In the ORANGE Zone

"As leaders & parents, our primary calling isn't to keep our children in the church but to lead them to BE THE CHURCH." -Reggie Joiner "Think Orange"

A few months ago a friend recommended the book "Think Orange" by Reggie Joiner. I was so excited by the things she told me about this book. Combining the influence of the church and the influence of parents to impact the next generation was all I needed to hear to be hooked.

The past few weeks there have been many bloggers writing on how going orange has impacted their ministries and the families they serve. It has been a sea of orange and I am so excited about it.

Today I decided to reread some of "Think Orange" and came across the following quotes:

"As leaders & parents, our primary calling isn't to keep our children in the church but to lead them to be the church."

and

"The family & church were designed ultimately not to protect children, but to set them free to demonstrate God's love to a broken world."

Yes it is important that we make our Sunday morning worship experience fun and exciting. Yes it is important that we encourage kids to read their bibles.

What are we doing to empower our kids to take what they are learning on Sundays and apply it to their daily lives the rest of the week? Are we teaching them how to use their gifts to serve others? Are we showing them how they can make a difference?

I think that this last quote is what really hit home for me this morning.

"If what they have learned doesn't move from their hands, it will probably never make it to their hearts."

As both a leader and a parent, I want to empower our children to BE THE CHURCH.