Serving.

By: Faith Storck

​Recently, a friend on Facebook posed this question to her Facebook friends, “I might be opening a can of worms here, but what's your opinion on expecting your teens to attend Sunday morning church with the family?” As I sat there looking through the two hundred plus comments and of course adding my own, it struck me why it wasn’t really an issue of wanting to go to church as a child, nor was it an issue for my own child. Why do you think that was, you may ask? I believe it was a result of serving Jesus. 

From a very early age I can remember serving in the local church. Whether it was decorating for an over the top VBS room, playing the piano for an offertory, teaching music to preschoolers, singing in the choir, helping serve and clean up after an event to jumping in wherever there was a need…most of my fond memories of church as a young child/teen revolved around serving. Now why in the world would a child/teen serve so much in a church? Because it was modeled to me from an early age by my parents. 

Growing up, I went to a very small church, where on a good day attendance was 100 people. Due to the small attendance, there were always multiple ways to serve in our church and also to the people of our congregation. As a child, I watched my parents serve the Lord faithfully. Whether they were cooking meals or watching other peoples children, going on mission trips, teaching at a local nursing home, teaching at church, visiting those that were sick or hurting, fixing things up around the church on work days, and anything else that needed to be done. 

My parents both turn 70 in the next few months, and I am so grateful that they are still serving the Lord and leading by example. I look at those in our church that are still serving the Lord in their later years and think how I want to be just like them when I “grow up.” One of those people at Live Oak Church for me is Mr. Craig Harris. Not many people know, but Mr. Craig is a behind the scenes kind of man, and is constantly here during the week when projects are happening. (Many thanks to Mr. Craig and Mr. Jeff Rush for using their gifts the past few months during the FLC renovation!)

What am I trying to say in all of this? Well I am so glad you asked! It’s time to start serving, and also serving with your children. There are so many verses on both training your children and on serving. It’s on constant repeat in the Bible. The older I get, I realize it’s on constant repeat because humans aren’t the most intelligent all the time and we need to be told over and over before it sticks. Children love to help others. Give them a Clorox wipe and they think it’s the best thing ever. Along with shepherding your children in their relationship with Jesus, also shepherd them in the area of serving Jesus and others while they are young. Help them find ownership and a place to call home at church. Find ways to serve side by side. 

Church for me and my family isn’t just something to mark off of a checklist every week. It is a way of life. Aside from our own personal relationship with Jesus, serving Him really is a joy. I believe it is something that should be taught to our children. I’ve said it many times, but my church is my family. They are the ones I want to spend my time with. They are the ones I want to serve Jesus with. Sunday truly is the best day of the week for me, but anytime I can serve Jesus with others is a great day! Like the old hymn states, “There is joy in serving Jesus.”
​
P.S. If you are looking for an area to serve at Live Oak Church, let’s talk!