Hello Bay Kids Whanau,
World Vision, who shared at Bay Vineyard on Sunday 30th June, (here’s the link in case you missed it https://youtu.be/LdhMPoOzLN8?si=Yr4MMao8l-qPCm6a) believe this: that Jesus is calling people of faith to a great responsibility; To follow Him to the margins and to lead the way in a global response to the needs of those suffering the most.
That’s a big call. It’s an exciting call; Inspiring, beautiful, and daunting all at the same time, and as parents we want our children to be formed in a way that rises to this call, absorbs it, normalises it, and acts on it. But how do we make sense of this bigness, this idea of ‘being a part of a great responsibility’ when we only have small ways of contributing in our everyday lives and sometimes even those small ways are stretched and challenged?
Mother Teresa said this, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” And that is the formational heart that I want our children to have. Small things with great love. Small acts of mercy, justice, kindness and giving in their everyday lives. Small acts of loving, good news, seeing others, and caring in ordinary moments.
It’s really exciting that we are invited to be part of Jesus’ mission. Luke chapter 4 describes the moment when Jesus read the words of Isaiah out loud in the synagogue, at His opening sermon:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.”
In Bay Kids, we will be exploring the four themes of this mission, that are picked up from these verses, as well as the invitation for us to follow Jesus’ example on earth, bringing:
Good news for the poor
Freedom for prisoners
Sight for the blind
Release for the oppressed (those who have been treated badly)
And I think He didn't just mean ‘poor’ in groceries and money, but those who have sad and empty hearts. And not just freeing those who are in jail unfairly, but also bringing freedom to the things that hold us back like fear and worry and loneliness. And not only the possibility of seeing again after being blind, but really knowing and understanding Jesus when His ways haven’t been clear. And alongside the justice heartcry of those being unfairly treated, He longs to see people really being looked after by us when things have been rough for them.
These four things from Jesus’ sermon that we’re going to start learning about in Bay Kids are very important ideas and actions that will help us understand why Jesus is the Good News.
And in order to really remember these 4 things and all the different parts that they represent, here are 4 actions to help you:
Hands open and out for good news
Arms stretched wide for freedom
Blinking hands for sight
Wriggling loose for being free
We get to be part of the Good News message, and as we look at these four themes, my hope is that we will become inspired by what we discover about Jesus; and find a way to join Jesus to help those in need around the world and just next door.
“Motivated and guided by the love of God shown in Jesus, World Vision works towards a holistic vision for the wellbeing of children in which all girls and boys:
Experience the love of God and neighbours
Enjoy good health
Are educated for life
Are cared for, protected and participating.”
I love this beautiful holistic approach. It deeply resonates with my Mumma’s heart for all our children and I love that World Vision “deeply desires to participate in God’s work and pursue fullness of life for the most vulnerable children…”. This is a universal need and hope.
I will be introducing our Bay Kids children to the missional work of World Vision as we partner with them as a Church Community to support their work amongst children and families in the Alito Community in Uganda.
World Vision’s new child sponsorship programme means that the children in that community get to choose who will sponsor them. They get to choose us! This is deeply dignified and pretty cool and we look forward to finding out who chooses us!
Here’s a link for more information about World Vision’s choosing process.https://www.worldvision.org.nz/chosen/ A small group of us took a photo today to represent all the ages of Bay Kids, and that photo will be put forward. This is in addition to anyone who has also decided to put themselves forward as a family. We are wanting to have a Bay Kids expression of formational mission.
And this is the link for more information on the Alito Community that you can share with your children to the level that is appropriate for them. We talked today in broad terms about the need for support for clean water, growing healthy vegetables, going to school to learn to read and write, and becoming a part of a safe community. https://www.worldvision.org.nz/locations/africa/alito-community/
So from next term, in each of our Bay Kids programmes - Team Bay Seniors, Juniors, and Bay Preschool we will have a giving and prayer time for this child from Uganda. And each week I’d love you to encourage your child to bring along some of their pocket money to cover the monthly cost of $54 together as one whole group.
Today in Bay Kids, for some context to our Mission and Justice focus, we shared two stories of Jesus healing people with leprosy from Matthew 8:1 - 4 and Luke 17:11 - 16.
We talked about the fact that Jesus didn’t freak out or run away. That Jesus didn’t avoid them or tell them they were unclean or stinky or anything like that.
The leper said to Jesus “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean.”
And Jesus said “I am willing. Be made clean.” and immediately his leprosy was gone.
Jesus really cared about people with leprosy – he didn’t run away and avoid them! He loved them. And today, Jesus still cares about all people, including those who are poor and suffering. Through Jesus’ actions, we learn how to care for people. Jesus calls us to share His Good News by caring for others, and kindness. We get to be part of His plan for bringing Good News into the world. God has given us Jesus, the good news for everyone, and he wants us to be his helpers - to be his hands and feet.
Here is a Prayer that we will using in this season in Bay Kids, you could make it a family prayer moment too: Jesus, Help our ears to be open to hear the words you spoke, Help our eyes to be open to see those in need, Help our hearts to be open to care for those you love, And help our hands to be open to help everyone we can, Both now and for the rest of our lives, Amen.
We’re looking forward to the journey ahead together, to the formational change in our own hearts, to being part of Jesus’ mission in the world, and to being His hands and feet in action in Alito and even at school tomorrow morning.
Arohanui,
Charlotte Buxton
Children and Families Pastor
Manawa Ora Trust Team Leader
Bay Vineyard Church
charlotte@bayvineyardchurch.org
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Sunday June 30th // Mission and Justice - World Vision