IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE!

by Guest Writer Rev. Judith Reedy

Pastor Judith Reedy visited the village of Ganta in Liberia in 2004.

On a recent trip to fire and flood devastated Ruidoso, we discovered that visitors to that “village” are frequenting the small, sparsely attended shops there and supporting those shops with their purchases. I was reminded of my second trip to Liberia, when a group of high school and college students – along with a few of their parents and one of my sons – stayed with me in the jungles of Liberia in a village called Ganta. It was there I learned the true meaning of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.”

One of the women who cooked our meals told me that she was “raising” her sister’s daughter because her sister only had enough money to feed her first child and could not afford another. She saw my surprise and asked, “Wouldn’t you do that for your sister?” 

I said, “Yes, but I cannot imagine that my sister would ever ‘allow’ me to raise her child.”  

She said, “What if it were the best thing for her child? Children need more than one or two parents. After all, ‘It takes a village.’”   

The African proverb means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children so those children can experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. For our church, this proverb means that a community of people must provide for and interact positively with not only the children, but one another, especially through these next three months and into perpetuity! 

Pastor Matt obviously subscribes to this proverb as he takes his sabbatical with the utmost confidence in the congregation and the staff. He knows “the village” will be caring and capable disciples, praying for and helping one another, at every possible turn in the road, “doing unto others.” Thanks be to God! 

See you Sunday in worship,