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By Jane Burton

   Our father and mother, Bill and Joy Burton moved from Ohio to California in the early years of their marriage. At the time they had three small children, my two older brothers, Jim and Joe, and myself, then just a baby.  Later we were blessed with the addition of my two younger sisters, Judy and Jeannie.  Dad had little knowledge of the gospel in those days, but mom had a wonderful Christian mother. 

   One Sunday morning driving in Los Angeles, they passed a church.  Dad and mom noticed families leaving church with their children after service.  They thought how good it was that these children were in church, and began talking about the need to send us children. But as they talked they came to a decision.  They decided they were not going to just send us, but they would take us themselves!  Oh the love of God, that dad and mom followed through on that!

   God honored our parents for going with us kids to church.  Our parents were brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and were born again, dedicating their young lives and their children to Him.  We can't praise God enough for the precious privilege of growing up under the sound of the gospel.  How blessed to have a Godly example set before us in our childhood.

   Does it pay to "bring up a child in the way that he should go"? ( Proverbs 22:6)  Our father and mother have now gone on to glory.  What a reunion us 'kids' are going to have some day soon!  The final one of us five children has returned to the faith of our childhood.  Jim, our oldest brother, had been away from Christ for many years. He was so lost in sin.  But one Sunday morning, nearly two years ago, there was our brother Jim!  He was in Sunday School!  He had come back to Father's house.  He repented of his sin and was wonderfully saved!  Now we can walk together, all five of us children, joyfully serving the Lord!  Praise God for all the prayers dad and mom prayed for us children.      We are 

looking forward to seeing Jesus most of all, but oh how wonderful it will be to be reunited with Dad and Mom, every one of us 'home' forever!

   Sunday School made all the difference for our family.  It is still making a difference to this day.  Our children, and now grandchildren, are hearing the old, old story that Jesus saves!  By the grace of God they too will be part of that unbroken circle in glory.  What a day that will be!  We thank God for our parents seeing the need of not only sending their children to Sunday School, but of taking them.  What a difference that decision has made in our lives!

From Left to Right: Jeannie, Janie, Jim, Joe, and Judy

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