“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV
I used to love when my kids were young and excited to give special missions contribution in their plastic ziplock bags heavy with coins saved up over time. They were the first to go up and put their money in the basket. Their hearts to give were eager and excited and full of cheer. They had been saving and wanted to give to God. I’m sure that this was imprinted in their brains. They understood our mission and what we were doing to win the world for Christ. They loved being a part of it.
Now, my daughter, Kyla, is 18 and my son, Weldon, is 25 years old and they love God and his kingdom. They love being involved in helping to advance the kingdom. As young adults, they are putting into practice things they learned from us long ago. Hospitality, loving and serving others and taking care of their friends spiritually is something that they love to do. I love that they feel responsible to help the kingdom to grow. From HOPE Youth Corps to traveling the country and staying with other Christians they didn’t know, they have learned that they have family all over the world. I loved teaching them that there are Christians all over the world who worship God the same way we do.
I am excited that so many of our brothers and sisters have given up everything to start international churches. We have been the financial backing for their success. However, there are also a ton of churches that need to be planted right here in Colorado. There are other small churches in and around Colorado that we support with our special missions contribution. Talking about the mission with our kids and living that dream, watching and being a part of it, helped them to see God and build their own faith. We are excited to see what God does here in Colorado and how He uses families just like ours to make it happen!