Jehovah’s Witnesses teaching kids about giving

Children have been essential in spreading hope, love to community members
By: 
Luke Reimer
Reporter

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ children are aiding in the efforts to spread support during tough times.

After officials had decided to suspend in-person ministries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children all around the world are coming together to send love and support in various methods.

These methods have included reaching out to others in the community through phone calls and baking deserts for community members. Parents have also aided in this by teaching their children about kindness, compassion and community service.

U.S. Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman Robert Hendriks III said that there has been a heavy emphasis on teaching children how to build compassion and kindness.

“As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we have never separated our children from our worship,” Hendriks said. “When children are baptized, they become ministers. So the primary thing to be able to train somebody to become a minister is to be able to teach them to become givers. Being able to give to others is a lifelong transcendent skill that will benefit them forever and make everyone happier.”

One Shawano family shared its thoughts on how the pandemic has affected family members and the strategies that they are using to support each other and their community.

“We just see how social distancing as affected so many of the kids with school,” said Shawano resident and Jehovah’s Witness member Summer Rich. “Encouraging your children to share comforting thoughts, positive messages and a letter, call or card has really helped a lot.”

Her husband, Tyler Rich, said he has seen the negative effects that the pandemic has had on their daughter, Laney, and his family.

“The challenges that I have noticed for our family is that Laney has had to stay home and has not seen her friends,” said Tyler Rich. “We have been isolated and haven’t been able to see people and get that skin-touch to show comfort. That has been hard for Laney.”

Laney Rich, who is 13 years old and has been a child helping the community, said not being able to see her friends has had a big effect on her social life.

“All of a sudden, I was at school eight hours a day and then it all stopped,” said Laney Rich. “It was rough at first, but I have gotten used to it.”

She added that she came up with different ideas on how to keep in communication with her friends and family though.

“I would FaceTime a lot,” said Laney Rich. “If I was feeling down, I would call someone else who may need help and that would help both of us. I was just staying optimistic about it.”

Summer Rich said the family has received call backs from people in the community thanking Laney and the family for being in contact with them throughout the pandemic.

“It really warms your heart to hear people thank you for being kind,” she said.

“Helping others go through this rough time has really helped our family too,” said Tyler Rich.

Laney Rich added that she has been enjoying reaching out to others in the community to spread joy.

Hendriks said members of the congregation, like the Rich family, have used this time to strengthen relationships with each other.

“Members have used this time to form different kind of connections,” said Hendriks. “We have found ways to reach out to our neighbors in a different way. In some cases we have found that we have connected to more people this way.”

Going through the pandemic together as a family as opened the Rich’s eyes and taught them lessons.

“I have learned that you need to stay optimistic,” said Laney Rich. “If you try to encourage others it really helps you and you get excited when you see someone smile after dropping off cookies.”

Hendriks added that the Rich family has been a good example of a family that is succeeding in following the idea of teaching children about compassion.

“When you look at the Rich family, you can see a family that is really trying to help their daughter to be the adult she needs to become,” said Hendriks. “Following these ideas of giving, empathy, love, kindness and putting others first — that is going to help her be the adult that we all want her to be and need her to be.”

He added that children are very important when it comes to the future of not only the congregation, but also everyone’s lives.

“We need more Laney’s in the world,” said Hendriks. “We need more Laney’s to be able to be givers and not takers. That is what she is already. If she is a giver now, she will be a giver for the rest of her life.”

Tyler Rich spoke on what children mean to him as well as the community.

“Children are our youth,” said Tyler Rich. “They bring joy and happiness when we see them reaching out to others.”

He added that it helps to brighten everybody’s day when he sees children wanting to be involved and help others.

“Pride is apparent when your kids follow examples of showing kindness,” said Tyler Rich.

Summer Rich said that it also helps Laney to build empathy.

“It will only help her show care to others when she gets older,” said Summer Rich.

Hendriks finished by saying that using this time to teach children about giving has been very beneficial.

“Taking this opportunity at this dark time to be able to teach our children those lessons is the best thing that we can do for our communities,” said Hendriks.


lreimer@newmedia-wi.com