I guess it’s the kid in me, but I really don’t think it’s right for school to start in August. Ever. It’s supposed to be a Memorial Day to Labor Day break. Am I right? Reality is cold and heartless at times. As in, school starts next week. NEXT WEEK!! It’s not right…but it is reality.

 

In spite of this harsh truth, it’s still a GREAT time to be a kid at Western Hills!

 

Our pre-teen 5th & 6th grade ministry – Giant Slayers – has just EXPLODED. We took our very first pre-teen mission trip this year with 12 kids, 4 adults, and the stories were amazing! The demand for more of this for our pre-teens has been crazy. So we’re expanding it to Wednesday nights starting September 4th! It’s going to be a blast. It’s going to focus on identity and putting faith in action. Just like on Sunday mornings, it’s going to be led by Cathy Terrell (Mama T). If you have a 5th or 6th grader, this is going to be CAN’T MISS discipleship.

 

Our Focus Team has been hard at work investigating potential programs, curriculum, and passionate leaders for Wednesday nights for our preschool thru 4th grade kids. While the team has significantly narrowed the options, they want to see programs in action at other churches before actually trying to pull it off here at Western Hills. That means no Wednesday night activities at the church this fall for pre-school through 4th grade. It’s a wise move, and there are some really interesting possibilities in front of us. Please pray for this!! We will keep you posted.

 

In the meantime, allow me to challenge you parents with a couple of things.

 

First, be on the look out for fun activities this fall that the Children’s Ministry will be hosting. We’ve got a Swim/Sundae Party for Kindergarten – 2nd grade on August 24th. We’ve got a Daughter’s of the King Retreat for our 3rd -6th grade girls on September 6-7, as well as an October campout for the boys in 3rd-6th grade. Sign up for our weekly email to stay informed or check the worship bulletin or website.

 

Second, DADDY/DAUGHTER DATE NIGHTS. Actually, whether you’re a mom or dad, you can do this with either your son or daughter. I did it with all three of my kids – son and daughters. The plan is simple. Use Wednesday nights to get one-on-one time with each of your kids and go through a study together. There are plenty of free options on Right Now Media. Text RIGHTNOW WHC to 41411 if you aren’t signed up for this service already.

 

For my kids, we’d pick a book (or video series). We’d watch it and then go out for ice cream to talk about it. Our job as parents? Ask questions and listen. We don’t have to preach or have all the answers. Just engage in a spiritual conversation with your kid. And do it often. I discovered that discipleship opportunities weren’t these huge ‘a-ha’ moments but rather a bunch of smaller conversations I was having with my kids along the way. It opened the door for so many other conversations as they got older, but that foundation started when they were in elementary school.

 

Third thing, volunteer in your child’s classroom ONE Sunday morning a quarter. That’s one Sunday morning every 3 months. What does that look like? It could look like reading a book during the Sunday School hour with your kid’s class or playing a game or making a craft. It could mean acting silly for an hour with them.

 

Why volunteer once a quarter? It is true that as we’ve grown and expanded our classrooms, we find ourselves needing a helper or substitute every now and then. BUT that’s not the real reason why I think you ought to do this.

 

My greatest fear as a dad was that my kids would hit middle school and high school and tune me completely out. I’d seen it happen so many times, and I didn’t want that to happen to our family. When I looked at dads and moms who had great relationships with their middle schoolers and high schoolers, I discovered a startling truth. They had great relationships with them in elementary school.

 

By volunteering where my kids learned, both at school and at church, I learned better what makes them tick and how to ask them questions they would respond to. It put me in conversation with teachers they loved, and I learned from them how to better engage my kids. I was more aware to pray and offer help to my kids’ teachers. It made me a better parent.

 

And on top of all of that… it was fun! I mean we had some incredible fun with each other.

 

As we start a new school year, yes it’s full of dread and dreariness of a new school year. BUT, it is also a fresh start, full of hope and opportunity for us to deepen our relationships with our kids.  USE IT!  GET INVOLVED!

 

I’m right there with you!

Grant