CELEBRATION OF SALVATION TEA PARTY
By Lisa Thatcher - Serving with her husband Don and children in Republic of Ireland
First Communion and Confirmation is very important to the children of Ireland, since ninety-two percent are Catholic. When a child is facing First Communion, there are huge parties given. The child receives large amounts of money and gifts. It is a very big day for all involved.
Ellen, a friend of our daughters, is a believer. We knew that she would be one of the only children in her class not participating in First Communion this year. We had been praying for Ellen that she would be content not having a part in the school activities for this event. Also, we were looking for a way to celebrate the fact that Ellen had accepted Christ within the last year and had been baptized.
The Lord placed an idea in my heart. We would have a tea party as a “Celebration of Salvation.” We decorated with crystal dishes and with a heart tea set. Our other decorations all centered on the fact that our girls and Ellen had much to celebrate because they had asked Jesus into their hearts.
The tea party began with a devotion reviewing what it means to be “saved.” Then we sang favorite songs, decorated cards, made a heart bracelet and homemade soap. At the conclusion of the party, I presented each girl with a sterling heart necklace. This necklace was to symbolize that each girl had asked Jesus into her heart. It was also a reminder that the Lord would never leave them nor forsake them. It was a very special day.
BARB AND SARAH
By Barbara Redlin, her husband Robb and two children serve with BIMI in Wales
Since moving to Wales, we have learned that there is an excessive amount of alcohol that is consumed here in the UK (and in much of Europe). It is done as a sport almost...even to see who can drink the most. But I didn't realize that many parents GIVE their teens (and sometimes younger) the alcohol. The logic is that if they are accustomed to drinking when they are young, they will not go overboard with it when they come of age.
Sarah is a teen who comes to our church off and on. She has been struggling with drinking for quite some time. After she told me about it, I made a list of verses on the computer with some art work on it so she might hang it up in her room or keep it out to see the verses on a daily basis.
She did just that...but one day for some reason she had thrown the list of verses in her purse before going out.
As she walked down to meet her friends, she reached in her purse to get her cell phone. Just as her friends asked her if she wanted a Strongbow (a can of alcohol), she saw the verses with the phone. She said she stopped and realized that she had to say no to them because she knew it was wrong. This occurred about lunch time when these teens were out in plain sight of authority, not caring or worrying that they would be caught.
She did say no and then listened for the next hour or so to the other teens giving her a hard time. I told her I was proud of her and would keep on praying, asking her if she'd like me to print out more verses to give to her friends or to even use as wallpaper for her room!