What About the Children?
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — August was designated Children and Youth Month at Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church under the theme, "What About the Children?" The month emphasized the spiritual growth, development, and active involvement of children and youth.
As part of the celebration, Patricia Goffe, Children's Ministries Director for the Southeastern Conference, joined the Shiloh church family for a weekend of prayer, teaching, fellowship, and spiritual growth. The weekend began with a book signing, featuring her published works, including Prayer Board, which became the focus of the weekend's activities.
Sabbath morning featured an interactive combined Sabbath School with four prayer stations: Confession, Gratitude, Dedication, and Supplication. Children and adults reflected on the importance of prayer and the assurance that God hears each individual voice.
During Divine Worship, Goffe presented "A Life That Brings Glory to God," connecting lessons from the lives of David, Isaiah, and Hannah to the four prayer themes. Through each story, she reminded the congregation that every lesson ultimately leads us to Jesus—the One at the center of gratitude, dedication, confession, and supplication.
The weekend concluded with families creating prayer boards to take home as a reminder to make prayer an intentional part of daily life.
The experience reinforced an important truth: children are not simply the church of tomorrow; they are an essential part of the church today. When we teach, listen to, pray with, include, and point them to Jesus, we help build a spiritual foundation that can last a lifetime.
