“Hear (shema), O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
 
Jesus, when asked to identify the greatest commandment in the Bible, recited the Shema and then amended it by including a verse from Leviticus 19:18 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He explained that all the Law and the Prophets hung on these two commandments. Love God – Love Others.
 
From the time a child is born until they graduate from high school, parents have approximately 940 weeks to impress the command to Love God – Love Others on the hearts of their children. While a parent’s job isn’t complete when the tassel is turned, the spiritual hardwiring most likely is. It is estimated that 85% of people who determine to follow Christ with their lives have made that decision before entering adulthood, most before the age of 12. Understanding the importance of this should impact how and where the 940 weeks are spent.
 
At Valley Christian Center we understand how precious time is and are committed to partnering with parents as they endeavor impress God’s truth on the hearts of their children. We consider this a sacred and strategic partnership between parents and the pastors, teachers and VCC volunteers who serve the hundreds of boys, girls and teenagers that fill this campus with a joyful noise every day at school and during our midweek and Sunday groups, classes and services. 940 weeks to help encourage, instruct and equip students for a lifetime of following Christ.
 
We believe that we can help children experience Jesus, grow in His abundant life and fall in love with Him. We also believe in coming alongside parents to equip them to be successful in fulfilling their God-given role as the spiritual leaders in their home. It is our belief that the greatest impact in a child’s life happens when the family and the church partner together.

Please consider how you can support, pray for and partner with our VCC parents, children and children’s ministry team members as we help kids discover God’s story in them!

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me.

Jennifer Davis
Children's Pastor