Back to School Prayer Night (Part 2)

The Back to School Prayer Night was well attended last night. Thanks to Scott and Angie for getting things organized and all those who participated.

These were my thoughts last night as I challenged our young people and Central Family:

At Central we have placed a high value on our children. We believe as a Church family we have a responsibility to pray for, teach and nurture our children, and to equip parents with the Christian principles to raise their children to become Christians themselves who can truly make a difference in their world.

That is very difficult in the world in which we live. Our kids are bombarded by all segments of society. It’s worse today than ever before.

Nine years ago, Evan had a dream for a Back to School Prayer Night for the Central Church. A time to pray for our young people, teachers and staff as they head back to school for the new year.

Since then we have come together as a Church family to pray for the new school year. To encourage our kids and teachers/staff and challenge them to live Godly lives in their schools.

God’s Word challenges us to do this.

I also want to challenge the Central Church this evening in 4 ways:

1. Pray for our kid’s daily
2. Support our kids throughout the year
3. Communicate with our kids and get to know them
4. Look for ways to reach out to our kids this year

This evening is really a moment of dedication, much like Hannah dedicating Samuel:
Samuel's Dedication - " 'After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord and he will live there always'. Hannah took the boy with her and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh . . . 'so now I have given him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.' And he worshiped the Lord there." (1 Samuel 1:22, 24, 28).

Jesus was dedicated to the Lord in Luke 2:
Jesus' Dedication - "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took (Jesus) to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord." (Luke 2:22)

Dedicating children to the Lord is a beautiful act symbolic of the Lord taking the children in His arms. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these . . . and He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:14 & 16)

That’s what we are going to do in just a few moments is to ask for God’s blessing and deliverance on our kids and our school staff for this new year.

Kids your responsibility this year is to shine your lights, be that positive influence for God. You can do that by showing Christ in all that you do.

In your talk, in your actions, in your dress.

Remember what you have learned this summer about transformation. Metamorphosis. Changing into a better person, a better friend, a better Christian. We want to be the very best that we can be in everything that we do. Because we represent Jesus Christ.

So this evening kids we are dedicating you to our Lord. As you take your Light to a dark world.

May God richly bless you and protect you this new school year.