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Empowering Parents; Seth Barnes

Seth Barnes, the President of AIM and the World Race, is empowering the parents of the young people that decide to jump off and go serve the world.  Sometimes it is very hard to let our children venture out – especially with how the world is today, but… I/we believe that if the Lord has placed it in their hearts to go; He will be faithful to see them thru – not just to see them thru, but to see them come “Fully Alive”!

Here is his first blog to the parents – If you are a WR parent or if your son/daughter is feeling a call to the nations – you can log onto:
Userid: [email protected]
          Pwd: family

His blog, with a little help from my wife a couple years back while we were living in Africa:

Gary and Lisa Black were coaches of the A, B, C and D squads. They know how to celebrate the successes that Racers have. They set a good precedent for the coaches who followed. They loved the Racers like they were their own children.  They hugged them and confronted them equally well. Their Racers sensed their safety and began pouring their hearts out to them.

One of the things I particularly like about Lisa is the way she is a cheerleader for her children’s kingdom destinies.  Many parents carry on over their child’s smallest accomplishment in the sports or academic arena (in Little League everyone gets a trophy).  Contrast that with Lisa, who sent her then 16 year-old son Tyler around Africa with mission teams for weeks at a time. To give you a closer look at what I’m talking about, here’s a note she wrote him: 

My dear son,

What an amazing experience, one you will never forget!  I cannot even imagine walking around a foreign country alone at your age!  You are fearless, I love that about you!  I said to your dad while you were traveling alone that I never worry about you in those situations, you are so smart and brave, but I would be in near panic over any of the rest of the kids….that is a long journey!

I can tell your grandparents are so thrilled to have you, I know you are loving seeing them again.  I love your spirit and your encouragement, you are right where you are meant to be and although your absence is heavily felt, we are happy for you.  I think God is preparing me for when you all go off on your own, I will miss you all so much, but I will never stand in the way of your life, your dreams, or your inheritance, I promise!”

If you’re Tyler, what does that do for you?  Man, if that’s me hearing my mom cheering me on like that, I think I could walk on water.  Our kids need us to not only believe the best about them, but to liberally, even sloppily slather on the praise.  Yes, it needs to be sincere, but realizing that the first 30 years are identity-forming years, we as parents need to give them a strong foundation of righteous self-confidence.

Many people comment on what a fantastic, mature young man Tyler is. That didn’t happen by accident.  His parents focused him on seeking first the kingdom and when he took risks in going for it, they didn’t worry or wring their hands, but saw him as a young Braveheart in the making.
 
What do we as WR parents take away from Lisa’s example? For one thing, let me encourage you to use every opportunity to speak life into them. Comment on all their blogs. Write them encouraging notes, but don’t hover. Let them go through their experience with enough space to grow. And purpose to spend special times praying for them together as parents. This year can take your prayer life to a whole new level.
 
You’ve done the hard part in sending them out. Your Racer is on his or her way to becoming a world changer – a spiritual weapon of mass destruction. Use this opportunity to cheer them on to the greatness that God is wanting to realize in them!