Northwood Parents

This Sunday, Northwood preschoolers continue to learn about David from 2 Samuel 6.  This week, preschoolers will learn that David led the Israelites to praise God for His help.  Preschoolers will learn that they can praise God too.  We’ll give preschoolers an opportunity to spend some time praising God and learning, even at such a young age, that Jesus wants us to praise Him!  Preschoolers will see the Bible story acted out before them, they’ll experience hands-on activities that drive the message home, and they’ll have the opportunity to learn what it means to really praise God!

This week, elementary kids are finishing up their month long discussion of the virtue of Knowledge – discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do.  This week, your child will learn that nothing you know is more important than knowing Jesus.  Kids will learn and talk about ways that they can get to know Jesus better.  How do we have a “relationship” with Jesus?  What does that mean?  Is it even possible since we can’t see Him?  We’ll talk about it on Sunday!  It could be a lifechanging day here at Northwood!  Don’t let your kids miss it!  Don’t sleep in!

Making sure your child is here every chance he gets is so important!  Even more important, is the time that you spend talking at home and in the car about what we talk about at church.  We have two hours every week with your child (and that’s if he’s here on Sunday and Wednesday).  Those two hours can change his life for eternity.  So can what you do at home.  On the ride home Sunday, talk about what your child learned at church.  Talk about ways he can apply it in his own life this week!

I found this video yesterday and had to share it with you…  I’ll let it do the talking…

So…what difference are we making?  What difference is Northwood making?  What difference are you personally making?  It is true … we are losing this generation.  But … we can make a difference!  I really believe that together we can make an impact.  In ten years, when we look back on the kids of Northwood today, will you have made a difference in their lives?  I’d love to show you how – david@rightdirections.org!

Someone asked me recently why I work with kids.  There’s got to me something more exciting than wiping noses, listening to tattletales, and playing games…

I watched, last night, as a 4^th grade boy that I had never met came in.  He quietly sat down in the back of the room, saying nothing!  I went over to talk about his day at school, what he liked to do for fun, and who his favorite teacher is at school with the hopes of making him feel more comfortable.  He just politely nodded, saying nothing!  I watched as he became more and more anxious as other kids came into the room, talking and laughing with their friends, while he sat alone!  Finally, another child in the room, without my prodding, went over to the 4^th grade boy!  I listened, as I interacted with other kids, to see what they were saying.  This is what I heard…”Hey!  I just saw you sitting here and thought you might want to play air hockey with me and my friends.  We just play until Mr. David starts talking!”  I laughed under my breath – knowing that the talking only sometimes stopped when I start talking.  Then, I heard the 4^th grade boy say something that I have never heard a child publicly admit.  He said, “Thanks!  Can you teach me how?  This is my first time at church and I’m not sure what to do!” 

Week after week, I have experiences like that!  I watch kids minister to one another.  I watch kids “get it” for the first time!  I watch kids come into a big room and discover that there is a much bigger God who cares for them.  Sometimes, as I watch them come in and go out, I see me.  I, like the 4^th grade boy that came to church last night, longed for someone to be my friend.  I longed for someone to teach me “how.”  I longed for someone to notice me and invite me to be a part.  I got that chance.  Jesus loves me just like that.  He sees a quiet, anxious man in need of a friend and someone to teach him.  He sees a man who desperately needs a friend!  He sees a man that wants to learn how to live this life.

So why do I work with kids?  They teach me what life is really about!  They teach me who Jesus is!  When I see them – I see me!

Tonight, Northwood’s children’s ministry begins a new phase of midweek ministry!  Every year, we work on developing a year-long program that kids can’t wait to come to on Wednesday nights!  This year it’s FW Friends!  FW Friends is a weekly program that gets kids excited about worship and serving others!  It’s my heart that kids learn, even at a young age, that they are created to serve others.  Every week, your child will rotate through four Discovery Stations!  We will start out with creative, loud, energetic large group where kids will be introduced to the night’s theme and learn from Scripture!  He will go to the Surprise Station which offers kids an application activity that changes every week.  They’ll go to Projects with a Purpose where they’ll be actively involved in serving friends, parents, and the church!  They’ll go to recreation where they’ll laugh and have a great time applying the night’s truth and then go to their Circle of Friends where they’ll talk about their lives and apply the Scripture of the night to their lives each week!

Tonight, your child will receive a key chain and his first key ring to add to the chain.  Make sure your child attaches the key chain to his backpack and brings it school every day!  Your child will earn additional key rings for the chain throughout the month at FW Friends!  FW Friends is all about outreach!  We want kids to take their key chains to school and tell their friends about FW Friends!  Then… we want you to take the time to pick them up and get them here!  It will make a difference in the life of your child and his friends!

Make sure your child is here at Northwood tonight and bring a friend!  Remember… tonight could be a life changing night in the life of your child!