A Seeing Church

We all desire to be seen and known.

My mother told me a story recently about when I was born. My name was put on the marquee at the gas station in town.

I had a grandmother who clipped out newspaper articles of all of us kids

I had a church that was there encourage me

There is a way in which you might argue that you want to be seen.

You may not want to be on stage, on the screen, or up front.

But we do not want to be alone. We do not want to feel invisible.

Nicole Johnson has written a beautiful article called, "I Am Invisible," and I am going to read a part of it:

It all began to make sense—the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I am on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. And inside I am thinking, Can't you see? I am on the phone. Obviously not. No one can see if I am on the phone or cooking or sweeping the floor or even standing on my head in the corner because no one can see me at all. I am invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more. 'Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?' Some days I am not a pair of hands; I am not even a human being; I am a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I am a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I am a car-to-order—'right around 5:30 please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated. But now they had all disappeared into the peanut butter never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone.

Story of Hagar

We don’t know much about Hagar. She is almost always referred to as the handmaiden.

As you may know when Sarah was not able to have children Abraham has a child with Hagar.

She is despised and mocked.

Abraham allowed for Sarah to do what he saw best for her.

Hagar is sent out into the dessert Genesis 16:13 “13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”

Personal Story:

I felt like God did not see me because my dad overlooked me.

Being overwhelmed by the fact that David’s dad overlooked him but God could see a king./ Promise you it was not the thought of being a King but the idea that God saw me that gave me strength.

God used a church to help me know God sees me

Youth Workers. God sees you.

Let us help make sure that everyone of babies, kids, and teens know that we have a God that sees us.

We want to be more intentional about not letting kids and youth fall between the cracks, going unseen and unnoticed.

As we can help kids know they are seen by God we an also cause them to believe the opposite

We don’t have all the answers but we know God has given us a gift and responsibility to reflect His character to the next generation

A Seeing Church

Knows that this generation needs the church to be a family like no modern generation before.

Knows more than a child’s name, we know their story.

Knows how to fill the gaps in their life. / family with a child with a short life expectancy. The church cared for the family. She became know as the church baby. Every kid should be seen as the church baby. Not excluding those from good homes. Especially those who have dedicated their children to the Lord.

Knows the need to pray for every child by name.

Knows they must help parents grasp their child’s potential