Church Planting & Childlike Faith
Jesus told the disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 19:14, ESV). As an introvert without any younger siblings, I haven’t spent much time with little kids. For this reason, I have always been left wondering what it looks like to follow the example of children in my walk with Jesus. I discovered this past summer that a good place to start is by getting up close and personal with those tiny beings called kids. This past July, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a church plant, The River, in Red Deer, Alberta, with a group of people from my home church, Good Shepherd, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Our group of mostly introverts put on a courageous face, organizing a VBS including outdoor games and Bible skits for neighborhood kids―many of whom are from immigrant and refugee families. God softened my heart through these children and opened my eyes to see what childlike faith looks like.
With new sight, I was able to see how such faith is being played out in The River as God works through those who actively trust and obey him like little children. As I enjoyed time with kids, I discovered some things they appreciate: they love to play; they want someone to sit with them; they want to be seen and heard; and because they trust someone, they will come back again and again for these good things. They seem to be ready for anything, even ready to obey. The Afghan, Syrian, Ethiopian, and Congolese children I had the privilege of interacting with come from cultures that value respect. They come when they are called and willingly obey. These attributes of joyful readiness, trust, and obedience struck me as I saw the members of The River living in a childlike way before God.
Pastor Harold and Joyce Rust were called to Red Deer to plant a church, so they went! Upon arrival they were invited to a welcome gathering for newcomers where they discovered a church, made up of people of all nations, waiting to be planted. In joyful obedience, The River was formed. Trusting their Father to daily provide, God showed up in unexpected ways when his people willingly said “yes.”
God is showing up in Red Deer through open homes, attentive ears, and generous hands. This family of believers is steadily growing as they daily listen to their Father’s direction. It is simple and beautiful, full of playful worship, good food, and stories of God’s faithfulness. As they come back again and again to their gracious Father, God is using them to spread his good gifts, both physical and spiritual, to people of all nations. The children of Red Deer taught me this July that being Christ’s “witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) is simple; all it takes is joyful trust to daily run to my Father’s arms, listen to his good voice, accept his good gifts, and run to share his good news with those I encounter.
Katie Holzner is a young adult from Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church in Fergus Falls, MN.