Vital Signs
Share
print page
Posted by Robin Garvin
in Kids Ministries
Just a few weeks ago, hundreds of volunteers who minister to kids and families in our local churches gathered at the 3rd Power Up Conference. I love these people!
The night before, we held a pre-event dedicated to meeting with God personally and as a people. If only we could measure and appreciate the harvest that results from being still and knowing God, especially when we meet with Him intentionally and together.
Let’s face it, Kids Ministry is hard stuff. We always need prayer and 2012 will be no exception. Ministry to children is not glamorous. It takes serious preparation (at least it should). It requires a team of dedicated people (more volunteers than any other ministry) people who will take children to the restroom, wipe runny noses, jump incessantly while singing and always, always be stretching their brains and thinking creatively so they can communicate the golden truth of God’s character - and all this is with very little recognition or appreciation.
But this is what I believe. A person who makes sure that there is a place at God’s table, a special place designed for a child is a CHAMPION.
I remember being eleven and one Sunday morning children’s church didn’t happen. I don’t know why, but I remember I was in “big church” that day. The service was coming to a close and my father who was the pastor of our small Lakewood church was preparing the congregation for communion. He gave instruction just as the usher was walking my way. “Children need to be seated with their parents to receive communion. That way the parents can judge whether or not their child appreciates the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.”
I was in a jam. “Yes I’m guilty, I’m a child. But I get it!” I completely understood and appreciated the meaning of the cup and the bread. But I was not with a parent. My parents were busy, mom at the piano, dad at the altar and I was a child. The usher’s eyes were sad but he obeyed and reached over me, offering the plate to the adult sitting next to me. The service ended as I just stood there.
My pre-teen psyche could have been seriously warped that day. As I stood up and gathered my things, I wiped away a tear of embarrassment and felt the Spirit remind me that He knew I was His. Then to my surprise I heard an audible voice from the front of the church, the voice of my dad who was still standing at the communion table. Normally he’d be at the back door of the church before you can say, “Amen”, but not today. He called my name.
I made my way to the communion table and heard my father ask me, not like he was talking to a child, but like he was talking to a person in his church, “Robin, would you like to receive communion today?” I couldn’t get the words out, so I nodded yes. He offered me the small cracker piece and said, “this is His body, it was broken for you.” He served me the cup and said, “this is blood, He shed it for you”.
Those words “for you” have guided my life. What could have been a bitter moment became a marker of God’s love for me - all because a person (who that day happened to be my dad) made a way for a child to be respected and welcomed at the Lord’s supper.
This story is not about a communion. It’s about making a place in the family of God, a prime seat, so that this generation, who is God’s entrusted gift to us adults, can see Him. It’s about including them in the family, in fact preferring them when it comes to spiritual nutrition. For goodness sake, they can’t feed themselves like adults can. It’s about speaking their language so they can begin to engage in the wonder of a Great God who crossed heaven and earth for them. Please, please make room at your “table” for the children.
At the SURGE prayer night we explored a set of questions to help us diagnose the health of a church’s mission to children. Here is what we asked ourselves. You may want to ask your self these questions:
|
A Given:The Kaiser commercial says we should thrive. I want to thrive! Can churches thrive? Churches do experience various levels of “sick” and “well”. A great way to get healthy is to identify the symptoms, diagnose the problem and make a prescription. What if every church’s ministry to children and families was at its prime – thriving! Would this make a difference in our world, our churches and families? Would more people come to know and grow in Christ? We know the answer is yes! Let’s get off the spiritual “couch”, meet with the greatest of all Physicians and get ready to THRIVE! |
Let’s create three “vital signs” that will help us diagnose a ministry. No ministry is perfect, we’re people and we need a Rescuer, but we do believe that our expression of service and worship in the community of believers can be a pleasing, passionate and productive offering to our God.
Vital Sign #1:A healthy church is a people who are passionate about the truth; Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Are we a people of passion?
1. What are our non-negotiables, our “life and death” markers that absolutely MUST
happen when we “do church and life”.
2. Do we have the same spiritual goals for KidMin as we may have for ministry to parents
and other adults in the church?
3. What drives us to pray, plan, prepare, serve and love children and leaders? What are
some dysfunctional motivators? What moves you?
Vital Sign #2:A healthy church is a worshiping church. Worship is our corporate expression of love to God and is often expressed in service, song and silence.
Is our worship to God real?
1. Can children experience the presence of God? What have you seen? Does the Bible say
anything about that?
2. What makes songs in church a waste of time? What makes singing in church the
best of the best?
3. Name a few ways we make a path for kids to meet with God and express an authentic
love for Him.
Vital Sign #3:A healthy church is growing in their knowledge and understanding of the word of God - yes, the WHOLE book.
Are we learning and telling all of God’s Big Story – a biblical worldview?
1. Fun and games or biblical literacy or both? Is it possible? Where are we blowing it
and where are we seeing results?
2. Is Biblical knowledge really all that crucial for little kids? What are we aiming for say a
5, 8 or 11 year old?
3. Is it possible to inoculate a learner to the things of God? How does that happen? How
can we stop it?
Comments:
There are no comments for this entry yet.
Phone: 949-252-8400
Fax: 949-252-8435
Email: