Contributed by Laura Walls We're nearing the close of our 7-day Matthew 25 Challenge and I'm kinda wishing I could go back to Monday and start it all over again, this time with my family on board! It was our first week of school and I was struggling to keep track of all that was going on and, as a result, I decided to make the challenge a personal one and not include my family. But you know what? After going through and watching the videos and participating in the daily challenges, I realized that I missed a really beautiful, kid-friendly opportunity to grow spiritually with my kids! I'm already looking forward to my next chance to do this and this time, I'm going to invite my family to be challenged, as well! How about YOU? How was your week??? I feel kinda guilty to admit it, but I was surprised at how effectively these simple challenges impacted my heart and my perspective! It was a really humbling feeling to realize that I was fighting within myself to spend even one night on the floor when so many millions of people have no choice. Or that I was so worried about the way that one night on the floor might impact my children's ability to study in school the next day when millions of children have to cope with all of these challenges together EVERY DAY. It was a powerful wake up call. And it's not over! Not only do we have two more days in the Matthew 25 Challenge but, as child ambassadors, we have an additional challenge, as well. What are we going to DO about the experience we've just had? My friends, tomorrow we are going to spend 30 minutes on a prayer walk to pray for those whom we've walked alongside in our challenge this week. As we pray for those who are hungry, thirsty, without clothes, sick, and imprisoned, let's also pray that the Lord would lead us to a way in which we can ACT on their behalf. Let's pray for BOLDNESS! Let's ask our Father to give us courage to ask AGAIN where we've heard them respond, "no." Let's ask for the filling of His Spirit to empower us to speak to leaders in our churches and communities and tell them about what we've experienced and invite them to be part of it, too! A Call for YOU! World Vision is issuing a NATION-WIDE call to YOU, child ambassador team. This is our chance to take the experience that we've just shared and invite others to be part of it the week of November 12th, leading up to Sunday, November 19th. This is our opportunity to act in "such a time as this." In so many ways, the world is deeply troubled right now. I personally feel Matthew 25 is like a clarion call to the church to focus our attention on what matters to God and to show the world that He is righteous and good, loving and courageous, merciful and gracious and wants ALL THE NATIONS to be reconciled to Him. And World Vision, located in so many of the world's hardest places, is right where the Lord has led them to be so that He can be known and praised in some of the most difficult places on earth! So tomorrow, pray for the way in which you will be involved. Will you invite your church to host a Matthew 25 Experience like child ambassador Carmen Brooks? Will you share with other churches in your community? It's a powerful event and there are some great reasons to invite other churches to experience it! Merrill Swenke has found a church in the Dallas area that is really excited about hosting a Matthew 25 Sunday on November 19th! Will you have a home party and invite a group of friends to take on the Matthew 25 Challenge together and host a Matthew 25 Sunday in your home? Courtney Crowder is preparing something special for some of her friends! Or will the Lord lead you to do something else to share this call with His church? Let us know how He leads you! We want to be praying for you! Other Dates It IS possible to host a Matthew 25 Sunday ANYTIME throughout the year, so if you need to choose a different date, that is completely fine! However, note that the Matthew 25 Challenge sent out via text is ONLY available the week of November 12th. (On a personal note, I'm going to be praying and working to find a church willing to host a Matthew 25 Sunday on November 19th because I LOVE the Matthew 25 Challenge so much that I want to share it throughout the community, as well!) Comments are closed.
|
AuthorsGreater Together is a collaborative blog written by volunteer Child Ambassadors for World Vision. Categories
All
Archives
November 2020
|