Disney Church, Manipulating My Kid, and Simply Jesus

It was the first night of the Jeremy Camp tour.
Lipscomb Arena – Nashville, TN.
My friends were there. My wife was there. My kids were there.
I remember during my song We Will Dance seeing my kids spinning with no shame in their game on the front row and dancing their hearts out.
It made this calloused worship leader fill with joy.
It was an amazing night.
Only little did I know that it was about to get so much more amazing…

After getting off stage I immediately went into the corridor behind the stage looking for my family so they could tell me how amazing I was.
I saw them in the distance and the closer I got the more certain I was that this was not the greeting I was looking forward to…
Sohaila, the 8 year old, was crying and was getting what looked to be a sharp tongue lashing from Heather.
Seriously?
The first night of my big tour and I’m going to have to spank somebody?

I walked up giving Heather the “Can you tell me what is happening without actually speaking?” look.

“Sohaila. Go ahead. Tell daddy why you are crying”

I immediately put on the face of #IfIHaveToSpankYouJustKnowILoveYou.

“Daddy. When you were singing that last song, I felt so happy. But it was weird. I was happy because I felt Jesus but it made me cry. Have you ever cried because you were happy? And I’m still crying because I felt Jesus telling me that I need to become a Christian.”

Insert animated screeching tires sound.

“Um. Oh. Wow. OK. Wow. Really? So. What do you need baby? How can daddy help you with these feelings?”
I stumbled through my words with more skill than a nervous pageant girl.

“Daddy. I want to become a Christian. Can you pray with me?”

I immediately started wondering where the closest Childrens Pastor was.
Where was her church small group leader when I needed them?
I need a track. Where was that track?
Can someone freaking show up so I don’t screw this up?!!!
Then my mind went here…
“What did I say on stage to confuse her?
Did I trick her?
I know I probably said something out of my butt that manipulated her into thinking it was Jesus and it was really me and my bad theology.”

So I started at her…
“Ok Sohaila. So you understand, this isn’t a feeling, this is a relationship, this isn’t a one time thing, it’s a life of devotion. This isn’t something to do just because you…”
About 3 minutes into my spill she stopped me…

“Daddy. I just love Jesus. And I want Him all the time. I just love Him so much and want everyone to feel the way He makes me feel”

Out of the mouth of babes…

So she prayed. Not repeating a prayer after me…Just her thoughts to God…

“Dear God. I just love you. I’ve been wanting to tell my daddy this since I was six. I love you so much. I love you so much. Amen”

Like a scene from some epic children’s movie, the second she started praying John Mark, on stage, started singing How He Loves.
When she said Amen, she looked at me and started singing with him.

We try and put so much in between our children and God to make sure they “get Him”, when the truth is…
They are closer to Him than we are on our closest days.

All she needed… was to see her father, worshiping God.
And she joined with me.
No pocket tracks…
No Disney production…
No 4 weeks of meeting with a pastor…
Just me, her, and Jesus.

It’s better that way…
Carlos

BriAnne

Wow.. Los, that is AWESOME!! thank you for sharing that… Kids can show us the way in everything if we just let them..

Los

Amen!

http://www.mustardseedyear.com Jason

Awesome, Los. Totally awesome.

Los

Thanks man!

http://www.mikebonedesign.net/ mike brennan

so awesome! Thanks for sharing! This past weekend I got to baptize my daughter in our pool, so I share your joy as a Dad!

Los

YES!

Brian

This is so awesome!!! Rejoicing with you and your family!

Los

Thanks Brian!

http://about.me/jeremiahaja Jeremiah

beauty beyond words.
cant plan those moments.
SO great.
we celebrate with you and all of heaven.
thanks for sharing man.

Los

Thanks Jeremiah

Kevin

That is so beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more PURE expression of love for God! Thank you for sharing.

Los

So pure…

http://jasoncurlee.wordpress.com Jason Curlee

so AWESOME

Los

Dude. I want to say thanks. You have been around these parts SO long pouring into convo. Thanks!

Steve

Wow! I’m a children’s pastor… and that one of the most real decisions I’ve ever hear/read. Amazing! Welcome, Sohaila!

Los

Thanks for what you do man!

http://thetwinkling.blogspot.ca/ Oksana

Aah, this is so precious and honest and, like Kevin said, pure. It makes me want to get rid of all the bells and whistles and just BE with Jesus. Rejoicing for Sohaila, and so awe-struck by the sheer beauty of her faith and of what God did in that moment. Thank you for sharing.

Los

Thanks Oksana. It was a beautiful moment.

http://www.learntoembracethestruggle.com/ Alison

I’m without words. Just awesome. From the lips of children…

Los

A beautiful mess…

Brent

wow, that’s awesome. Good for her!

Los

Yup! Thanks Brent!

http://www.bradchristian.tv Brad

Wow… Amazing Story.

I almost am feeling a sense of jealousy. There is something authentic about this story that I guess was lacking from my childhood salvation experience.

I know when I walked down the aisle in church when I was in the 5th grade – I definitely ACCEPTED Christ as Lord and savior, but it was more of a acknowledgment on him being God. There was no making him the Lord of my life. I don’t know what feel though the crack… but within the next few months and hitting puberty – THAT showed that there had no been a heart change. It wasn’t until freshman year of college that I had a heart change and made Jesus LORD of my life… Even though I had proclaimed that for years before.

So – That really has given me a complex on if kids can understand what it is like to make Christ Lord of your life until after puberty. I know that sounds weird, but that is all I have been able to process of my experience. Maybe it has something to do with childhood innocence, and the age of reason. (Probably need to dig in a little deeper with my councilor on this one… Amen?)

Thank God for my wife who was saved even earlier as a child, and DID make Jesus Lord. It is opening my eyes to the power of Grace.

-BC

Los

Love this Brad. Thanks for being so authentic. So good. So Good. Without your experience the ones for your kids would not be as real. Keep pressing!

http://www.calebgordon.com Caleb Gordon

BOOM SAUCE!!
http://inspiredrd.com Alysa

Chills.
http://www.gotworship.net Jason Whitehorn

OVERJOYED for her right now…

…and …yup. happy as a dad for you, too bro!
terrence Gooden

I wish i could look back at your blog and see all the ones that have resonated with me the most. I know that there are many of them, but this one goes right on that list near the top! As a father,I get this. As someone who wants to make disciples, I get this. As a musician/songwriter/worship leader ,I get this.This story shows what really matters. I hope you include this story and some of the other great ones that have impacted me and others in the book you are working on(or should be working on!)…
L.

Wow! I think that’s called being filled with the Spirit.
http://seanpmarion.wordpress.com/ Sean P. Marion

Great story dude. I recently hosted a night of worship at our church and it was considerably louder in all aspects. My oldest son Justin (17) is mentally disabled and for his whole life Justin has had serious trouble with loud noises and would completely shut down if overstimulated. Justin, myself, my wife and some others have been praying for the continued healing of Justin and during the night of worship the other night we all saw a crystal clear sign that Justin was being healed. Usually when in a situation where loud noises a present Justin would put his fingers in his ears, put his head down and completely shut down but this night he was standing up with his arms up high singing his heart out. The first thing he told me when we got back home was… “daddy, it was loud but I said no I don’t care I gonna sing and dance and my ears not hurt”. Praise God for His provision and I get especially giddy when He sends it through one of my kids.
Andrew

They are closer to Him than we are on our closest days.

wow.
http://YourSpiritMindandBody.com Mike

That is a very moving story. I remember when my daughter was 14 she told me she wanted to be baptized. I brought up the same thing you did about it being a relationship, and she wanted it big time. She is now 22 and reads her bible more than anyone I know. It really makes you feel good when you see your children give their hearts and lives to Christ.
Eric

Speechless!
Sade Dillard

Reading this made me realize that it doesn’t matter what age we are, we need God, and we all go to God on our time, well when the time is right, when we feel the tug on our hearts. She’s truly amazing and one day her testimony will be beautiful,she’s young but she understands. I’m a 21 year old college student and this made me cry, this made me feel God’s love all over again, made me smile, and give me Joy! God Bless you and your family!
Ron Harvey

Dude, this is your greatest claim to fame . . . ever . . . and when the other’s come you will be more famous! Halelujah! Glory to Jesus for what he has done. The father has given her to him.
Andy

i got to pray/be with both of my daughter and there is nothing greater for a father…..

thanks for blessing me with your experience with S
Bev Brown

On May 5, 2011, my then 6-year-old son knelt beside me and said he was ready to be close to God. I panicked like you did, Los! But after I explained that being close to God is a process, he prayed his prayer and that was that. He and God have been working it out ever since. My kid’s faith amazes me. Thanks for this post.
Stephanie

this blog post totally made me cry. That is awesome about your daughter!! That was the Holy Spirit working on her for sure.
http://windowsandpaperwalls.wordpress.com/ Cathy LaGrow

I remember my Dad (a Christian school principal) saying that there is no “little” Holy Spirit for kids. It’s the same One we have!

I didn’t even realize I thought there was a junior version, until he said it.

Loved the post.
http://Www.theCityshouldBeDifferent.com Paul Pettefer

I love that story!

All 4 of our girls initiated their own choice to love and follow Jesus. Two of them came out of their rooms to inform us they had picked to go with Jesus!

RockOn bro
http://www.faithandfrolic.blogspot.com Jen

That was beautiful; it gives me great inspiration for parenting, especially as we head into the teenage years. We take our kids to church, we get them involved with other peer Christian groups, and we’re there for them. But it definitely difficult to navigate these waters. We want more than anything for our children to have a life-changing and radical relationship with Jesus, we can only get them so far, and the Lord takes them in the rest of way.

Great sharing!
Will

This sounds utterly contrived. If not, it’s really terrible that she experienced so much religious pressure that she began to internalize it in an effort to conform and earn Daddy’s love, for once in her life.

Los

lol.
wow.

Gerald Hinson

Just sat here for five minutes trying to think what to type… No words for this beyond “wow” and “thanks for sharing”… Not profound I know, but I needed to type them.

Blessings.
http://www.joemazza.com Joe

Man, Los, what a freakin’ gift you got tonight to experience that. And I know you know this but it’s a whole lot more than your song that inspired her to want this. Your life, the things you and Heather display when you’re not on a stage, that’s what pointed the way. Well done, man. Enjoy a moment of knowing you’ve done something right. We don’t get that many of those.
Lisa Johnson

Made me think of the time my Grace accepted Christ into her heart. She prayed all by herself, so simple and so pure. Thanks for making me cry before 5am. Now I shall go run.
http://ipdancecompany.com idenna

So Awesome!! My 6 year old had the same experience. I understand your feelings. So awesome how they love the Lord in ways we hadn’t gotten to yet.
Chris H

#seriouslymostwonderfulthingiveeverread
#thanksforbeingagreatdad
#gottogetmycarloson
Sola Gratia

“We try and put so much in between our children and God to make sure they “get Him”, when the truth is…
They are closer to Him than we are on our closest days.”

I am SO guilty of doing this with my kids. I know they understand more than I think they do. Thank you for sharing this sweet experience with us.
http://Hepnersblog.blogspot.com Josh

Priceless! We serve oversees and it has been a joy to lead two of my children to the Lord and baptize my oldest. I am never sure when it is “time” for them to be baptized or trust in the Lord but when the Spirit moves we know it without a doubt. Such a joy to see my young children having an impact on those around them and giving all the glory to the Lord.
Mike

WOW! You better be writing A song outta this cause if y’all don’t then I will. Truly God-breathed!

God Bless! And welcome to the family, Sohaila!
Jesus

I hate to be the only one who has taken the time to think about this beyond the “praise Jesus wow factor” but… You make Jesus the focal point of your child’s life from birth and then act as if she has had an epiphany when she parrots the same phrases you’ve been teaching her over the course of her entire life.

She doesn’t WANT JESUS SO BAD. She wants her father’s praise and approval so naturally shes going to “want Jesus”… shes simply too young to realize this. Two things will happen from here. She will either grow up to finally realize that is why she “came to God” or she’ll continue to immerse herself in her faith thus propagating the religion forward to her own children without taking the time to question its validity.

We question everything else in life yet we take something we have no firsthand knowledge of or way to prove on sheer faith based on things we were taught when we were children ourselves and run with it – religion.
http://www.facebook.com/dougengle Doug Engle

Praise God, man… a Bible school colleague of mine shared a link to this post on Facebook tonight as I was just getting ready to shove off for bed… it was what I needed… I think of Jars of Clay’s “Like A Child” right now… funny how God works so differently than we expect, no matter how many years we’ve been walking with Him, it just jumps out of nowhere, and we hit our knees just grateful He uses us as we are precisely when He wants us.
http://athenians.info Laura

I think seeing a child saved is one of the most joyful and moving experiences in life. This is why I thinking serving in children’s ministries in church is important, because this is the age when most people are saved. I reposted this to Athenians, a Christian news aggregator. You can join in the discussion it’s generating at http://www.athenians.info/stories/let-the-little-children-come-to-me-a-girl-comes-to-know-and-love-christ
Denise

This brought tears to my eyes. I read all the comments, and the negative ones saddened me, but then it reminded me to pray for you all. So, good came from those comments. I was saved as a child. It was very real, and I’m still growing as a Christian. To God be the Glory! So good to see a pic of you, Heather, and Sohaila. I miss Heather’s blog.
http://relentlesslyhis.blogspot.com/ CeLiNe

‘We try and put so much in between our children and God to make sure they “get Him”, when the truth is…
They are closer to Him than we are on our closest days.’

and a child reminded us again on what really matters. such a beautiful moment. thank you for sharing.

Carlos Whittaker

Disney Church, Manipulating My Kid, and Simply Jesus

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