by Roberto Blanco
“Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars…” —Psalm 84:3 (NKJV)
As I read the pages of We Can Keep Them in the Church, this gem of a book impressed me. In prayer, I could visualize Homestead Spanish Church as one that loves children and involves them in its programs.
We often refer to the 78 children of our congregation as “the children’s church.” We organized these children in groups of praise which, together with the music directors, fill our church with their melodious voices.
Sometimes, they visit the sick to sing, read from the Bible, pray, and share words of encouragement. They also visit nursing homes, accompanied by church leaders, where they pray and sing for the elderly, talk to them, and share crafts they make in the Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs. The grateful seniors often share goodies with the children.
Our children distribute Adventist magazines in public places and invite people to our church. Sometimes, adult church members accompany them to residential places where they distribute leaflets door to door and invite people to visit our church. Nonperishable food is collected in our church, and food baskets are prepared for children and their parents to share among the neediest families in our church and community. Occasionally, they prepare breakfast, package it in disposable containers along with Adventist magazines, and share it with the homeless in parks and other areas in town.
Each year, as a result of these outreach efforts, we have an average attendance of 90 children in our Vacation Bible School—many of whom have since been baptized. All these activities are supported by the church board and our youth. The children know they can count on our financial support and our presence.
Our children are already leaders and will continue to be so in the future. There is no better place for them than at the courts of the house of the Lord, close to the altar. They are the present and the future of our church.
May God continue to bless our children, not just those in Homestead, but each child on the face of the earth.