be a part of the entire tapestry and in humility acknowledge our little part--rather than saying what we do now will have a lifetime impact? I'm curious what others think in this dialogue.

Comments

[Anthony Prince]

What a great observation, Christine.

From a ministry standpoint, I appreciate your honesty... but I wonder this: If given a choice between a product that "helps kids take a step closer to Jesus" or one that says "You'll help kids love Jesus for a lifetime" which one will the majority of CM leaders purchase?

I've found that most people in CM want to do the "easiest" thing with the "biggest" results...

Anyone have thoughts on that?

[Henry Zonio]

Yes, Yes and Yes Christine!

There is no one event, product, whatever that will "impact children for a lifetime." Even that decision to follow Christ has to be acted on daily. I think we really need to stop with the false advertising and get more real. Helping children to love God with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength and love their neighbors as themselves takes a bunch of "little things" added together over a lifetime.

[Chris Yount Jones]

Here's the thing I wonder as understanding our role relates to understanding our goal. So I'm back to the assessment issue. If we truly understood that we make a difference for now, in this class, with this specific child...and we understand what that difference is: Say, greater awareness of God's love, knowledge of the book of Daniel, and character growth in the areas of courage and obedience....why couldn't we assess/measure those things (with the help of parents)?

If, though, we believe that everything we do has to have a lifetime impact, that probably is pretty unmeasurable.

Thinking...thinking...want to know what other people are thinking too! Love the dialogue!

[Matt McKee]

Chris,

I like your distinction between role and goal. I believe the goal is a life long love of God. Our role as Children's Pastors is the foundation. The foundation can be measured. Of course you have to know the right questions or the right things to measure but it can be measured. The interesting part is we only see maybe 15% of the goal but would like to own 100%. I think the idea of us wanting credit for something great that happens is where a person, curriculum company, church, or organization can get caught up. It's the I want things to be about me syndrome.

[Janet]

How do you make it their walk and not their parents walk ... that's the big dilemma I think. You can make great programs and keep them coming to church but what makes them want to keep having a relationship once they hit puberty and college age. That's when we start to lose them. I think if we can make curriculum that involves the whole family so that parents know when to say you know this is your relationship with Christ not mine or your dad's or the church we attend, etc. The lifetime impact needs to make sure they understand the relationship and how the relationship will get them through all the tough times that come after they are out of their parents home and their "safe" surroundings. I know for me if it weren't for the STRONG foundation it wouldn't have lasted. I can only speak for myself, but when I see my youngest sister who didn't have what my middle sister and I had ... there was a difference.