Student Ministry July 2018
Dear Church Family,
As many of you know, Kayla and I are expecting our first child in November, and we could not be more thrilled and excited! We have been waiting for what seems like a lifetime to learn the gender so we can know a little bit more about this person whom God is creating in the womb. She wanted a girl and I, of course, wanted a boy. But when it was time to go find out, we both had come to the place of complete contentedness about whatever gender it turned out to be. You can’t control these things, so why not be excited for a surprising adventure? So that was our determination. Either way, we were ready for what God had in store for us.
When the sonographer said, “it’s a boy!” we had insta-tears! Insta-tears are tears that basically explode from your eyes immediately due to anticipated joy. We were so thrilled! Not because we got what we were hoping for, but simply because we were getting to know our baby boy just a little bit more. We already knew his name. We’ve been thinking about baby names for several years now actually, so it was not very difficult to decide. His name is Samuel Lewis Van Doren. We did not just choose that name because it is obviously super cool. It has very important meaning and nostalgia behind it.
Samuel means “asked of God,” or “God has heard.” We named him Samuel because God has heard our prayer for a child and has answered us. We want our son to know where he came from and Who made him. He is not a random by-product of biology. He is a gift from God. Lewis means “renowned warrior.” While that sounds good, there is more to it. My grandfather on my mom’s side is named Lewis. He has been a huge influence on me in my Christian walk. He taught me that Jesus is my hero, and that there is nothing better than living my life for Him. We want our son to know that our Lord is a renowned warrior who defeated sin and death for him. We want our son to be a renowned warrior who will put his faith in Christ and live a life warring against sin and worldliness in his own life and around him.
This may sound a little intense to some of you, and that is ok. But it is our conviction that children are gifts from God that are given so we can make an impact on the world for His glory and our children’s blessing. Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Behold, children are a [c]gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Arrows are designed to be shot out and to make an impact on their target. Children are also arrows that we are to raise and send out to make an impact on the world. We must raise them in the gospel and train their hearts. Samuel is our first arrow, and we are praying that he will fly in the power of the gospel exactly where the Lord would have him fly!
Thanks for reading. I hope this encourages you to influence the younger generation to live for the Lord and make an impact for His glory.
