Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Kids Say the Most Memorable Things

We're about a week away from our Kids Krusade service at JLM and the preparation has caused me to think back to other opportunities Becki and I have had in children's ministry. Anytime we talk about Sunday School and Children's Church we have to mention Nathan. If there was real-life version of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, it was Nathan. He was in our Sunday School class when we worked as youth ministers and Sunday School teachers at a home missions church in Indianapolis. It was Nathan who tied his own shoe laces to the table; just for kicks and just to make our lives more interesting.

It was also Nathan who provided one of the funniest moments in that church's history:
One of the usher/deacons was the keeper of the peace at the church. Nathan never made that easy. One particular service, while all the Sunday School classes were in the sanctuary with the adults, Nathan caused enough commotion to catch the usher's eye. The church sheriff headed for the seven-year old lawbreaker. He got Nathan out of the pew and into the center aisle. As he marched him down the middle of the sanctuary, Nathan looked up at him, and with complete sincerity said, "What are you gonna' do? Kill me?"

It took great will power to not laugh out loud in that moment. I will always believe that the usher cracked a smile, just for a second, before putting on his tough face again. I'll always remember Nathan's words in that moment. I hope he remembers some of ours.

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