Educating Our Children

by Fr. William C. Mills and Taisia Mills

    Priests, church school teachers, and parents have the responsibility and the duty to raise and educate our children in the Orthodox Church. We need to equip them with the spiritual tools of charity, patience, love, mercy, and forgiveness that will help them on their journey towards the Kingdom. This is not an easy task, but it is an important one. After all, their life depends on it!  The journey towards the Kingdom is difficult with the many trials and tribulations of this world that so often entice our children even while they are still young. The teaching that they receive now is an investment for the future.

      Our mission, Nativity of the Holy Theotokos, in Charlotte, N.C., is investing in our children. Upon arriving in Charlotte we noticed that the children had minimal interaction on a regular basis besides their regular church school program. Taisia and I hosted a movie night for our youth where we watched a movie and had pizza. This gave the children an opportunity to be together and share each others company. Also, the parish has “Youth Sunday’s” where the youth host coffee hour in order to raise money for summer church camp.  We realized, however, that besides the fellowship, the children did not know much about prayer, fasting, confession, sacraments, and saints. Because of this, Taisia started a monthly children’s newsletter called Rejoice jr.

      Rejoice jr.  is a four page newsletter published every month and includes articles about fasting, confession, the sacraments, prayer, and stewardship. Taisia also includes a monthly book or movie review.  Rejoice jr. has grown from a dream into a reality. Both of us grew up reading the Orthodox youth magazine called Young Life. It always had interesting articles, interviews, and pictures about Orthodox Christianity.  What was so great about Young Life was that it was written for and about young Orthodox children.

      Since Young Life ceased publication there has not been much published on a regular basis for our children. While Rejoice jr. is not on the same scale as Young Life, in many respects it has the same aim: to provide solid Orthodox Christian teaching to our children that is accessible and fun. So far it seems to be working. Parents are reading Rejoice jr. to their children who are unable to read it for themselves. Both parent and child are learning together. This is truly a blessing.

      Since Rejoice jr. has been so successful at our parish, Taisia has decided to allow other parishes to benefit by subscribing. A master copy of Rejoice jr. will be mailed each month with the understanding that copies are for the parish only. To subscribe to Rejoice jr. please contact Taisia Mills via email at taisia@advinc.com. You won’t be disappointed!