Life Notes: Home Plants the Seeds for Success
by Reverend Mickey Stringfield, M.Div.

For almost 9 years I have been blessed to be the Director of Pastoral Care and Religious Education at the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home. Most of our children and youth come to us with very little knowledge of Christ’s unconditional love for them or of His Word. Our job here is to plant seeds. We plant them by introducing our youth to the scriptures and by teaching them the fundamentals of the Christian faith. But mostly, we teach them by setting a Christ-like example for them. Our mission statement calls for each of us to pattern our lives after Christ’s example of ministry to the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Our staff seeks to do this each day in our personal relationships with each of our youth. Because so many of our staff take this responsibility very seriously, we are able to reach many of our young people for Christ. However, our jobs would be made much easier if our children had been introduced to Christ at a very early age.

Parents of Ruston, let me challenge you in THREE ways. First, remember to live your lives before your children in a Christ-like manner – I mean EVERY area of your personal lives. Live as if your children were watching everything you do. They are! Secondly, take your children to church at a very early age. And third, be involved in your church community with your children. Don’t just drop them off.

I have been a member of the Ruston Area Alliance for Ministry for a number of years. I have come to know first hand that the churches of our community provide excellent opportunities for Christian growth for all of us. When our children come to know Christ and His people who pattern their lives after His example, they will grow up to be productive, caring, compassionate citizens who make a positive difference in our community and our world.
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The Life Notes articles are written by staff of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home and are published in The Ruston Daily Leader.