"Back to Church"

It has been awhile since I have added a post...I guess I am moved by things that happen or by things that our children at Kids of the Crown experience.  This weekend was National Back to Church Sunday...Crown of Life participated with over 30,000 other churches nationwide in an attempt to bring people back to church more importantly back into a closer relationship with Jesus.  On Monday, I completed a statistical report that I am required to do each year for our church  body - the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  Those two things together triggered some thoughts that I decided to share with you.

First, National Back to Church Sunday is one Sunday out of the year.  It is meant to turn people back to God when they have fallen away from regular worship attendance and commitment to a church family.  The statistics today show that only 17% of the people in the United States regularly attend church on Sunday.  That makes it easier to understand why some people say that we are no longer a Christian nation.

Second, each year the statistical report that I fill out tracks the churches (faith background) of the families of the children that we serve.  It is meant to help our church body better understand the needs of the families that are associated with our schools.  This years report showed some interesting statistics: 

• 70% of the families at KOC claim affiliation with a church denomination.
• 30% claim no church affiliation at all.
• If the above statistic is accurate (the 17%), that means that only 12 families in our school are committed members of a church and attend and participate regularly.

What does this mean?  I am sure that some of the families who enroll their children in care indicate a church home where they are actively involved.  I am just as sure that some of them indicate a church home in the denomination that they grew up in, but they haven't attended since they were children.  How do I know this?  The children share their weekend activities with us when they come back to school on Mondays.  We are told by many, many children that they never go to church or Sunday School.

Let me just say this...church doesn't make you a Christian!  You may know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you may live your life in a way that reflects that to all that know you.  But, I'll use the illustration that Pastor Hadley used on Sunday for the children's talk...

He showed the children a plant from our patio that was almost dead and asked what it had been missing.  The children responded that it needed water and plant food to grow and thrive.  He then explained to the children that as Christians we also need things to help us grow in our Christian lives.  We need to hear God's Word, receive His forgiveness, surround ourselves with other Christians who can lift us up in prayer when the things of this world tear us down.  We need our church families 
to help us grow...to encourage our relationship with Jesus.

Being a part of a family of believers strengthens us for our walk.

Many people say, "I can worship God anywhere"...that is true, but you are missing one important element...a fellowship of believers. People also say, "The church is just a bunch of hypocrites and that is true too...fortunately our sinfulness is forgiven and yours is too!  Some people say, "I'm too busy!"...what if God said He was too busy for you?

As Christian parents, we have been given a huge responsibility.  We are to "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.  We all know that children learn what they live!

At Crown of Life I'd like to say that it is always "Back to Church" Sunday!  Every Sunday, you have an opportunity to spend time with God and grow your relationship with His Son...who by the way, gave His life for you.  Come visit us or go back to the church that you listed on your enrollment form.  You and your children will be blessed by the relationships that you discover there and especially by the relationship that you will have with Jesus!