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Fall 2004
Dear Truth Encounter Family:
Today in the United States about 11,000 babies will be born, and many of these will be born into homes where parents aren’t quite sure how to take care of them. Almost every other newborn in God’s creation can at least stand on their own legs a few minutes after they are born, but not our offspring. They require 168 hours a week of round the clock care just to get them started. No wonder we see so many bleary-eyed first time parents. And then you have to face the reality that you have eighteen years, I mean twenty- two years, thirty-years, to go. As parents we need help badly so we turn to the “experts.”
They give us “great” encouragement with words like, “This is the most challenging and complex task you will ever attempt.” Turn on the news and you get statistics of the number of children who end up in addictive behaviors, infected with STDs, or in prison.
Edward Zigler, a family expert at Yale, writes, “The growing incidence of such major social problems as poverty, homelessness, violence, crime, and substance abuse makes it difficult for parents to create a decent life for themselves, much less protect their offspring from harm and plan for their children's future.”
Combine all this dire news with fact that most families are now mobile and move far away from their parents, grand parents, and other relatives who used to be able to give support and suddenly that new born in your arms at 2:30 AM who won’t stop crying can seem like an impossible burden to carry instead of a precious gift from Heaven.
In the midst of all these voices shouting their warnings, we want you to hear a gentle voice with good news. “You are not parenting alone.” The all-wise, omnipotent, tender ultimate Father is parenting at your side. He personally delivers our children and He will be with us each step of the way in the parenting challenge. His Son longs to help our children know from their earliest memories that His grace is for kids. At Truth Encounter we are beginning one of the most strategic series we have ever done. It is titled, Your Kids and Jesus—Skillful Parenting in the 21st Century, and over the next few weeks on Truth Encounter at OnePlace.com we are going to answer these questions:
Where do babies come from?
What kind of parent does God want me to be?
What’s our child’s greatest problem?
What’s the cure?
How should we discipline our kids?
What do our children need to learn from us about skillful living before they head out on their own?
Mary and I want to encourage you to listen to these messages yourself and spread the word to your friends. The first message in this series lays the foundation for parenting based on Hebrews 12:1-11, a passage that reveals God’s goal for our kids.
What are your goals for your children or grandchildren?
“I want them to be successful in athletics!”
“I want them to do well academically so that they can go on to university and get a good job and be secure financially.”
“I want them to take over my business.”
“I just want them to be happy and to find love.”
If you aren’t sure where you are headed with your children, take a careful look at your schedule and your children’s schedule. It will develop a graphic picture of where you and your kids are going. Our Heavenly Daddy might have quite a different target in mind.
Hebrews 12:10 states His goal clearly. He wants our children to be holy—to be like Him in their character. This is the eternal treasure that Jesus alone can provide for us and our kids and we want to get serious about what it means to parent with God toward this objective.
The American family might be in trouble, but Christ’s family has resurrection power that can conquer anything. Pray with us that the Spirit of God will strengthen Christian families across the world. We encourage you to order the first CD, "Your Kids and Jesus," in this series and also our book Raising Worldly Wise but Innocent Kids. Mary and I want to be used by the Holy Spirit to do everything we can to help you raise Christ-transformed kids.
We need your prayers for this series on parenting and also as we conduct two marriage conferences in October. On the weekend of October 22-24, we invite you to join us at Word of Life Inn at Schroon Lake New York for Becoming Teammates for Life or come on down to Texas and join us here in Midlothian October 29-31.
Because of His grace,
Dave and Mary Wyrtzen
PS. The Your Kids and Jesus and the Becoming Teammates for Life messages will be available in CD Albums later this fall. We’ll keep you informed.
If you want to support this ministry, send your gift to:
Truth Encounter
Box 580
Midlothian, TX 76065