As we're beginning to think through the next season of life for us as a church, one of the areas we intend to focus on and give more shape to is how we best serve and equip our children and students.
Currently in the American Southern Suburbs, there are three primary expressions of ministry to children and students:
- Hire people to create fun environments that make children and students want to hear about Jesus - parents stand off to the side and help the professionals by reviewing what was taught by said professionals;
- Eliminate any kind of children and student ministries and put almost all of the weight of education and equipping on parents - little or no value is placed on peer-learning and interaction.
And while those are the poles on opposite ends of the spectrum, there are few churches that don't functionally lean heavily one way or the other.
I'm wondering why we can't move towards something that includes parents and mutiple generations, as well as creating opportunities for interaction and spiritual formation with other children and students.
Here's what Steve Timmis wrote over at The Resurgence:
One of the most frequently asked questions we get about household
church is, “What about children and young people?” People seem to think
that small church is incapable of dealing with this peculiar breed of
non-adults. I have to admit to being rather unimpressed with the
question, because it assumes that larger churches have got ministry to
children and young people nailed.
The evidence suggests otherwise. When it comes to young people,
churches are hemorrhaging faster than a hemophiliac in a tattoo
parlour. One of the benefits of a model of church as extended family is
that it sees children as integral, and keeps them that way throughout
adolescence. There is no “bells, whistles, and bright lights” show to
entertain them. There is just an ordinary, not very sexy, diverse
gospel community of people loving one another and relating to one
another. The kids are loved and the young people are discipled. They
have people around them who care for them, take an interest in them,
bear with them, face up to them, pick them up, and welcome them back
when they’ve screwed up.
Of course, you can add to this anything you want in terms of peer
groups and big gatherings, but if this isn’t the core of what you do
with kids and young people, then don’t be surprised when they lose
interest because no matter how sexy your meetings, you can’t begin to
compete with the sizzle in the world outside.
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