Of Such Is the Kingdom: Relda Moses’s Story
by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
Relda Moses has a passion for seeing children come to Jesus at an early age. And, for good reason. She grew up in Mason, the daughter of John and Ruth Boyd. Then, in the sixth grade they moved to Goshen, Ohio, where she lived until her graduation from high school. Relda grew up going to church with her family, attending Sunday school and worship services in the morning and the evening every Sunday, as well as Wednesday nights. Then at some point, due to a variety of circumstances, she went for a long time when she didn’t attend church.
A Little Child Will Lead Them
What brought her back to church? Her children. She says, “After I had children and they started asking questions about God and church, that started stirring my thoughts to what I had learned and believed as a child. I started going back to church taking my children and teaching them about Jesus and God. I was then baptized on May 22, 2011. After my baptism, I started telling people about Jesus and God, inviting family and friends to go to church with me all the time. It was just something that seemed very natural for me to do.”
Relda attended Christ’s Church for fourteen years as a child, and now has been attending as an adult for eight years. She says that her parents always spoke very highly of the church, but she says, “I have discovered so much more about the church that I love today.” When her mother Ruth passed away in 2017, the church prepared a meal for the family. And she was grateful for the support provided by the church when they celebrated her father John’s 80th birthday just last year. Relda has been involved in the Higher Grounds ministry (serving coffee and doughnuts) as well as the Access ministry, women’s groups, Build the Walls, and the Tim Tebow Night to Shine prom for adults with special needs. She has discovered what we mean when we challenge members to get engaged at a deeper level, and has seen firsthand what community is all about.
A Family Affair
Relda has been instrumental in helping many family members make the decision to accept God’s offer of grace through baptism. Her sister Linda Boyd was baptized just a few years ago, as well as several other adults and children in her family—eight in all. Not too long ago, her nine-year-old grandson David James Moses was baptized. And several of her son’s girlfriend’s children and her grandson’s sister have also been recently baptized. Several of them are not her grandchildren, but they call Relda “Grandma,” as Relda says, “I love these children like they are my own grandchildren.”
Relda is driven to lead her family members to a saving relationship with Jesus. She explains, “I want all these children to know our Lord and Savior. I pray that they will be the best they can be, and that they will make good choices in their future. That’s why I bring them to church with me.” It’s no wonder that one of her favorite verses of Scripture is Joshua 24:15, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (NIV).
Jesus Loves the Little Children
The Gospel writer Matthew records this incident:
“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left” (Matthew 19:13-15, NLT).
Jesus’ disciples were afraid the children would be a huge distraction to Jesus’ mission, but Jesus told them just the opposite. He had also said to them just a chapter earlier in Matthew that the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven is the person who humbles himself like a little child, and that anyone who welcomes a little child on Christ’s behalf, welcomes him. Relda has taken these passages of Scripture to heart, and has said how excited she is for the new children’s area in our church building due to the efforts of our Raise the Spear generosity initiative. She says, “I am grateful for all the staff and volunteers who give their time to serve in the children’s ministry in our church.”
The lyricist C. Herbert Woolston was said to have been inspired by Matthew 19:14, “Let the children come to me,” when he penned these words:
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world;
Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Jesus died for all the children, all the children of the world;
Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus died for all the children of the world.