A Reflection on Waypoint VBS

Written by Toni Anderson

Many of you know that I’m new to the Children’s Ministry Director role and so VBS this year was a new experience for me. Over the past few weeks of planning and praying for VBS, each day I wondered how things would go. How long would this craft take? Would the kids have fun? Will this game work out? It was easy to lose the purpose within all the details. I deeply hoped for this event to be spiritually impactful on the children at Waypoint.

VBS this year centered around the theme of God as our imaginative creator and designer. We focused on how David and Jesus both trusted God as their creator and followed the plan that He laid out for them. The kids joyfully sang and recited the theme verse this year which was Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” As the kids heard the Bible stories and sang songs, they learned about how God created them with purpose and intention. They were taught about how Jesus followed God’s plan by his death and resurrection on the cross, so that he would take the punishment for sin. I hope the kids absorbed what we were singing and talking about, the message behind each song and each Bible lesson. However, sometimes, especially for the littlest kids, their takeaways are “Jesus loves me”, but often it’s “my favorite color is purple.” Either way, I know this event was a spiritual investment in the children at Waypoint that will impact their lives and relationships with God.

I’ve heard people say that to a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. God showed me that any amount of time invested in our children is invaluable because in God’s economy, nothing is wasted. It’s sowing seeds in a garden that you hope to see blossom one day. Every Bible story, complicated dance move, and craft is an act of love and service that we can render to God in worship. My prayer is that this type of love and service for our kids would nestle deep in their hearts, that it would play a part in their journey to Christ.

VBS is not only a spiritual investment in our kids, but also in our own lives. When I reflect on VBS, I remember the joy that was present each day and the excited (but sometimes confused) looks on the kid’s faces as we learned the songs and dances. It reminds me how Jesus promised the disciples that even though there would be sorrow in this life, their sorrow would turn into joy and no one could take away their joy (John 16:22). How often do we lose our joy as we get older? We let our joy be touched by the hardness of the world around us. But childhood often represents uncomplicated joy and finding delight in the simplest things. It seems to me that this is something that we can learn from our children at Waypoint. May we receive full joy from God, like the children in our lives.

Our Heart for Kuala Lumpur

Written by Lawrence Yoo

Jina and I recently got back from a trip to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. While there, we had the opportunity to meet with ministries that prayerfully recruit, train, coach and resource leaders who cultivate gospel movements in global cities primarily through church planting) and hear about their shared vision for the city.

They shared with us that Christians make up only 3% of the population of Kuala

Lumpur. However, because of the great influx of people moving to the city, to even maintain this small percentage would require planting two churches a week! Needless to say, churches are not being planted every week. There is a great need in this rapidly growing global city and that need has captured my heart. During these meetings with those who have invested their lives to minister in Kuala Lumpur, we saw a picture of the vision that God has planted in the hearts of these joint ministries. They stated they wanted to see a church within walking distance of every major metro stop in the city. We love that vision! We want to be a part of that vision!

If the future of evangelism and kingdom advancement in “KL” is through church planting, we need workers with that same vision. In the current climate of most developing cities, traditional missions’ strategies are not as effective. The local missionaries are praying for Christians in the workplace and at home (retirees, stay at home parents) who live out their faith in their everyday lives, who place Jesus above academic and financial success, who value church involvement, who can befriend their neighbors and invite them to church.

Our desire at Waypoint is to pray, support, and send so that the kingdom of God can advance. I believe we have a wonderful opportunity before us in KL and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future.

“ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”-Mark 9:36-38

Lament and Prayer for Sexual Abuse Victims in the SBC

Written by Bethany Clark

“I am beginning to see that much of praying is grieving”-Henri Nouwen

Creator, we acknowledge and welcome your presence here with us. Jesus, as you wept with Mary & Martha, we know you grieve with the victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

Spirit of God, intercede for us as we pray.

Here we are with heavy hearts, bringing our sorrows, confusion, anger, and mourning to you.We don’t come with obligatory “thoughts and prayers” but we come because where else would we go? You hold the words of Life. You are acquainted with sorrow and you are not uncomfortable with our grief.

Jesus as you left this earth you called your followers to live in a new kingdom of love, peace, justice, and healing. Yet men have loved power more than people. Where you demonstrated compassion, leaders in the SBC, and beyond, have abused those in their care. Instead of nurturing truth and justice, there has been a culture of silence and secrets.Injustices have been covered up and victims have been shamed and silenced.

God of the outcast and defender of the weak - We are angry. We are sad. We echo the psalmist who cried out “how long O Lord?” Do you hear your children who have suffered in silence?

We grieve and lament with Christa Brown, Tiffany Thigpen, Jules Woodson, Jennifer Lyell, Hannah-Kate Williams, Megan Lively - and so many others - who have had to fight to be heard and believed, as well as those who feared speaking out. We are angry over the way they have been abused, slandered, and mistreated in SBC churches, seminaries, and committees.

With the ones who have been hurt by the very people who were supposed to care for them, with those who have been physically, emotionally, and spiritually abused, we cry out.With those who no longer feel safe in a place where they should find God’s love, we grieve.Oh God, it should not be this way among those who call themselves your followers. We recognize that the release of this report may cause survivors and victims to relive their trauma. Holy Spirit, we pray you surround them with love, support, care, and protection.

We groan along with Creation, waiting for the day when you will make all things right. Until then we pray for an end to systems and structures that have allowed abuses of power to be perpetuated and covered up for far too long. Grant your people courage and wisdom. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Deliver us from evil. May we live in the light, knowing your forgiveness and power and walking in the way of Jesus - the way of love.

It is in his name and for his sake that we pray and grieve. Amen.