 Take the case of Austin*. It’s not that Austin, a third
grader, is a bad kid or spoiled brat …. So you can imagine his school
teacher, Mrs. Hanson’s surprise when the following event occurred.
It was the week after Christmas break
in a Georgia
elementary school. While making the morning announcements, the principal
reminded the children there would be no Good
News Club® that day…it would resume the next week.
When the announcement was over, Austin shot out of his
desk and cried out, “Call her back and tell her we have to have Good News Club TODAY!! It has to
be today!! I've waited too long!!”
“Austin, sit back down. And there had better
be no more outbursts,” Mrs. Hanson said.
However, Austin continued to plead for his teacher to
call the office and tell them there must be Good
News Club that day. When Mrs. Hanson became firm with Austin, he sat back down
in his desk and began to sob uncontrollably...he was crying so hard he could
not talk. Mrs. Hanson took the child to the principal. After Austin settled down some,
the principal began to question the child.
Austin explained, “You see…the day before
Christmas my father tried to kill my mother. He stabbed her 12 times and
thought she was dead, but she lived. They are saying she will never be
the same and might not be able to take care of us for a long time. Our
father is in jail. They separated us kids and told us we might not ever
get to be a family again. I've been waiting a lot of days to get back to
my Good News Club, because I know
they care about me and would talk to God about us! I don't know anyone
else that talks to God and can help us.”
The principal was stunned. When
she checked into his story, it was completely true, and none of the teachers
knew about it.
Next time you are in the grocery
store or driving by a schoolyard, take a good look at the children and remember
they have hurts you know nothing about and above all they need the message of
Christ. Remember…and then do something about it.
*Name changed.
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Many Christians wait and wonder: “What does God have in store for me? Where does He want me in ministry?” And then: “If I even were to be confronted by that repentant heathen sinner, what would I say? I think I’d know what to say.”