Times have changed. Are we changing with them? Friends and I were talking a few weeks back and the consensus was that years ago most children in Australia were sent to Sunday School, even if parents never went to church or only rarely attended.
These days the situation is vastly different. A friend told me, and my own experience as an SRE teacher backs this up, that many children do not have the first idea about why we celebrate Easter. Some have never ever heard of Jesus.
How are they going to hear unless we tell them? Unless you as a parent or grandparent pray and take time to teach your children God’s Word. If you want to see how effective this ministry is look at just the example of Timothy, who as a child was taught from the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother, 2 Timothy 1:5. It is this faith in Christ Jesus that Paul encourages Timothy to continue in, 2 Timothy 3:14-15. Or look at John and Charles Wesley who had a prayerful mother who greatly influenced them. History is littered with such examples of believing parents, who faithfully prayed and taught their children from God’s Word.
As parents and grandparents, our family’s spiritual welfare is our responsibility. But it doesn’t need to stop there. What about your children’s or your grandchildren’s friends? Where will they learn about Jesus, unless you and I connect with our children’s friends and help them see how important a relationship with Jesus is, so they will want to know Him too? Or the children in your neighborhood, how will they hear of Jesus? A simple way to start could be to invite neighborhood children or your child’s friends to your home for a time of stories and games. Among them you could included bible stories. You might also include a DVD of a bible story or of someone like Colin Buchanan whose songs convey a simple Christian message set to catchy music. Classes I have taught love Colin’s songs. I have often heard children in the playground at school singing Colin’s songs enthusiastically.
In children’s ministry, the great opportunity is where you are – right now. Tomorrow we’ll look at some innovative ways people are using, to raise the profile of children’s and youth ministry.
Please visit these related blogs
How Imporatnt is Children’s Ministry?
Strange Attitudes towards Children’s Ministry
Reaching our infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers