But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” - Matthew 19:14

One of the best TED Talks I ever heard was offered by British author, speaker and educational philosopher Sir Ken Robinson (1950-2020). He was talking about children and creativity.

Robinson’s message had to do with the natural abilities children come to school with at around age five, and then what school often does to squash that potential over the next dozen or so years.

The majority of kids, he said, demonstrate exceptional and gifted levels of creativity when they begin. Twelve years later, when we test them again, only a handful score above low average.

Sir Ken went on to extol the beauty and the joy of children’s natural creativity, and to discuss how we could do a better job of nurturing the belief, the wonder, the inquisitiveness, the trust and the genius that is too easily lost.

I believe Jesus was/is on the same page as Sir Ken Robinson. Jesus recognized the amazing spirit of trust and belief and joy that characterizes young children, and he suggested we all learn from them.

This week HMPC’s Andrea Drake (Director for Children and Youth) and her team are channeling some of that energetic spirit in and through Vacation Bible School. “The Great Jungle Journey” is billed as “an epic cruise from Genesis to Revelation,” and is designed to equip our children with faith, Bible knowledge and inspiration.

These are the children who may well go on to be church leaders as we approach celebrating 200 years in 2074. Maybe - and I believe Jesus would be on board with this idea - we could put ourselves in the position to learn some belief, and wonder, and fun, and faith from them?

Andrea and our Christian Education team would love to help you find out how. - DEREK