From Generation to Generation
“Make God’s works known to your children and to your children’s children.” –Deuteronomy 4:9
Yesterday in church, we presented Bibles to our elementary students as a reminder of the role of the church in planting seeds of faith in the next generation. So this week, all our stories will focus on ways that we share faith “from generation to generation.”
"Mom, can I say hi to Mrs. Pat?" said Sam, referring to Pat McKnight, almost every Sunday after he aged out of the 3-year-old Sunday School Class. "Mom, my favorite thing at ROCK is Dodgeball." "Mom, my favorite part of Kindergarten at CLP was when Pastor Ted would come in and tell us a Bible story." "Mom, I learned that we live in a bubble here in Zionsville," upon his arrival home from the youth mission trip to Chicago at age 12. He told me all about a homeless man he met and how much his story impacted him. I think you get the picture....
Due to some upheaval in the church when Sam was a toddler, we contemplated whether we would stay. But a longtime member (Grace Rowe) reminded us that it isn't the minister that makes a church; it's the people. We stayed and are so glad we did. This building was Sam's second home for so many years, between CLP, ROCK, and church on Sundays.
His middle school and high school years included mentors like Tracy Vermillion, Jon Ellegood, Todd Markley, and Pastor Perry (Double P). And with a nudge from other members and the Grimms, he attended the National Leadership Conference in Michigan all four years, where he still volunteers to this day. His last big thing was “Mom, why would they do this for me?” In reference to Tracy Vermillion, Peggy Reiff, and Carol Wietholter helping prepare a lunch as he interviewed church members for a living history for his Eagle Scout Project. There are copies in the church library, thanks to Jon Ellegood. I told him: "That's what church families do for each other."
I've seen my son and my husband both baptized in this church, and I have met many wonderful people I am proud to call my friends and my church family.
--Tina Shipe