RELIGION
Contact Religion Editor Mike Seffrin with story ideas and press releases by phone at (937) 498-5975; email, mseffrin@civitasmedia.com; or by fax, (937) 498-5991.
Page 8
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Reaping the benefits of Christian parenting “Train up a hearts. The child in the way rocky soil reprehe should go sents those who (and in keeping hear the meswith his individsage and receive ual gift or bent), it with joy. But and when he is like young old he will not plants in such depart from it.” soil, their roots Your (Proverbs 22:6) don’t go very Children are pastor deep. At first precious to the they get along speaks fine, Lord. Parents but they need to do all The Rev. Jim wilt as soon as Johnson they can to prothey have probtect, train and lems or are pernurture them so they secuted because they can reach their Christian believe the word. The potential. thorny ground repreChildren start life as a sents those who hear seed which needs to be and accept the Good planted in good ground, News, but all too quickly which would be the the message is crowded Christian home in which out by the cares of this they are to be brought life and the lure of up. Parents need to dedi- wealth, so no crop is procate their home to the duced. The good soil repLord and be in right re- resents the hearts of lationship with the Lord those who truly accept to properly bring up God’s message and protheir children. duce a huge harvest — Home important thirty, sixty, or even a The home is the most hundred times as much important place for chil- as had been planted.” dren. It is more impor- (Matthew 13:18-23) Word of God tant than a day care, The first thing that preschool, Sunday school or church. Children need keeps children from the love and security of a growing up the way they good Christian home to should go is not learning grow up and become all the Word of God. Children need to learn the that they can be. In Matthew 13 is the Word of God at home. parable of the sower and Parents need to model the seed. It has lessons the Word of God in their that apply to the up- homes. This focus on the bringing of children. It Word of Life needs to be describes three things supplemented by their interfere with being in a right church, that school and bringing up children in a Sunday Christian home: “Now Christian school, like here is the explanation Sidney’s Christian Acadof the story I told about emy. Children need to see the farmer sowing grain. The seed that fell on the Christian precepts reinhard path represents forced on a persistent those who hear the Good and consistent basis in News about the King- the home. Parents need dom and don’t under- to demonstrate their stand it. Then the evil faith seven days a week, one comes and snatches not only on Sundays. the seed away from their They need to help their
children develop strong roots for their developing faith so that when they need that strength that only the Lord can provide it will be there. Parents also need to protect their children from contamination from worldliness. Children should be protected from, not immersed in, continually changing secular humanism. They need to be protected from those forces which would introduce them to and indoctrinate them with ungodly precepts and encourage them to indulge carnality. Too many schools today are indoctrinating children to challenge biblical values, to do whatever stimulates their senses, and to encourage everyone to live to satisfy their flesh, totally ignoring spirituality. They even provide children with birth control devices and teach them sexual practices, which encourage ungodly lifestyles.
Secular educator
queen and my community.” The National Secular Society, which had lobbied for removing the reference to religion from the pledge, welcomed the news. Campaigns manager Stephen Evans said it was a “hugely positive and welcome development” that would make the organization more inclusive and relevant. Girlguiding is part of the global scouting movement established by Robert Baden-Powell. The World Organization of the Scout Movement now claims more than 30 million male and female members in 161 countries. There have been controversies in other countries as well. In 2010, Canada’s Girl Guides changed their promise from a pledge to be true “to myself, my God and Canada” — or the alternative “myself, my faith and Canada” — to “myself, my beliefs and Canada.” In America, the Girl Scouts have been entangled in the culture wars as far back as the 1970s, when some conservatives became irked by the prominence of feminists such as Betty Friedan in the organization’s leadership. In 1993, Christian conservatives were angered when the Girl Scouts formalized a policy allowing girls to substitute another word for “God” — such as Allah or Buddha — in the Girl Scout promise that reads: “On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country.”
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Best option I know that the best educational option for Christian parents today is the Christian school. I thank God that there are schools like Christian Academy to work with parents in bringing up their children in godly ways. And I am thankful for churches that help sponsor children there. More churches need to help sponsor their children there. Bringing up Christian children doesn’t just happen. It takes work. It takes a Christian community to bring up Christian children. When that happens, we have a stronger society and we will reap longrange benefits that will make our world better than we could ever imagine.
I was professionally trained to be a secular educator. I have earned associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. I know what is happening in secular education today. I have worked in education from elementary school through college levels. My perspective is based on formal training and professional experience. I know that public education by the government is dangerous to children. By the grace of God, I was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and God showed me how dangerous public schools The writer is the pasare for children today. tor of Word of Life MinUnfortunately, many istries.
UK Girl Guides drop reference to God in pledge LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Girl Guides have dropped a reference to God in their pledge. Gone is the reference to loving God, replaced by a call to “be true to myself and develop my beliefs.” The new pledge unveiled Wednesday does retain a reference to serving the queen. The long established British scouting organization — officially named Girlguiding — says some 44,000 people responded to a call for consultations on the new pledge. Chief Guide Gill Slocombe says she hopes the change will encourage more girls to join. “We knew that some people found our Promise confusing on this point and that it discouraged some girls and volunteers from joining us,” she said. “We hope that the new wording will help us reach out to girls and women who might not have considered guiding before — so that even more girls can benefit from everything guiding can offer.” The pledge was last changed in 1994. The reference to God dates back to the founding of the Girl Guides in 1910. Earlier changes had been designed to make the pledge acceptable to people of many faiths, and now it has been changed in a way designed to keep nonreligious girls (and their parents) from feeling excluded. In another nod to changing times, the promise “to serve my queen and my country” has been altered to “serve the
marginal Christians have supported public education and given them a blank check to do whatever they want to do in the name of secular enlightenment. Too many professional educators are unaware of the spiritual consequences of children being moved through their schools today. When the Lord brought me to Ohio about 25 years ago, he placed me in Sidney Christian School. I taught there and helped administer the school. I also have had experience in Christian schools in Dayton, Greenville and Lima. And I have had a Christian school at my church for those in my church who could not afford tuition at the Christian school.
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Parishes to sell produce to help poor NORTH STAR — The Catholic parishes of St. Nicholas in Osgood and St. Louis in North Star will be operating a produce stand for the benefit of the poor. The stand will be located at the corner of Ohio 705 and U.S. 127, North Star. St. Maria’s Community Farm welcomes gardeners to donate fruits and vegetables from their orchards and gardens, or baked goods. The public is invited to come and offer donations for whatever they wish to take home. The produce stand is open every Saturday beginning July 6 and throughout the rest of the summer from 9 a.m. to noon. All proceeds and leftover produce are given to St. Vincent Hotel in Dayton, which serves about 1,000 meals a day. Some of the proceeds also may be given to other area soup kitchens.
VACATION BIBLE
New Hope United Methodist New Hope United Methodist Church will host its vacation Bible school Sunday through June 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. The theme of this year’s program is “Kingdom Rock.” Each evening, there will be music, games, Bible adventures, an imagination station, and refreshments. All children ages 3 through sixth grade are invited to attend. The church is located at 8985 Mason Road, at the corner of Mason and Patterson-Halpin roads. For more information, contact the church at 4930065.
Pasco United Methodist PASCO — The Pasco United Methodist Church will host a summer Bible school for children 4 years through sixth grade, July 14-18. Sessions will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church and include music, crafts, games, Bible stories and snacks. The theme is “Kingdom Rock.” The grand finale, open to the public, will be July 21 at 10:30 a.m., at which children will demonstrate what they have created and learned. A meal will follow the finale. To register children for summer Bible school, call 492-4986.
First Church of the Nazarene Sidney First Church of the Nazarene, 1899 Wapakoneta Ave., will host vacation Bible school for children 3 years old through sixth grade Monday through June 28 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The theme will be “World Tour.” Advance registration is requested by calling 492-4492.
Petersburg Parishes plan benefit dinner RHINE — The Social Justice Commission of the Petersburg Parishes will host the Petersburg Cares Benefit Dinner on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the air-conditioned St. Lawrence Hall, Rhine. The meal includes an assortment of hot and cold appetizers, salad made with artisanal lettuces, and homemade breads with local jams and jellies. The entree is the diner’s choice of chicken scaparelli (chicken breasts and Phil Cummons’ homemade Italian sausage, cooked with peppers, potatoes, and herbs) or slow-cooked barbecued beef brisket served with asiago cheese mashed potatoes. Dinner concludes with homemade cheesecake and seasonal fruits. The cost is $10 per person. Reservations and payments must be made at the St. Joseph (Wapakoneta) or Immaculate Conception/St. Lawrence (Botkins) church offices by today. Seating is limited. Diners are encouraged to bring a gift card for Petersburg Cares, and their names will be placed in a
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drawing for a Petersburg Cares Getaway basket of gifts. Petersburg Cares is an ongoing collection of donations of gift cards and certificates — from gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, etc.— to provide to families within the Petersburg Parishes of Botkins Immaculate ConRhine St. ception, Lawrence, and Wapakoneta St. Joseph. Eligible families include those struck by a tragic death of a primary caregiver or breadwinner in the family; those suffering serious illness; those undergoing extended and/or long-distance treatment; survivors of disasters, such as fires; and specialneeds children and adults experiencing unanticipated expenses. The Petersburg Parishes are named for the now-vanished Petersburg settlement (between Wapakoneta and Botkins) from which the parishes emerged in the 19th century. For more information, call (419) 738-4924.
‘I Love America’ set VERSAILLES — The community is invited to the sixth annual “I Love America” celebration of faith and freedom June 30 at the Versailles Christian Church, 105 W. Ward St. Two identical celebrations will be held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. “I Love America” will include patriotic music, a military honor guard, and a message, “What God Expects of Amer-
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ica,” by the Rev. Dennis J. Wheeler. Kids Club, for children preschool through fifth grade, and nursery care for children through age 2, are available at both celebration times. Cafe 105 will serve freshly brewed coffee, punch and home-baked goodies in The Gathering Place before each service.