Getting our Kids Involved in Ministry (part 1)

Written by Melody DietrichNovember 6, 2024

Dear friends and family,

Some months ago Jonathan and I were reading together about the importance of every church member being involved in ministry. God wants everyone to get involved in ministry. I remember asking Jonathan, “What can I do?” I am a busy mother: homeschooling, training our kids, teaching them to do work in the house or the garden, taking time to play with them too, besides all the housework and cooking that needs to be done etc. Jonathan reminded me that teaching and training our kids is my first work. That is what God wants me to put as first priority. I appreciated Jonathan’s encouragement. Teaching our kids to be true workers for God is my biggest and most important outreach. But while keeping this as first priority I felt God wanted me to do something more than what I was doing.  

As I thought about what I could do God helped me think of a plan! I need to reach out to this world through our kids. Help them get involved in ministry. Teach them the joy of helping others! Help them learn Bible stories and songs in French. Bring them out in the village to hand out tracks. Help them give away clothes and things that we don’t need to the poor and needy. As I thought about this I became excited. We could even think of a name to call the kids ministry. With the help of Gideon (our 11 year old son), he thought of a good name: Desert Tree Kids! Our kids (Gideon 11 years old, Liliana 9 years old, Eliora 5 years old) were excited about getting involved and doing outreach.  

So here are a few things that our kids have helped with recently. First I will share the story of an old man that lost one of his legs a few months ago due to uncontrolled infection, and how are kids helped this man. This man helped us in our ministry several years ago with some translation work. He knows the local language quite well and is more educated then a lot of people around here. Jonathan befriended him and appreciated his help. But unfortunately something happened that we don’t fully understand except that the devil tries to create trouble. And although we had just been trying to help, the man ended up doing something very unkind to us. We forgave him and over the years Jonathan treated him kindly. If he met the man on the road, for example, he would greet him kindly. Jonathan wanted the man to see that he still cared about him.  

Then, this year, the old man got a very bad infection that spread up his leg. He had to have his leg surgically removed to save his life. After this very sad event Jonathan went to visit him at his home. Jonathan wanted him to know that we are not holding anything against him. We care about him. The man told Jonathan about how difficult it was to get around. He had a stiff walker but the ground was so uneven that he would often fall. Without telling the man Jonathan and Beni (a local who really cares about people) decided to prepare a surprise for the him. Beni fixed up a tricycle that is for handicapped people. It’s a seat with 3 wheels which is pushed forward by using hands instead of feet; kind of like a tricycle with peddles up high for the hands.  

After everything was ready Jonathan and I asked our kids to come with us to deliver the surprise. They could ride the tricycle all the way to the cripples house! Of course they were very excited to be able to help in this way. I know it seems like just a small thing but in their minds it was encouraging them to think of others. Our older two kids took turns trying to steer and peddle with their hands while Eliora really enjoyed just riding.

The man was so shocked when we arrived that I think he almost cried. After telling him that this was for him and visiting a little bit we prayed with him. When we finished praying the man burst out into prayer and you could tell in his voice how really thankful he was. He prayed an earnest prayer to God of thanksgiving for this great blessing that would enable him to move about with much more ease. I think he was really shocked that we would do such a nice thing for him after what he had done to us. We were happy to do it! God says,

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

We hope that this gift will encourage him to give himself completely to God.  In the next newsletter I will share more about what our kids have been doing for ministry.

Thank you for your prayers and support! You are part of this great work!  

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In His service,
Jonathan, Melody, Gideon, Liliana, and Eliora Dietrich