While life on the farm consists of planting, weeding, and harvesting, we are “farming” no matter where we live. Good or bad, we are planting words and actions that will take root somewhere, someday. In 1995 my daughter and I enrolled in a class on a farm to learn about farming and life principles.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING HOMEWORK
After our work of planting spinach, watering, and making our rows look “pretty”, we all made our way to the shed where Farmer Fred led the life principles class. He talked about how we planted today and after some hard work, sunshine, rain, and the passing of time we would be able to eat the fruit of our labor. This particular day Farmer Fred asked us a question. Our homework he said, was to answer the question, “Can you change the world?” Whoa! I think that many of us were focused on planting and harvesting some vegetables, and considering some simple life principles that fit into the “sowing and reaping” analogy. Farmer Fred has taken things to a whole new level – quite audacious, but I was intrigued.
HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD?
A different kind of seed was planted on the farm that day. It was in the form of a question that demanded an answer. If you answer with a negative, then you go on about your way likely never considering how one might go about changing the world. If you answer “yes”, then you must consider how you could possibly change the world. With a positive answer to the question, I began considering ways that someone could change the world.
One very precious, large, Christian family said that they had a family discussion and really analyzed this question and the idea of changing the world. They decided that the answer was “no”, they could not change the world. I was stricken at that moment when I heard it, because my daughter and I came up with a different answer. I thought either we are crazy or we might be right – which is it?
Here’s my thought process. I wish I could tell you that it was a really spiritual moment, but at the time it was just some beginning thoughts. When I think of the world and changing it, first I think basically “What does that mean?” The world – it’s international. What kinds of things are international? Of course we all know that McDonald’s and even Kentucky Fried Chicken are international. That was all I needed, if burgers and chicken can make it across oceans, nations, languages, and religions; then why can’t I affect change to this extent?
The next question is “How can I change the world?” I knew that I wasn’t going to leap tall buildings in a single flash, so I had to start small. I got out a map of the US and then a map of Texas. I put a mark on the map of Texas and decided that if I could somehow make a difference in Texas, then maybe the change could grow. I started even smaller of course and shared the need to impact my own family and friends and sphere of influence. I shared these thoughts with our farm class 23 years ago.
DRASTIC CHANGE FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
Who would know that 14 years later I would begin a journey that would eventually involve taking the gospel beyond my neighborhoods in Katy to various parts of Texas, to North Carolina, to Malaysia, and many islands and villages in the Philippines? Since the beginning of Neighborhood KidZ Club (NKC) almost 9 years ago, so many lives and entire families have been completely transformed. In the spring of 2009 Katie Popplewell, some friends, and Larry and I put some tarps on the ground and 60 children came each week to hear Bible stories. Those children in my little 1st grade group are in high school now. Many of them come back to volunteer with us to help children with homework, Bible Club, and participate in Youth Leadership. Some are sharing the gospel with friends and others are reaching their entire families with the gospel by retelling the Bible stories when they go home.
The ministry has grown so much over the years with After School Tutoring, Summer Reading, Backpack Distribution, Christmas Gift Distribution, Youth Leadership, Discipleship, Little Disciples, Ukulele Class, The Big Event, VBS Camp, Sports Camp, Word Camp, two churches planted from this great work, and so much more. When children, youth, and families change; eventually a community changes. A study collaborating with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the crime rate in our first community – Western Pines dropped by 42% after we had established ministry for three years. WOW, the changes can just get way beyond your control. To God be the glory.
We have seen that by faithfully planting the seeds of God’s Word we continue to see life change. In everything we do at NKC our passionate determination is to effectively present the gospel message. In addition to life change we have the pleasure of seeing God at work in ways that we did not imagine, and I believe I kind of have a pretty wild imagination. It’s never boring or dull or same old, same old. These last nine years have been year after year the definition revealed in “living color” of the abundant life. What a wild ride it has been.
AUDACIOUS CHALLENGE
I challenge you to consider the question now for your “homework” – “Can you change the world?” Please remember that Christ must be the center of your thoughts in this direction. He must be the center of your heart and life and purpose, otherwise the change won’t matter so much. I’m in this for the sake of eternity, so I also challenge you to consider the eternal value of any change that you pursue. I believe that God has planted (Psalm 37:4) a dream, idea, thought, plan, desire or whatever you want to call it inside of you. Look to Him. Ask for His guidance and wisdom. You don’t have to be in your 20s, 30s, or 40s; young or “more mature”, God wants to affect change in you and through you.
The scripture (Romans 8:11) tells us that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us. This is the person of the Holy Spirit, He gives us power to do all that God has planned for us to do. To be clear, God is perfect and does not change – instead He affects change. The Holy Spirit of God in us affects change in us and through us.
HOW ‘BOUT IT? CAN YOU CHANGE THE WORLD?
By Peggy Norwood