Letter to the Congregations: 24th October 2026

Our dear brethren,

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them” (Matthew 19:13).

In that moment the disciples felt like they had the responsibility of vetting who was allowed to approach Jesus Christ. Perhaps they thought they were protecting Him, making sure that His precious time was not filled with useless requests. Not to say that there were never useless requests presented to Jesus. I’m sure there are plenty of people who wanted to speak with Him for the wrong reasons. Some came to be fed with physical food. Some came to see miracles. Some came to ridicule. But some legitimately came to receive blessings.

Just as we have received blessings from our Heavenly Father through His Son, we have to make sure we allow for others to also come and receive those same blessings. After all, wasn’t it God’s goodness that led us to repentance? Wasn’t it the blessings from God that have sustained us thus far? Wouldn’t the world be far better off if everyone had the blessings we’ve received? That is the eventual idea. One day “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). That knowledge is the beginning of the blessings God offers us and intends to offer all of mankind.

The disciples were called upon to be part of those blessings in the time they lived, and through their words even to this day. At first they didn’t understand that fact which partially explains their reaction to parents bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. Eventually, through the words and example of Jesus and later on His presence within them through the Holy Spirit, they began to understand the potential to be blessings to others as Christ had been to them. And now we have their records of this event as they were learning that lesson in hopes that we might learn from their initial mistakes:

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there” (Matthew 19:14-15).

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe