Jeremy:
How do you take your really little’s on mission? Are babies useful? So often the way we talk about ministry and mission, it’s like maybe when our kids get much, much older. But there’s all kinds of ways that young children, and even babies, can be super helpful in certain kinds of missions and that’s why we want to encourage you guys to really figure out are you guys in a season as a family where you should be investing in those kinds of ministries, those kinds of missions. To me probably the most obvious and helpful way that babies help with mission is what we like to call the baby icebreaker, which is it’s really hard to start a conversation with a stranger and it’s real valuable. 

Whether it’s your neighbors, whether it’s a coffee shop you go to a lot, or a restaurant, or people that you run into in public, it’s really important that we get into conversations with strangers and that we have those kinds of meaningful moments where we can talk about important things, figure out who they are, and invite them into relationship potentially, and invite them into a relationship with Jesus. But it’s really hard to get that conversation started, but it’s not when you have a baby. A baby’s the perfect segue into a conversation with a stranger. I mean nobody looks intimidating when they have a baby with them, right?

Jeff:
Yeah.

Jeremy:
It’s a really, really valuable resource and way to go on mission with your kids. There might be some nuances to how to do this so I want to Jeff, maybe you could tease this out a little bit more.

Jeff:
Yeah, I mean we actually totally think strategically through this. Now of course there’s some caveats if you maybe have a more shy child or something like that, even when they get a little older, but I know our kids are outgoing and they love meeting people and talking to people. Then we also have a baby now as well, and so yeah, I use that to our advantage as part of our mission because it’s natural to our DNA. Where yeah, like you said, it’s so non-threatening to… I’ve literally noticed this is the pattern now of how I almost encounter every single stranger when I’m with the kids.

I almost play the kid interpreter first of they’re looking at them or the people are waving at them like you always do with babies right or saying something funny. I’ll say oh to maybe the toddlers like, “Hey, can you say hi or ask them how they’re doing.” Like that, and then after two questions then I turn and say, “How are you doing?” Or, “What’s your name?” I’ve noticed I literally have it as a habit now where I almost talk through the kids for one or two seconds.

Jeremy:
That’s awesome.

Jeff:
Just because that’s usually who they’re engaging first anyways because the kids are… If you have those cute little kids that’s usually, like you said, that’s one of the good blessings I think of our culture is we really love babies and little toddlers, right? We see them as cute and these little gems of joy. Yeah, so we’ve used that. I’m always out in the front yard holding the baby with the kids because I think it’s a really easy way to interact with neighbors and strangers. Then our kids love it too. I think it’s really helpful for our kids because I really want our kids to not just be peer oriented, but also really… Especially when they’re older I really want them to be able to have strong healthy good comfortable conversations with adults and that takes, I think, starting at this young with comfortability of talking, of speaking. Yeah, that’s what I would say. I don’t know Jeremy, what other ones would you add?

Jeremy:
No, that’s good man. I think it’s really important you guys get out there with your kids, figure out how to really engage in these kinds of things. Probably the last thing I’ll say is when you were emphasizing training your kids or talking to them about it, I think that’s okay as well. As your kid’s getting a little bit older have conversations with your kids and encourage them. “Hey, when you’re with mommy or daddy this is a good time for you to engage with other people.”

Jeff:
Yeah.

Jeremy:
I think that that could be a super valuable part of your family.