The blog was written by my daughter Anna Brock 

Jesus feeding the five thousand is a popular story in John 6:1-14 and often a favorite miracle shared among adults and kids. Sometimes I find myself missing out on God’s truth throughout Scripture when I read familiar stories that I have heard since I was a child. However, the Holy Spirit allowed me to put myself into the story and view this amazing miracle from the perspective of the young boy who shared his 5 small barley loaves and his 2 small fish. I am so thankful for how God allowed me to see this story through new lenses and share  the backstory that allowed me to reflect on this miracle.

I have the amazing opportunity to work with the kids at the church we attend in Parker, Colorado and our team wanted to teach our kids the spiritual discipline of giving. As spring planning was in full force for Vacation Bible School, I was presented with the idea of taking a mission offering for Oceans Ministries. I loved the idea and was excited about raising funds to support the kids living in the township of Jim Se Bos.

When asked how much we should raise for a 4-day VBS, I suggested what I felt was a reasonable amount of $200. I did not want to set the bar too high and wanted to protect everyone from disappointment. I was immediately challenged by my co-workers to raise the goal to $400. I was skeptical, but agreed it was doable. Needless to say, the kids caught the vision and raised over $1,000 for their brothers and sisters living across the world in South Africa. When I heard the news, I was speechless and in disbelief. I was then humbled, and the more I processed it I was not surprised because this is the God we serve. He blows our expectations and shows us time and time again He is in the business of multiplying.

Back to the feeding of the five thousand and the young boy with the five loaves and two fish. Have you ever taken the time to think about what it was like to be the boy who gave his lunch away and what it must have felt like to watch Jesus multiply his small offering? In the middle of the night as I was rocking my newborn to sleep I thought about this young boy. I thought about his faith and his courage. I tried to imagine how the story played out. Did he come to the disciples and offer his lunch? Did one of the disciples ask him to share? Either way, I was encouraged by his heart to give. He brought all he had and presented it to Jesus trusting that He could do whatever He wanted with his small offering. This is how I felt when I heard about how the kids at VBS responded to giving to other kids they had never met living in poverty. Each day the kids came eager and excited to share what they had like the boy in the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.

I challenge you to read this familiar story again with a new lens. Ask yourself, are you the young boy who with the heart to give everything away and faith that Jesus will multiply what you bring? Or are you more like Philip or Andrew questioning the logistics, worried about the financial burden, or the failed outcome? I found myself more like the disciples in the story, but now have a deep desire to become more like the young boy and wait for miracles to happen.

We often think we have something to teach our children, but my heart was encouraged by witnessing the Lord use the generous hearts of children to teach my soul a lesson about the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a reason Jesus says in Matthew 18:4,“ Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.”

Written by Mike Verkaik:

I have recently returned from traveling with another group of high school students to Oceans Retreat Center (ORC) in Fish Hoek, SA. As Tim mentioned last week, we are excited about an upstart Christian school moving on to the campus. Part of this Kingdom Encounter was preparing the campus for the transfer to happen smoothly. As change comes to ORC, one place I hope stays in tact is the front room overlooking Recreation Ave. This weekend, I asked people to describe it with words and phrases. The responses were sanctuary, open window to God’s creation, safe haven, a place of peace, holy ground and where God has anointed and dwells.

For team members and staff it rivals what the upper room must have meant to the disciples. A living room filled with memories of the Father’s love and forgiveness, the Holy Spirit’s filling and presence and the Words and peace of Jesus. A place where testimonies are shared, healing received, surrender given and fervent prayers cried out.

Our favorite time of each encounter to South Africa is our last night in this front room sharing takeaways. After two weeks of being immersed in God’s kingdom together, a family unit has been formed, and this is our last Spiritual meal together. As we prepare to come and receive communion at Christ’s table, each participant is given a time to share a testimony, a conviction, or a revelation that was unveiled to them from their Abba Father through His Holy Spirit over the past two weeks.

It is normal to have some awkward pauses materialize as the Holy Spirit prompts students to wrestle with their emotions and share. Being honest, and sometimes vulnerable, in sharing what God revealed to them is a new concept for many. However, this time the pauses were exceptionally long as faces stared into space, tears began to trickle, and deep breaths were exhaled.

Society teaches us to be superficial and shallow in our conversations, saying mindlessly, “I’m good”. However as the followers of Christ we are called to the following:

Look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.– Galatians 6:10

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.– Psalm 107:2

As the pauses continued students gained courage while being prompted by the Holy Spirit to be countercultural, and share the brokenness, darkness, and struggles we all battle with against our flesh. For others, they had testimonies that normally go unmentioned because as many students tell me, “we don’t talk about God with our friends”.

The Spirit began to break through the lapses of silence with these normal, but hidden convictions and struggles:

• I was in a dark place before this trip. I am struggling with an addiction. I’ve been hearing that I need to tell someone, and here I am telling the whole group.
• Father’s day was really difficult for me.
• I struggle with my flesh, trying to do everything in my own strength.
• I long to feel the Holy Spirit in my life but I don’t
• I’m looking for a reboot, I’m not happy anymore

Others broke through the enemy’s wall of fear and testified to presence of God in their lives:

• When I was worshipping tonight, I felt such an amazing presence of the Holy Spirit. I have been longing for that.
• For the first time, I’m opening up to God, and He has been faithful and I have found Him here.
• God has taught me the importance of obedience and prayer. I can’t control Him.

Sitting there listening, praying I wrote these three words in my journal notes, “This is Church”. It is what we read about in the lives of David, Peter, and Paul to mention a few. Lives which were messy and repentant, and their praises and thanksgivings were recorded. Sharing in our failures and sufferings, as well as receiving encouragement from the testimonies of His presence in us and working through us, are both so valuable for the body of Christ to be healthy and relevant. It is what we read in the book of Acts. This is the essence of Jesus’ final message to His disciples.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.– John 13:34

The Bible is one giant story of God’s faithfulness to His children, whether they are denying Jesus, or pouring perfume over Him. May you have, or find a front room to be in community with others where there are “no stones” and you can live into the freedom of the cross.