“Reaching Out To Families with

Baggage”Pastor John Boggs

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

February 13th, 2014

Thoughts over the Past Few Months…

“EDUCATIONAL Presentation?! They get that I’m a pastor, right?!”

“It’s a bunch of Lutheran educators, so what could go wrong?!”

“At least its after lunch, so no one will be listening anyway!!!”

A Recent Trip To MLC…

Prepared to Teach… Somewhat Naive to the Challenges!!!

The Stark Reality…Doing Ministry in today’s Lutheran

Schools can be challenging, edifying, frustrating, and gratifying… often all in the same school day.

Not only do our students present challenges to today’s educators, but the parents and family lives that these children come from bring added ‘baggage’ with them, as well.

What Kind of Parents do you ‘deal with’!?

What Parents Want Us To Know “Our family situation is unique!” “Our child- and their blessings and struggles-

is unique!” “What works with other kids won’t with ours;

you’re going to have to do something different!”

“If you as the teacher do everything that we as the parents want, everything will be just fine!”

What We Want Parents To Know “Your child is dearly loved by myself and

our school… but they are not the Second Coming of the Messiah!”

“That no matter how divided or dysfunctional the child’s home life is, adults need to be unified for helping, not hurting!”

“Excuses only satisfy the people that make them!” (my father to me 4,756 times)

“Everything works better when you as the parent are more partner than prosecutor!”

What God Wants ALL of Us To KnowPsalm 119:9-11

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

*********************************** Worth the INVESTMENT… TIME… EFFORT

What God Wants ALL of Us To KnowProverbs 8:10-11

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

****************************** - Get rid of the WORLD’s priorities - Focus on GOD’s priorities

What God Wants ALL of Us To KnowPsalm 46 (excerpts)

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way… 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of

Jacob is our fortress… 10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will

be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

TWO BIG REMINDERS…REMINDERS ABOUT US REMINDERS ABOUT GOD

Simple Thoughts from a Simple Pastor/ Teacher/ Coach Guy…

The Cold, Hard Truth

• Families have baggage!!!

• Meet them where they are!!!

• Build up… Guide… Assist… and then remember there will be setbacks!!!

• Focus on the CHILD… on what YOU can do to help them succeed…

• Praise God for the opportunity… Go to him for help… Smile… Sleep!!!

“For From Him and Through Him and To Him Are All things.

To Him Be the Glory Forever. Amen.”

- Romans 11:36