A Family-Integrated Baby Shower

Our family was blessed this month to attend a very unique baby shower. It was one which we believe best represents the whole-family philosophy to which we and many of our friends adhere to.

From left to right:
Susan Townsend (Grandma),
Kevin & Christie (new parents),
Ruth, Naomi, Lydia, and
Jonathan (aunts and uncle)

Clifton and Susan Townsend approached us after an evening service at Zion Chapel to invite us all--that's right, not just the ladies, but all of us--to their daughter and son-in-law's baby shower. They said it would be a potluck and, if anyone had a word of encouragement or advise for the new parents, there would be a time during the shower when that could be shared.

Lots of yummies!

Our church building is very small and has no kitchen or dining facilities. So, we met at the fellowship hall of the retirement community where one of our member's is the manager. His wife and some other ladies decorated the tables with white cloths, streamers, and "baby" figurine candies. The gift table had a large gift basket centerpiece full of goodies with other wrapped gifts and a basket for cards.

Gift table loaded with goodies

Besides the Townsends, their daughter and son-in-law (Kevin and Christie), and six of their other seven children (Matthew, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Ruth, Naomi, Lydia, and Martha--ha! I remembered them all!), most of our little congregation was there, including three of our five never-married singles. Many singles I know have a tendency to avoid baby showers, wedding showers, and weddings in general because they have never been married nor borne children and are not content with their calling to singlehood. Yet, there were our precious singles all well represented and blessing us with their presence. God does, indeed, set the "solitary in families" (Ps. 68:6). There really was a spirit of family at this baby shower. There were even lost people there who attend our church regularly. May their hearts hunger for the true family of God and lead them to repentance.

One of our dear singles: Beverly Kronemeyer
Also know as "God's Gift to the Church"

After we ate, Pastor Timmerman gave a short devotional and charge to the mom- and dad-to-be. It is common knowledge that this couple does not profess Christ, so the devotional was one which centered around an appeal to their souls to come to Christ in order to begin a godly home as they bring a new soul into their family. The grandfather, Clifton, also exhorted them to come to Christ as their first step in becoming parents. One after another stood in turn to give their encouragement. A few of us reminded them of the struggles they would encounter being parents and that their only place to turn in those times would be to their Creator. One and another encouraged Mom to stay home with the children and not to bend to the philosophies of the world on child rearing. The final testimony was of a mother who was in a similar situation of soul when she was expecting her first child. It was, in fact, that situation that God used to draw her to Christ. It was all very good and a great blessing to be a part of.