I have a question. Are we doing children’s ministry right? I mean, is sending them to their classrooms for snacks and a craft and a cute Bible story the best way to do things?
What brings these questions up is an interview that I heard with Philip Mantofa about how his church does things in general. If you don’t know who Philip Mantofa is a pastor in Indonesia. His church has over 30,000 members, and he is only in his 30’s. Most of the people on his staff are under 30, and groups (whether they be Sunday School classes, cell groups, or whatever) are led by all age groups, starting as young as 8.
When he was speaking about the children in his church, he basically said it was a shame to not think that children can respond well to God, and asked how a child could believe if the adults don’t think that the child can. His statements blew me away because he is right. Children can respond to the power and call of God, probably better than a lot of adults. Why would we think otherwise?
My feelings in response: My friend's daughter speaks in tongues. She is 5. I yearn and long for that for my children who are 6 and 8. How DO we do church with kids?
I'm not leading a church, but I can do something at home.
I guess we need to lay aside Google and how to guides, and simply invite Holy Spirit to be part of our families. Not just a thank you at breakfast, lunch and supper. And we need to give time and space for our God to meet our children through worship, reading the Bible and prayer together. Such a challenge to model this in my family and to create these spaces.
However, if it's important to me, I can't wait for someone to create a church programme or someone else to do the introductions for me. Or I might wake up and find out that my children are 18 and 16 and not really interested. Mom and Dad are nice people.
(God, please win the hearts of my children!)
Agreed
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