Spreading the Good News

Tomorrow a journalist and her camera crew will be at our church during the service and lunch afterward. They're conducting a two-day interview of our pastor's family for a report on "Quiverfull families". It's an exciting yet challenging idea for all of us who may be included in her documentary. Please pray the Lord will be glorified in the final report. We don't think the crew members are Christians and we are fairly certain that this is a follow-up to the book, written by a feminist author, Kathyrn Joyce called Quiverfull.

The journalist, Jennifer London, found our pastor through Nancy Campbell, of Above Rubies ministry, who was also interviewed in Kathyrn Joyce's book. The book is very well written. Kathryn Joyce definitely did her homework. And of course she found some dirt on some folks who have large families and what she considers "scary" information about some of the teachings of some who promote "being fruitful and multiplying". We don't want to be defined by what is written in her book but there are many Bible verses and direct quotes from other parents that are God-honoring. So for the spreading of the Gospel to the unsaved, we are thankful! We hope that people who know the individual families will differentiate between true followers of Christ and those who have been worshipping man-made ideas.

Our family's testimony to the world is so important. People are really watching. Earlier this week at the YMCA pool a lady stopped by to tell me how beautiful our children are. She stammered and tried to find the words and finally said, "I mean they seem to be beautiful in here (pointing to her heart) too". She appologized for appearing to be staring at us and continued to praise the children. Wow! I thanked her profusely for taking the time to be an encouragment to me. What an unlikely situation. Today, the sweet lady who checked our groceries engaged Bob and me in conversation. Our children were in the van, but she had remembered a day, nearly two weeks ago, when they had all accompanied me in the store. I was shocked that she remembered us-the store had been very busy and she was not even our checker! The poor children had to wait for about twenty minutes for our huge grocery order to be scanned and baggedyet, today's checker commented on how patient and loving they had been to one another. (praise God, it must have been a really good day :) She asked if we homeschool and told us that she had been a teacher for years. She raved about our children and asked us to please bring them back into the store again! On both accounts, we were able to tell the children about what a great impression they had made on people by simply being Christ-like to one another! God uses the most unlikely circumstances to encourage us! He's so good! While we've been wondering how the media coverage of our pastor's family and our church will affect those who watch, God has been showering us with samples of some good impressions. What a blessing!

I must include that all feedback is not always so encouraging, but we try to turn even negative comments around. When Bob and I visited the YMCA pool alone today, the lady checking us in looked at our family's account and asked if we really have eight children. When we confirmed, she said, "I am one of seven. What were you thinking?" I said, "We were thinking how great they are!" And that was that! Bob said that was a good response, so I'll have to try to remember that one. : )