Shoal Creek's "Zones" - Why Your Kids Need To Be There

I know you can't quite tell what's going on in the picture, but what is being captured here is the Zones' dramatic (literally) effect on my child's spiritual journey.

You see, my son Everett has really gotten into Minecraft--just like yours, right? And for earning some good behavior points, he was able to procure a very plush skeleton. He was super excited to open it and play with it. And do you know what he spent hours doing that same night that Amazon Prime delivered our little skelly?

He decorated a cardboard box to turn it into a crib that would float down the Nile, like baby Moses. Let's go over that again. He decided to turn his skeleton into baby Moses, so he could make a crib for it, and then send said crib down the river so that a Queen of Egypt could raise little skelly.

Now, please know this; we have maybe talked about that particular bible story one time before. So I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was our Shoal Creek Children's Ministries--what we refer to as our "Zones"--that embedded the story of baby Moses deeply enough inside of him that he somehow did his own little Minecraft/Exodus crossover for two full hours. Which leads me to say this...

I am so thankful that our extremely committed Zone Directors and their insanely wonderful (and completely volunteer-led teams) give an hour of their time on Sundays so that my five year old son could somehow draw from his Zone experience and combine that with his own recreational play. The Zones have won over both of my boys, and they have built relationships with the volunteers that are leading them on a budding spiritual journey. I know for a fact that with out my boys' Zone volunteers, that picture you see would NOT exist. Without our Zone volunteers, my son's heart wouldn't have been able to take the daily things he experiences and cares about, like Minecraft, and join his little five year old world with God's world.

What I love about Shoal Creek's Zones is that they really are able to help our children process God's truth, God's relevance, and God's love for them in a way that "sticks" and leads to foundation that extends into the home.

Would you do me a favor and take the time to thank you Zone Director and Volunteers? Right now? Digitally? Or in person the next chance you get?

If you haven't tried our Zones yet, would you give them a chance? Or, if your child suffers some of that Sunday morning anxiety (which we do totally get!), maybe start swinging by your child's zone more regularly before or after service to help them get used to the faces that really do care about them?

Would you maybe take things a step further, and think about becoming part of the vision and mission that allow that picture you see to become a reality? Would you be willing to take a tour of a Zone, meet the Director, say "hi" to some of the regular volunteers, and consider becoming a person that brings the world of kids and the world of God together by giving up an hour on a Sunday?

If you have a kid, or have had a kid, in the Zones, and have benefitted from the service they provide, find a way to pay it forward in a way that's right for you.