SPEAKER_01: I want us now to go to the scriptures.
SPEAKER_01: So our scripture comes from the book of Psalms.
SPEAKER_01: So I request all of us to stand up.
SPEAKER_01: Psalm chapter 78, and we are going to read from 1 to 8.
SPEAKER_01: Media, if you can have.
SPEAKER_01: And the Bible says, My people, hear my teaching, my teaching, listen to the word of my mouth.
SPEAKER_01: I will open my mouth with a parable.
SPEAKER_01: I will utter hidden things.
SPEAKER_01: Things from God.
SPEAKER_01: We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
SPEAKER_01: He decreed status for statue for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born.
SPEAKER_01: And they in turn would tell their children, then they would put their trust in God and will not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands.
SPEAKER_01: They would not be like their ancestors, stubborn and religious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.
SPEAKER_01: Let's pray.
SPEAKER_01: Dear God, we come before you this afternoon.
SPEAKER_01: We want to thank you for this opportunity we have to remind ourselves the importance of teaching and even empowering our children with the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: We thank you, Lord, for each and every child.
SPEAKER_01: Parkland Baptist Church, you are blessed us with many children.
SPEAKER_01: You are blessed with wonderful parents who are keen and who always make sure that children come to church, Lord.
SPEAKER_01: We we bless you for them, Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And even as we continue in this service, we invite you to come and be with us.
SPEAKER_01: We want to thank you.
SPEAKER_01: We want to bless you.
SPEAKER_01: In Jesus' name we pray and believe.
SPEAKER_01: Amen.
SPEAKER_01: We can have our seat.
SPEAKER_01: In case you are here for the first time, I am Susan Wangera.
SPEAKER_01: I love the Lord as my personal savior.
SPEAKER_01: And I'm the children pastor.
SPEAKER_01: And I am grateful for the platform that God has given me.
SPEAKER_01: Our topic for today is empowering nations and parents on raising the next generation.
SPEAKER_01: And because we have a jubilee, we are celebrating Jubilee and we are saying the future starts now.
SPEAKER_01: So I choose the future starts now to be my topic for my sermon as we go through these psalms.
SPEAKER_01: When you read that psalm, you see the guidelines that were given.
SPEAKER_01: But I want us to know that in today's generation, they have a lot of opportunities.
SPEAKER_01: They have a lot of opportunities, unlike any other generation that grew up.
SPEAKER_01: And also they are so exposed to many things.
SPEAKER_01: They are exposed to many challenges through technology.
SPEAKER_01: There's a social media.
SPEAKER_01: There are many things that are changing.
SPEAKER_01: You know, morals are changing, people are different.
SPEAKER_01: The way when we are growing up, we knew how the family looks like.
SPEAKER_01: Nowadays, you hear there are different types of families.
SPEAKER_01: So the children growing up today, they have a lot of exposure.
SPEAKER_01: They are exposed to many things.
SPEAKER_01: And there are also a lot of influences.
SPEAKER_01: So as parents, we have to make sure we protect the heart and minds of our children.
SPEAKER_01: Because the battle is even has become more harder.
SPEAKER_01: You give the other day, is it yesterday?
SPEAKER_01: We had a function, and a small, I think a three-year-old boy took a phone of one of the teachers.
SPEAKER_01: And within no time, the boy was able to get the pin.
SPEAKER_01: And I was asking her, why did you give this boy the pin?
SPEAKER_01: But the boy just took the phone.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know what he did.
SPEAKER_01: Well, the only thing I know, he was able to access the phone.
SPEAKER_01: That is three years.
SPEAKER_01: Can you take yourself back?
SPEAKER_01: At three years, what did you know?
SPEAKER_01: In fact, for me, you know, I was in the village.
SPEAKER_01: Hey, watch her too.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know what I knew, but I am sure I could talk fluent kiku by then.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if I can talk it now.
SPEAKER_01: But the three year old I was, I knew I did not know much.
SPEAKER_01: But the children we are bringing them today, they have a lot of exposure.
SPEAKER_01: But even though our children are growing in a different generation, even if they are exposed to a lot of things, even if they might not understand some of the things that is happening to them, I want to remind us that home is the main place that our children can be taught the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: And the parents, God has entrusted them.
SPEAKER_01: God has given you that opportunity.
SPEAKER_01: And it's such a wonderful opportunity.
SPEAKER_01: I know it's a lot of hard work, yes, but I want us to know that home is a place that God has said this is where we are to teach our children.
SPEAKER_01: We are supposed to teach them the word of God, we are teaching them values, we are teaching them everything concerning their lives.
SPEAKER_01: And when I say home, it's all homes.
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't matter what kind of a home you come from.
SPEAKER_01: If your home has a mommy and daddy, good.
SPEAKER_01: You do it and you do it well.
SPEAKER_01: If your mommy has only either a mommy or a daddy alone, do it and do it well.
SPEAKER_01: If your home comes, one is what we call co-parenting, you don't live together, still do it and do it well.
SPEAKER_01: Wherever you are coming from, you as a parent, the little time that you have with your child, even in a blended family, the little time you have, you are the one to equip your child with the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: We cannot delegate that assignment because God, when God gave you a child, we say that children are gifts.
SPEAKER_01: And you say that when God gives us our children, he has entrusted them to us.
SPEAKER_01: We are stewards, we are custodians.
SPEAKER_01: They do not belong to us.
SPEAKER_01: They first belong to God, then he entrusts to you as a parent.
SPEAKER_01: And one of the reasons why he entrusts you as a parent is because he knows you are capable.
SPEAKER_01: So look at your neighbor if they are parents.
SPEAKER_01: If they look like your parents, look at them, tell them you are a capable parent.
SPEAKER_01: You are more than enough.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe this morning they woke up and the children were crying, they were making them get late, or maybe they have a teenager who did not come yesterday.
SPEAKER_01: Tell them you are a capable parent.
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
SPEAKER_01: In the scripture we've just read, I want us to go through it and remind ourselves three things.
SPEAKER_01: And number one, we are saying teach God, teach God's truth intentionally.
SPEAKER_01: As a parent, we must be intentional in teaching our children the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: Number two, we are saying we want to build children who know God personally.
SPEAKER_01: And number three, we are saying we want to live a legacy of faith that outlives us.
SPEAKER_01: When we look at that chapter, chapter 78, when it was Psalm 78, verses 1 to 8, these Psalms remind us the importance of us telling the others about God's word.
SPEAKER_01: The Psalm teaching that remembering God's faithfulness protects future generations from the mistakes.
SPEAKER_01: And you know, and you know, in every generation, they have a responsibility to intentionally pass God's truth to the next generation.
SPEAKER_01: A nation's future is not determined only by its economy or military or political leadership, it's determined by what the nation teaches their children.
SPEAKER_01: As Pacland Baptists are intentional, we want to teach our children the word of God because we know when we teach our children the word of God, we are securing their future.
SPEAKER_01: Because we know that a nation, a nation that intentionally teaches its children to know God secures its future.
SPEAKER_01: But a nation that neglects the next generation risks losing their spiritual heritage.
SPEAKER_01: And I pray that PBC, our PBC here, Westland, all our branches, all our mission station, that we shall never leave, we shall never forsake teaching the next generation.
SPEAKER_01: That we shall always be careful to invest, to be deliberate in ensuring that the faith, God's faithfulness that we have experienced, we shall pass it to the next generation.
SPEAKER_01: So that the mistake that we do, we shall also be able to help our children not to make them go through them again.
SPEAKER_01: Teach God's truth intentionally.
SPEAKER_01: When you read that chapter that we've just read in verse 4, the Bible says, We will not hide them from, we will not hide them from their descendants.
SPEAKER_01: We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy.
SPEAKER_01: We will not hide them from next descend, our descendant.
SPEAKER_01: We shall tell the next generation the praiseworthy of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonder that he has done.
SPEAKER_01: Faith, for us to transmit faith to our children, we have to be deliberate.
SPEAKER_01: It cannot just happen.
SPEAKER_01: We have to be deliberate to make sure that this faith is shared.
SPEAKER_01: The whole of this week you heard the way the children were talking, and we were teaching them about faith.
SPEAKER_01: Having a relationship with God.
SPEAKER_01: Faith is assurance of things hoped for, things not seen.
SPEAKER_01: You know, for you to be a Sunday school teacher, you must have a lot of faith.
SPEAKER_01: Let me tell you.
SPEAKER_01: Because when sometimes when the children come, I'm sure if Grace was to tell the story of John Mativo, the small boy John Mativo is still here.
SPEAKER_01: I'm sure if Grace was to give the story of the small John Mativo that worked in her class many years ago.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe he was making noise.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe he could carry a football and play in the compound.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe he was pinching the neighbor when they are seated.
SPEAKER_01: So for you to be a Sunday school teacher, it takes a lot of faith.
SPEAKER_01: When those children enter there, I see a bright future for them.
SPEAKER_01: I see God's vessels.
SPEAKER_01: I see even if they come and maybe they were fighting with their parents and the parents is annoyed, the child is crying.
SPEAKER_01: For those who know, I usually go and hug the child because I see a lot of potential in that child.
SPEAKER_01: For you to be a Sunday school teacher, you must have faith.
SPEAKER_01: You do not just look at what you are seeing.
SPEAKER_01: You tell yourself, yes, I'm seeing a naughty person who is doing wrong, but I know in the next five years this person will come in class.
SPEAKER_01: And my Sunday school teacher, especially the kindergarten one, they can tell you that when our children are coming in kindergarten, sometimes they cry.
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes they they even pinch the teachers.
SPEAKER_01: Can you imagine?
SPEAKER_01: That is sad.
SPEAKER_01: And they come from homes.
SPEAKER_01: And you know when a child is beating or slapping a teacher and they are coming from a home.
SPEAKER_01: I can tell you that clap that slapping is not starting here.
SPEAKER_01: It has started at home and it was allowed.
SPEAKER_01: So, but there when they slap, they know what happens.
SPEAKER_01: I call the parent.
SPEAKER_01: I call the parent and I have an address with the with the with the with the parent.
SPEAKER_01: So we are saying we want to transmit faith to our children.
SPEAKER_01: We want our children to grow knowing, having faith in God.
SPEAKER_01: So you as a parent, and when I'm talking about a parent here, it's all of us.
SPEAKER_01: There are children all over.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you are seated there and you're saying, now my children have grown, they are no longer here, or I don't have a child.
SPEAKER_01: We all have an opportunity to equip children.
SPEAKER_01: In the neighborhood, I'm sure some of you might never have children, but there are some children who come to your house.
SPEAKER_01: You have an opportunity to teach those children the word of God because we have a duty.
SPEAKER_01: Because God did not just allow or say that the discipleship of our children will start in Sunday school or even in a Christian school is supposed to start at home.
SPEAKER_01: And I can tell you in here we teach our children the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: We also have a school.
SPEAKER_01: So if you're looking for a school, we have a Christian school from kindergarten to grade nine.
SPEAKER_01: And I can assure you that in that school, one of the homework that we give, we give the homework of a memory verse.
SPEAKER_01: I'm the actually, I'm the one who there, I'm usually a patrol, I'm a chaplain.
SPEAKER_01: I'm the one who teaches them that word.
SPEAKER_01: But let me tell you, the duty of teaching our children the word of God does not belong to a Christian school, does also not belong to a church.
SPEAKER_01: It belongs to the parents.
SPEAKER_01: So our home are supposed to be the discipleship center.
SPEAKER_01: That's why in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 6, verses 6 to 7, the word of God reminds us these commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
SPEAKER_01: Impress them on your children.
SPEAKER_01: Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.
SPEAKER_01: When you lie down and when you get up, that reminds us that we are to teach our children the word of God at all times.
SPEAKER_01: The book of Proverbs is also reminded that we start off our children in the way they should go.
SPEAKER_01: And even when they are not old, when they are old, they shall not depart from it.
SPEAKER_01: And I want to encourage a parent here.
SPEAKER_01: Maybe you are when your children were small, things were working very well.
SPEAKER_01: They were even coming to Sunday school, they were singing in the choir the way this one was singing.
SPEAKER_01: They were coming with the confidence to say a memory verse here.
SPEAKER_01: But as the years went up, they became a teenager, they became a young adult.
SPEAKER_01: The relationship started moving.
SPEAKER_01: And even now it's wider and wider and wider.
SPEAKER_01: I want to encourage you if you are here.
SPEAKER_01: What you did when they are small, it is not in vain.
SPEAKER_01: Whatever you did, that investment, because you used to bring your children in Sunday school, you prayed for them, you did everything for them.
SPEAKER_01: But something happens in life that they have changed.
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes even you don't want to talk about them.
SPEAKER_01: I want you to know that God is still at work and our God is faithful.
SPEAKER_01: And also remember, that child belongs to God first.
SPEAKER_01: Before they belong to you, they belong to God first.
SPEAKER_01: And that's why in the first service I told the parent if you have a teenager who comes home after one in the morning, one in the morning, no one in the morning, right?
SPEAKER_01: If you have a teenager that comes one in the morning, and you you are there waiting for them to call you or to knock the door to open for them, I want you to be sleeping.
SPEAKER_01: Because where they are, they are having a good time.
SPEAKER_01: But you, you are here, you are looking at the clock, you're saying, oh, what is happening to my child?
SPEAKER_01: That child is already having fun with their friends somewhere.
SPEAKER_01: So you better enjoy your sleep, pray, tell God, God, I gave you that child when they were small.
SPEAKER_01: And now they have decided to go their way.
SPEAKER_01: You leave them.
SPEAKER_01: And this Proverbs 22, 6, it's true.
SPEAKER_01: We train up our children in the way they should go.
SPEAKER_01: When they grow up, they shall follow.
SPEAKER_01: And even if they don't follow, even if they meander, I want you to know that they shall still come.
SPEAKER_01: The parents of young adults, amen.
SPEAKER_01: Amen.
SPEAKER_01: I know for the parents of the small ones might not understand.
SPEAKER_01: You know, this one, they are sweet, they are nice, they hug you, they ask you, mommy, how was your day?
SPEAKER_01: Let me tell you, the teenager, some of them, and the YPs, they see you coming, they lock themselves in the room.
SPEAKER_01: And remember, they are in your house.
SPEAKER_01: Can you imagine?
SPEAKER_01: That is your house, you are paying everything.
SPEAKER_01: But they just you enter, they see you coming at the door, they lock the door.
SPEAKER_01: But we trained them in the ways of the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And because we train them, we know that God is at work in their lives.
SPEAKER_01: In the book of Ephesians, chapter 6 and verse 4, we have we are reminded there that we, as fathers, we should not exapprate our children, but instead we should bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: That is our duty.
SPEAKER_01: Our duty is to ensure that we are training our children and instructing them in the ways of the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And just like we know Timothy was taught the word of God by the mother and the grandmother, that's our duty.
SPEAKER_01: And even later, Paul was able to testify and talk of this sincere faith of Timothy, of the faith of his mother and even his grandmother.
SPEAKER_01: So again, in the first service, I requested all the grandparents.
SPEAKER_01: Now, if your grandparents, please stand up.
SPEAKER_01: Grandparents, please stand up.
SPEAKER_01: Grandparents, we mean in this service we don't have grandparents.
SPEAKER_01: Oh yes.
SPEAKER_01: The grandparents were standing.
SPEAKER_01: Now, please, I want to give you an assignment.
SPEAKER_01: When your grandchildren come, do not go to take them out, do not go to spoil them, teach them the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: And if your grandchildren do not have a Bible, please make sure you go and buy a Bible.
SPEAKER_01: And if you buy the Bible, it's not for fun.
SPEAKER_01: When they come, give them a memory verse.
SPEAKER_01: You know, it's so nice.
SPEAKER_01: You know, children love their grandparents, right?
SPEAKER_01: Boys and girls, we love our grandparents.
SPEAKER_01: Even me, I love my grandmother.
SPEAKER_01: So when you when your children come, your grandchildren come, teach mom Beatrice, teach your grandchildren.
SPEAKER_01: And I know Mom Beatrice brings her children to Sunday school, and I know many of you do that.
SPEAKER_01: So, grandparents have given you an assignment, and because you are standing before God's people and God's house, please do it and do it well.
SPEAKER_01: You can have your seat.
SPEAKER_01: So we are saying that as grandparents and parents, that we need to teach our children, and that role cannot be delegated.
SPEAKER_01: Teachers can teach them, but you also have a role.
SPEAKER_01: And even as a church, we say that the church we do not entertain children, but we teach them.
SPEAKER_01: We must intentionally disciple our children.
SPEAKER_01: If the future is to start now, and the future has already started, we must be diligent and committed in teaching and discipling our children.
SPEAKER_01: Children later become what the parents wish, they often become what the parents model.
SPEAKER_01: What are we modeling as the parents?
SPEAKER_01: May God help us to model what we want them to be before God.
SPEAKER_01: Point number two is build children who know God personally.
SPEAKER_01: In the book of Psalms, chapter 78, 6 to 7, so the next generation would know them, then they would put their trust in God and not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands.
SPEAKER_01: Our prayer is that the children we have in our homes or even in our schools, and even in this church, Parkland Baptist Church, is that we shall always teach them to know God personally.
SPEAKER_01: That as they are stored the word of God, that word will transform them.
SPEAKER_01: It's not just about knowing the Bible story, and by the way it's good to have the Bible stories.
SPEAKER_01: And in fact, the ones in Christian school, they use some of the Bible stories to do their CRE.
SPEAKER_01: But that it goes beyond the CRE.
SPEAKER_01: It goes beyond that Bible story for them having a personal relationship, having desiring to interact with God on their personal level.
SPEAKER_01: My prayer for all the children who come to our church and even the school, and even the ones who have gone through our, as you heard, I've been a Sunday school teacher for many years.
SPEAKER_01: And one of the prayers I pray, I always pray that the children who has gone through our hands will never get lost.
SPEAKER_01: And that even those children will be able to interact with God personally.
SPEAKER_01: They can go to a pastor, it's good to go to a pastor.
SPEAKER_01: Personally, I also go to my pastors, but it goes beyond that.
SPEAKER_01: They know I can talk to God myself, I can pray, I can read the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: And that's why we say that we want to build children who can be able to know God personally so that they are able to develop their relationship with God, even if their parents are not there, even if they are to relocate and go to another country, maybe even a country that does not belong, but believe in God, that child can still be able to interact with God.
SPEAKER_01: They can be able to read the Bible and pray and know that they have direct access.
SPEAKER_01: So I pray that our children will grow knowing.
SPEAKER_01: Yes, I need somebody to pray for me, but I also have a direct access.
SPEAKER_01: And we as a parent, we can help our children to know.
SPEAKER_01: Give your children an opportunity when you are having family devotion.
SPEAKER_01: Let your child pray.
SPEAKER_01: Even if the prayer is short, let the even if it is two lines or two words, it's okay.
SPEAKER_01: God hears.
SPEAKER_01: God did not tell us that uh when we pray a long prayer, He's going to listen to us.
SPEAKER_01: He did not say we need to pray.
SPEAKER_01: Whichever words we say, let them pray because we know that heaven is also open for them.
SPEAKER_01: The book of John 17, verse 3 says, Now this.
SPEAKER_01: Internal life that they know God.
SPEAKER_01: You, they know you as the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
SPEAKER_01: Let's desire that our children will know God and know Him, the true God, so that even when they go through life and other religions come, they might be exposed to other religions.
SPEAKER_01: As long as they are alive in this world, there are many things happening nowadays.
SPEAKER_01: Let's help our children that even when that moment comes, they are able to know.
SPEAKER_01: No, the God that I know is a living God, is a true God.
SPEAKER_01: He gave his only begotten Son, and Jesus Christ died on the cross because of their sins.
SPEAKER_01: And also they can also be able to declare the way Joshua declared.
SPEAKER_01: Joshua said, As for me and my household, as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: Because the children you're seeing now here, they were saying they are six, some were saying they are nine.
SPEAKER_01: They were those ages.
SPEAKER_01: But in the next 20 years, where are they going to be?
SPEAKER_01: There'll be mommies and daddies, right?
SPEAKER_01: There'll be how many people?
SPEAKER_01: Right now they are small and very, but in the next 25 years, there are people who will be bringing their children here to be dedicated.
SPEAKER_01: There are the people who shall be conducting their marriages.
SPEAKER_01: So how I pray that just the way they are growing, that even when that time comes, they shall be able to declare the way Joshua declared, that as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And how do we help them do that?
SPEAKER_01: We pray, we allow them to pray personally, we help them read their Bibles every day.
SPEAKER_01: Let it make a norm in your house that before you sleep, okay, depending on what time works better for you.
SPEAKER_01: Some people they can do it in the evening, some people can do it in the morning.
SPEAKER_01: Let the children lead the Bible.
SPEAKER_01: Worship.
SPEAKER_01: Have a time of praise and worship in the house.
SPEAKER_01: If they want to sing their songs, let them sing.
SPEAKER_01: But let them let the children know that they can actually worship.
SPEAKER_01: And today we thank God for the choir.
SPEAKER_01: They led us so well.
SPEAKER_01: Let's appreciate them some more.
SPEAKER_01: Give your children an opportunity to serve.
SPEAKER_01: Let us teach our children to serve when they are still small.
SPEAKER_01: You know?
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes when they go up there, it might be hard for them to come back.
SPEAKER_01: But when they get used to serving now, some of the teachers we have who are Sunday school teachers now, they started by serving.
SPEAKER_01: You know, they could volunteer.
SPEAKER_01: They could come and say, Pastor Susan, can I volunteer?
SPEAKER_01: And they volunteered.
SPEAKER_01: When we were doing training, they came for training and now they are teachers.
SPEAKER_01: Let us give our children opportunity to serve.
SPEAKER_01: In our Sunday school, we have opportunity for the children to serve.
SPEAKER_01: What happens is we request the child to come for two services.
SPEAKER_01: That means the parent must be willing to wait for them for those two services.
SPEAKER_01: One service they teach, I mean, they sit in their class and they are taught, and the second service, they volunteer.
SPEAKER_01: Because we want these children to grow knowing they can actually serve God.
SPEAKER_01: Even at their age, they don't have to wait to be old, even where they are.
SPEAKER_01: They can serve God.
SPEAKER_01: So help our children also to know they can serve.
SPEAKER_01: And also help them to trust God.
SPEAKER_01: Because we know the more we keep teaching them, we our children will be able to have faith and they shall be able to interact with God for themselves.
SPEAKER_01: And parents introduce children to God, but every child must eventually know Him personally.
SPEAKER_01: And that's my prayer that our children will know God personally.
SPEAKER_01: My point number three is that leave a legacy of faith that outlives you.
SPEAKER_01: Psalm 78, verse 8, the Bible says, Then they would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation.
SPEAKER_01: Every generation either builds or breaks spiritual legacy.
SPEAKER_01: Children inherit much more than wealth or more than money.
SPEAKER_01: They inherit beliefs, they inherit habits, character, priorities, and values.
SPEAKER_01: What do you want your children to inherit?
SPEAKER_01: It's good to save for them.
SPEAKER_01: That is very important.
SPEAKER_01: But also, are you investing in them?
SPEAKER_01: The only way you can invest in them is giving them the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: You can invest for, and you can invest in them.
SPEAKER_01: For something can happen.
SPEAKER_01: You know, they can grow up, they can decide to use whatever you invested for them, and it goes to waste.
SPEAKER_01: You something can happen.
SPEAKER_01: You maybe you are not there, the family members take it.
SPEAKER_01: But whatever you invest in your child, no one will ever take it from them.
SPEAKER_01: When you invest habits, godly habits, godly character, teaching our children priority.
SPEAKER_01: Does your children know what is number one priority in our home?
SPEAKER_01: Is going to school number one priority in our home?
SPEAKER_01: Is going to work, number one priority, is going to church, number one priority, is hanging out with our friends, number one in our with our in our home.
SPEAKER_01: Let us help our children to see the priorities.
SPEAKER_01: Because we know again, we keep saying children imitate what we are doing.
SPEAKER_01: If you teach your children that on Sunday you can oversleep, what do you think will happen to them?
SPEAKER_01: Because if you teach your children to oversleep on Sunday, then one day when they move out of your home, their university, and they are staying outside home, and you are calling them at eight and asking them if they have gone to church.
SPEAKER_01: Remember, remember you you taught them on Sunday you can oversleep, right?
SPEAKER_01: But when they have moved out, you want them to go to church where they are.
SPEAKER_01: Does that mass add up?
SPEAKER_01: You already taught them on Sunday you can oversleep.
SPEAKER_01: But now that they have moved out, you expect them that they must go to church and go to church early.
SPEAKER_01: Let us model what we want to see.
SPEAKER_01: Let us our children know our priorities.
SPEAKER_01: You know, let our children know on Sunday.
SPEAKER_01: We can be doing many other things, but we have a priority of waking up and going to God's house so that we can worship Him.
SPEAKER_01: And also let them know the importance of uh fellowshipping with one another.
SPEAKER_01: I know some of us here they prefer Bed Baptists.
SPEAKER_01: When I asked the children, I did not see you last week, where were you?
SPEAKER_01: So my parents said we do Bible Baptist.
SPEAKER_01: Now, you can do Bible Baptist.
SPEAKER_01: But remember, this child also needs to fellowship with other believers.
SPEAKER_01: And we don't, do we fellowship with other believers in the bed?
SPEAKER_01: When you're doing Bible Baptist, do you have fellowship with other believers there?
SPEAKER_01: No, let them come.
SPEAKER_01: Let them come and meet other other children.
SPEAKER_01: They share their testimony.
SPEAKER_01: You heard the teachers were saying they were told to go and share with others.
SPEAKER_01: So let us let our children know that going to church is a priority.
SPEAKER_01: So that even when they are older, they are out of their home, they shall always remember.
SPEAKER_01: Mom and dad used to say, Sunday, we must go to church.
SPEAKER_01: And they will not struggle.
SPEAKER_01: They can plan their days so well to make sure that this is a priority.
SPEAKER_01: Also, priority of working hard.
SPEAKER_01: You know?
SPEAKER_01: Let our children know that they need to work hard.
SPEAKER_01: Work hard in school, work hard in the house.
SPEAKER_01: And you know, for some of us, I know we give our children duties and we tell them I'll buy you something.
SPEAKER_01: Are you really telling that is a priority?
SPEAKER_01: No, because you're telling them you can do the dishes, then I'll buy you ice cream.
SPEAKER_01: Really?
SPEAKER_01: They are supposed to grow up knowing.
SPEAKER_01: They are supposed to clean their dishes.
SPEAKER_01: There could be a house help in the house, but these children also need to know they are to do housework.
SPEAKER_01: Because if you don't train them to do the housework, again, add them 20 years.
SPEAKER_01: They have left, you have paid for them to study in Canada, for example.
SPEAKER_01: Who'll be washing the dishes for them?
SPEAKER_01: Will you be able to send a house help there?
SPEAKER_01: Even here in the campus, when they move from home and go to campus, they are used to their parents doing everything for them, mopping the house, the house girl washes their clothes or they have a machine.
SPEAKER_01: When they go to stay near campus, who will be doing that work for them?
SPEAKER_01: Let us teach our children the priorities.
SPEAKER_01: Hard work.
SPEAKER_01: We must teach our children hard work and help them to know that it is important.
SPEAKER_01: Character.
SPEAKER_01: You know?
SPEAKER_01: Let us help our children to know character is very important.
SPEAKER_01: How they respect one another, how they interact with one another, how they how we interact with other people at home or even in their neighborhood.
SPEAKER_01: So let us pray that we are going to teach our children things that they are even going to at least, even when we are not there, that our children don't have to do the right thing because we are there.
SPEAKER_01: But even when we are not there, they can be able to do the right thing because that is why they were brought up.
SPEAKER_01: That we we shall not be able to say, oh, you know, this generation was not taught.
SPEAKER_01: But we shall be saying those children were taught well, and now they are also teaching their children.
SPEAKER_01: Because we see in the book of Judges, chapter 2, verse 10, we see uh something that had happened there that says, after that that whole generation had gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who neither knew the Lord or what he had done for Islam.
SPEAKER_01: How I pray that all the generation will grow in Parkland's Baptist Church.
SPEAKER_01: They shall always teach other generations, that there will never be a gap whereby we shall say that there's a generation that failed to teach the next one.
SPEAKER_01: And I know our leadership is very keen to ensuring that all the generations that grow up here shall always be taught the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: That one generation commence your work to another, and all of them, we shall, that will be the way that we shall be able to ask.
SPEAKER_01: And we look at the life of Abraham.
SPEAKER_01: Abraham, God trusted Abraham because he knew Abraham would command his children after him to keep the ways of the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: How I pray that even you and I will be like Abraham, that God will trust us because he knows we shall keep the ways of the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: And God is faithful.
SPEAKER_01: We have seen what he has done.
SPEAKER_01: We are celebrating 50 years.
SPEAKER_01: Since 1976, God has been so faithful in this church.
SPEAKER_01: There are many things that have happened, but here we are.
SPEAKER_01: We are looking back and we are saying, Lord, if it is not for the first people who are there, who ensured there was a youth ministry, who ensured there was a Sunday school teacher, I mean Sunday school, the children ministry, who ensured there was a men's fellowship, youth fellowship.
SPEAKER_01: Where could we be now?
SPEAKER_01: As we look back, we are grateful to God that the people who are there before us, they did well.
SPEAKER_01: Again, thank you, Madam Grace, because you taught.
SPEAKER_01: Here we are, we have John.
SPEAKER_01: John also, I met John through his children because I taught his children in Sunday school.
SPEAKER_01: He and many of you here, you have been keen in ensuring your children are taught the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: So we pray that generation that will continue will always come.
SPEAKER_01: But now I have a question for each one of us, and especially the parents.
SPEAKER_01: And I'm asking, if your children lived exactly like you, would they love God?
SPEAKER_01: Would they serve faithfully?
SPEAKER_01: Would they pray?
SPEAKER_01: Would they forgive?
SPEAKER_01: And would they trust Christ?
SPEAKER_01: And that is a personal question.
SPEAKER_01: You don't have to answer it.
SPEAKER_01: Because we know that children learn more from what they see than what we say.
SPEAKER_01: We can tell them many words, but they observe us, they imitate us, you know?
SPEAKER_01: Inheritance is what you leave to your children.
SPEAKER_01: Legacy is what you leave in your children.
SPEAKER_01: What legacy do you want to live in your children?
SPEAKER_01: What legacy do you want to live in the generation that will come after you?
SPEAKER_01: And how do some of the practical ways we can do that today as parents?
SPEAKER_01: Is have daily time of prayers.
SPEAKER_01: Read the Bible together.
SPEAKER_01: Attend church as a family.
SPEAKER_01: And when you come to church, if you have young people, please make sure they have gone to the youth tent.
SPEAKER_01: If you have children, make sure when the children are released from the here sanctuary, they have gone.
SPEAKER_01: And after the class, ask them.
SPEAKER_01: I can assure you, from one year old, one year old and two year old, the parents can confirm.
SPEAKER_01: But from three year old to 14, because that's the age that we run in the children's ministry, every Sunday there's a memory verse.
SPEAKER_01: Next Sunday, when you pick your children after service, ask them what was the Bible.
SPEAKER_01: Actually, there's always a Bible story and a memory verse.
SPEAKER_01: Ask your children.
SPEAKER_01: If maybe the child did not understand the memory verse well, help them understand.
SPEAKER_01: If there was a mixed up of names, like it happens sometimes with the children, lead the Bible together and let them sing.
SPEAKER_01: So that they can be able to actually know even mommy and dad.
SPEAKER_01: And you can also be the teacher of your children.
SPEAKER_01: You know, you have the Bible, you can be the one to lead even your child to Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Speak blessing over your children.
SPEAKER_01: It's good for us to be blessing our children.
SPEAKER_01: Let's speak blessing to our children, not only when they are good or when they have done very well in school, even when they have not.
SPEAKER_01: They are still our children.
SPEAKER_01: We were given by God.
SPEAKER_01: We cannot give the neighbor.
SPEAKER_01: So it's for us to take care of them just the way they are.
SPEAKER_01: But remember, we also have to keep correcting them and correct them in love.
SPEAKER_01: Also says, celebrate spiritual growth more than academic.
SPEAKER_01: I know sometimes we are very happy when they do well.
SPEAKER_01: But when they get saved, we don't even care.
SPEAKER_01: When a child comes home and tells you, Today I ask Jesus Christ to come in my heart.
SPEAKER_01: We are not keen.
SPEAKER_01: When a child comes and tells you that, follow up, get to know which alias are they struggling in their faith.
SPEAKER_01: Help them.
SPEAKER_01: Encourage your children to discover their gifts.
SPEAKER_01: These children are gifted.
SPEAKER_01: Any child anywhere, in Trucana, in Malzabed, in Nairobi, every child has a gift.
SPEAKER_01: Help our children to be able to discover their God-given gift.
SPEAKER_01: Create opportunities for children to serve others.
SPEAKER_01: Create opportunities to help your children to serve.
SPEAKER_01: And here in Parkland, we have that opportunity.
SPEAKER_01: If you want your children to serve, you are welcome to see us next Sunday and we can be able to help them.
SPEAKER_01: Strong families build strong churches.
SPEAKER_01: Strong churches build strong communities.
SPEAKER_01: Strong communities build strong nations.
SPEAKER_01: The future of any nation is being shaped in today's homes, classrooms, and churches.
SPEAKER_01: If we desire transform nation tomorrow, we must invest in transformed child today.
SPEAKER_01: My prayer for Parkrans Baptist Church is that we shall be able to invest in transformed child today so that even if the days to come, we shall always have people who fear God.
SPEAKER_01: And my question is, what will your children inherit?
SPEAKER_01: Will they inherit wealth but no faith?
SPEAKER_01: Education and no purpose, success but no, sorry, education but no wisdom, success and no purpose, or will they inherit a living relationship with Jesus Christ?
SPEAKER_01: The future truly starts now.
SPEAKER_01: So I'm going to invite our associate pastor to come.
SPEAKER_01: And as he comes, my my prayer and my request to Parkland's Baptist family is that we commit ourselves before God to pray for the next generation, to teach God's word diligently, and to model Christianity wherever we are.
SPEAKER_01: And for those who have children to make sure they disciple them intentionally.
SPEAKER_01: God bless you.
SPEAKER_00: Let's put our hands together again and appreciate uh Pastor Susan and for that uh very profound and passionate message that has come home for me.
SPEAKER_00: And I want to believe has come home for everyone who is here today, those in the pavilion and those who are worshiping with us around the world.
SPEAKER_00: Isn't God good?
SPEAKER_00: Isn't this refreshing?
SPEAKER_00: And we are saying hashtag the future starts now, the future is here.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
SPEAKER_00: Another hand, I thank God for this team.
SPEAKER_00: This is wonderful.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_00: So, Pastor Susan, we appreciate you.
SPEAKER_00: All the teachers uh who serve very closely with you, the parents who are here, we also appreciate you, the church leaders' leadership for creating or fomenting the right environment for these children to grow in the ways of the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: All those who have supported this ministry, either now or in the past, we thank you very much.
SPEAKER_00: We are who we are because of your prayers and also because of your support.
SPEAKER_00: In a moment, I'm going to be leading us in a prayer.
SPEAKER_00: But uh, Pastor Susan has made it very, very clear that uh we need to pass on our spiritual um heritage, we need to pass on our spiritual heritage from Psalm chapter 78, verse 1 to 8.
SPEAKER_00: And he said that we need to teach God's word intentionally, we need to build uh children who know God personally, and we need to live a legacy of faith that outlives us.
SPEAKER_00: She did uh raise the issue of inheritance, saying that that means what we live to our children, and moved on to also define legacy as that which we live in our children.
SPEAKER_00: We need to give our children both.
SPEAKER_00: But uh, if we just give them material inheritance without a uh a spiritual foundation, then she did say that they will actually destroy what comes in their way.
SPEAKER_00: But this church, Parklands Baptist Church, we are committed to granting our children uh a heritage, a legacy, a spiritual heritage.
SPEAKER_00: And I bless the Lord because it's been modeled very clearly by Pastor Susan, with the teachers teaching these children, and our children are growing in the ways of the Lord, and they are beginning to serve God in different places, even in their schools and also in their homes.
SPEAKER_00: And I'm confident that Pastor Susan, with this kind of commitment, the future that we say starts now, shall be protected, shall be validated, and eventually we shall enjoy the harvest of the same.
SPEAKER_00: Here in the service, of course, you have seen the model, Grace Gitaka.
SPEAKER_00: I've known her for a long time.
SPEAKER_00: And uh she took uh Dr.
SPEAKER_00: Mativeo John through Sunday school.
SPEAKER_00: He was nine years old.
SPEAKER_00: I've also known Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John for a long time.
SPEAKER_00: Would you stand, Grace, because it is modeled here, and Dr.
SPEAKER_00: Mativo, uh, would you stand?
SPEAKER_00: And you know, as a church, we are celebrating what the Lord is able to do.
SPEAKER_00: And Grace, thank you.
SPEAKER_00: I'm saying this openly, publicly, on behalf of this church, for the position and role you took to pass on a spiritual heritage to Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John Mativeo, who has also passed on to his children, Akina Dulcie, Akina Peggy, uh, and many other uh young people, who has provided leadership in this church.
SPEAKER_00: We are very grateful to you.
SPEAKER_00: And uh as a point of contact, we want to appreciate and celebrate every mother, every father, every grandfather who is spending time uh investing in passing on a spiritual heritage.
SPEAKER_00: And so, Pastor Susan, there is a witness next to you.
SPEAKER_00: There are many witnesses here, others are following online.
SPEAKER_00: And uh, if you're passing on your spiritual heritage, I want you to clap for yourself.
SPEAKER_00: Let's clap for ourselves.
SPEAKER_00: I really want to thank God.
SPEAKER_00: And this is the DNA of Parkland's Baptist Church, um, Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John Mattevo, who was nine years old at that particular time, moves on through school systems, eventually gets a PhD in civil engineering, and today he's engineer, Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John Mattevo.
SPEAKER_00: Hallelujah.
SPEAKER_00: May I say something now, turning to I've moved from parents and mentors now to the young generation, and say that your future is bright.
SPEAKER_00: Are you listening to this, Pastor?
SPEAKER_00: Your future is bright.
SPEAKER_00: I give you Psalm 112, verse 2.
SPEAKER_00: It says, You shall be strong and mighty in the land.
SPEAKER_00: Parents, do you agree with me?
SPEAKER_00: These children shall be strong and mighty in the land.
SPEAKER_00: If it happened to Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John Mativ, through this DE of Parkland's Baptist Church, and through all of us who are parents and grandparents, it shall also happen to you.
SPEAKER_00: And um, let me also say verse.
SPEAKER_00: 3 of Psalm 112.
SPEAKER_00: To you, children, I say, your homes shall be filled with riches and wealth.
SPEAKER_00: Are you connecting?
SPEAKER_00: So we are passing both a spiritual heritage and also a material heritage, and our children shall be so mighty in the land, and wealth and riches shall be in their houses.
SPEAKER_00: Let me also say something else.
SPEAKER_00: You shall grow like Jesus in stature, in wisdom, in favor with man and with God.
SPEAKER_00: The future starts now, the destiny is clear.
SPEAKER_00: This conference here, therefore, bequeaths this generation by a prophetic statement: a future that is secure and a future that is bright.
SPEAKER_00: And therefore, together as a congregation, to get to the destination we just talked about, there is grace here, there's Dr.
SPEAKER_00: Mativo there.
SPEAKER_00: We are here, we have our children, and there is a whole pathway to this destiny.
SPEAKER_00: Together we decree, and also prophetically, that their path is clear, that their doors are open, that the mountains are leveled, that the potholes are removed, that the devil is kept away, that these children here, their star shall keep shining, their star shall not be stolen, their star shall not be replaced, their star shall not be suffocated.
SPEAKER_00: These children will rise from glory to glory.
SPEAKER_00: And so Isaiah 60, verse 1 shall become real for them.
SPEAKER_00: And I speak to you, arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
SPEAKER_00: And then verse 3 of Isaiah 60 says this nations will come to your light, and kings to the rising of your dawn.
SPEAKER_00: You know, you could easily become the president of Kenya.
SPEAKER_00: Hallelujah.
SPEAKER_00: Stand up.
SPEAKER_00: I'm talking to this girl, and I'm talking to her prophetically.
SPEAKER_00: If grace, you had an impartation on Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John, pastors, and all fathers and grandfathers, join me in making a declaration over this girl.
SPEAKER_00: Your future is secure, your future is bright.
SPEAKER_00: I see a Chief Justice.
SPEAKER_00: I also see a head of state.
SPEAKER_00: And the leaders of the nations are actually here.
SPEAKER_00: And we are looking at you with eyes of faith.
SPEAKER_00: And so, as a congregation, thank you very much.
SPEAKER_00: As a congregation, we've made a declaration based on Pastor Susan's uh uh sermon today.
SPEAKER_00: The future starts now, the destiny is clear, we have delivered it through a prophetic declaration.
SPEAKER_00: Whatever may be in between here that could stop them from getting there is uprooted, it is dismantled, it is overthrown, it is completely destroyed.
SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_00: That is the declaration of this conference today, as we think about our jubilee.
SPEAKER_00: We have come 50 years.
SPEAKER_00: There is a DNA we have, we are now imparting in this one.
SPEAKER_00: And we are talking with the moderator uh earlier and also Dr.
SPEAKER_00: John, some of the things we need now to put together as far as the vision of this church, uh brother Sam, is concerned, because we are seeing ourselves doing great and mighty things.
SPEAKER_00: And why are we strong when we meet the way we met?
SPEAKER_00: Because of these ones.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, we feel so strong because we have a generation here that is backing us, walking with us, praying with us, and for that reason, Parklands Baptist Church will be there 50 years to come.
SPEAKER_00: There will be 70 years, 80 years, how many years?
SPEAKER_00: 60 something.
SPEAKER_00: You'll be how many years?
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yes, 50 years from now, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00: Plus your age, 50 plus your age, and your teacher is written blessed.
SPEAKER_00: You are blessed uh big time.
SPEAKER_00: So these ones will be there.
SPEAKER_00: Me, I probably will be in heaven somewhere, uh enjoying myself uh in heaven.
SPEAKER_00: But we are confident and we are coming together to put together this vision that takes us many, many years to come.
SPEAKER_00: And so, Parkland's Baptist Church, we are so blessed.
SPEAKER_00: Those following online, all of us are blessed.
SPEAKER_00: Uh, we have a powerful future.
SPEAKER_00: When you go home today, enjoy with these children, have a nice meal.
SPEAKER_00: The other time I said buy them a pizza.
SPEAKER_00: Some parents came and said, Parsi, you made it made it so hard, you know, because it costs.
SPEAKER_00: I am saying it again: buy them a pizza after this.
SPEAKER_00: Let them get a pizza.
SPEAKER_00: And you know the pizzas you like, the different pizzas.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, God is blessing your parents and guardians, and money is coming, and you're going to enjoy yourself.
SPEAKER_00: I can hear that discussion right here.
SPEAKER_00: And so it's gonna be a good time after this service.
SPEAKER_00: So I invite us to stand, just like the two are standing.
SPEAKER_00: Let's all stand up.
SPEAKER_00: Let's pray.
SPEAKER_00: Father in heaven, we thank you for the challenge for us as individuals, as families, and also as a church to pass on our spiritual heritage.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you for Pastor Susan and for this profound challenge and message that the future of any nation or any church is shaped in homes.
SPEAKER_00: And God for the call for us to turn our homes into discipleship centers that unlock the destiny and the future of our children.
SPEAKER_00: And so, Father, thank you for the calling of this altar today to transmit our spiritual heritage to the next generation by empowering nations and also empowering homes that we raise the next generation.
SPEAKER_00: And so, Lord, as a response to this call and message, as a church and also as families and individuals, we rededicate ourselves to this impartation of our faith to the next generation.
SPEAKER_00: And Lord, we do so so that we do like Lois, the grandmother of Timothy, and Eunice, the mother of Timothy, who passed on the faith from grandmother to mother to Timothy.
SPEAKER_00: And Paul comes around and sees that faith.
SPEAKER_00: God, we commit ourselves as a church and as a priority, and even as homes and individuals to propagate this faith to the next generation.
SPEAKER_00: And so, Father, we pray, empower us, resource us, strengthen us to achieve this goal.
SPEAKER_00: And we pray the same for our nation.
SPEAKER_00: So thank you for this wonderful congregation.
SPEAKER_00: As we leave this place, my God, we have a profound challenge and call to work with.
SPEAKER_00: And I believe from this sermon given by Pastor Susan, we'll never be the same again, and our homes will never be the same again.
SPEAKER_00: Our nation will never be the same again, and our continent will be turned around.
SPEAKER_00: And so, as we take this mandate, as we live here, our commissioned people, I declare us blessed on Monday.
SPEAKER_00: You are blessed on Tuesday, you are blessed on Wednesday, blessed on Thursday, blessed on Friday, blessed on Saturday, blessed on Sunday, and you are coming next Sunday with a testimony in Jesus' name.
SPEAKER_00: Glory to God.
SPEAKER_00: Our God is faithful.
SPEAKER_00: And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever and ever.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Shalom.