It breaks my heart when I hear about church leaders who don’t want children in the service because they take up too many seats or distract by making too much noise or because they might not sit still. My heart breaks further when the reason behind it appears to be a babysitting request and has nothing to do with ministering to children and families and they think that's all that happens in children's classes. ACK!
So what is the intent of Sunday School or “Children’s Ministry”? Is it merely for the convenience of adults to dump off noisy/wiggly/bored ones so that they can focus on “big church”? Or…is it an exciting place where life-changing messages are communicated at age-appropriate levels and children are valued with a capital “V”?
The North American church needs a kid chiropractic adjustment... With fourteen years in ministry to children and families and connections with hundreds of churches, I have continually seen the struggle between management views about what should happen in “big church” and the value placed on ministry to children. Sadly, the investment in children has not always matched the emphasis on other areas. One church dumped most of its budget on adults, another on musical productions. On the other hand, I have met people who serve at churches where kids are the absolute number one focus. One church got the fire and turned several thousand people to be there just for kids 18 and under and told everyone they were there to invest in the future!
If you put a gun to my temple, I’d say that many quality leaders do not understand or appreciate what it means to truly minister to children... and therefore, their families. People worthy of respect in many areas. Recently, I saw an interview with a leader of the largest mega-church in America and he referred to everything they do as “child care”. I screamed (internally). Child care is babysitting! Even the words imply distance – nothing intentional. Church should be the last place where anyone thinks about babysitting. Shouldn't we go there and feel invested in?
When will people embrace that what happens on Sundays in kids classes is every bit as essential as what happens for adults? In kids classes, we are not merely “watching children” so that something more important can happen with the adults. We are investing in eternity and loving kids. Not one of the hundreds of volunteers that I have worked with has simply thrown some Cheerios on the table and backed off by popping in a DVD. (Yes, I was once blessed to be on staff at one church where I was privileged to have over 400 volunteers just for children. Not counting VBS, MOPS or kids clubs.)
Children’s teachers and helpers spend hours praying, studying and preparing for their one hour each week. They take their roles seriously. Our prayer is that some spark goes home that inspires families the other 167 hours of real life. A book that rocked my heart and formed my ministry philosophy is by George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions. Read it and be as chilled as I was to find out a child’s entire spiritual life foundation is formed by age 9. Barna encourages all churches to emphasize ministry to children as the foundation for what happens next.
Just the other day, I received an e-mail from a concerned kindergarten teacher who wanted to be sure that she taught a lesson on faith in a way that would not impair her class’s understanding of how God moves. She did not want one child thinking that if they prayed to heal Grandma and Grandma did not get well that faith was not real... much less God.
YES, big topics are being covered at very young ages by adults and youth who love kids. What goes on in kids classes down the hall is not known by the greeters, adult leaders or even those sitting in the chairs. But they should know. Even if they don’t have kids, or don’t have kids Sunday-school ages.
One of the best ways to grow closer to God is to teach a kid’s class. The materials equip the leaders, and in so doing, bless and infuse them. I have never heard an adult or youth leader tell me that by teaching kids, they felt weaker in their faith. Rather, people have come to me overcome by what they did not know and what they learned, and how God blessed them with the kids.
No wonder Jesus told His followers to value kids...and be like them...
Amen!
Our family has been heartbroken by the babysitting of our 5 kids we have experienced in churches we visit/attend and we have resolved to family worship. Our kids are extremely good at sitting in church respectfully now, as they should be. Very well written! Thanks for the truthful insight on this difficult topic!
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