It is nearing the end of the regular weekly children’s ministry in our congregations before the summer. Activities like Sunday School, children’s church, kids’ clubs and uniformed organisations are likely to take a break over the next few months to allow space for other things to happen and to give the leaders an opportunity for rest and refreshment.
You may also have planned special summer activities – Holiday Bible Clubs and other one off events – that bring the church community together at different points during the holidays.
Taking stock
The summer break also gives us a useful opportunity to take a step back and look at the children’s ministry that we are involved in. Whether we are the leader in charge, or a helper who assists in one of many different ways with the children, it is important for us all to ask this key question: ‘How are we intentionally seeking to ensure that the children in our congregations have the best opportunity possible to hear and understand the gospel and what it means to be a follower of Jesus?’
For Christian families, it is the responsibility of the Church to support the parents as they raise their children in the Christian faith; whereas for children who come from families where the Christian faith is not an active part of their lives, those in the Church must be their primary spiritual teachers. In that capacity, we need to spend some time thinking about what it is that we need to do to help equip Christian parents for their role, and how we can help children from unchurched families understand the gospel.
I recently heard a story of one child who came to faith. He is part of a church community and has been learning about Jesus all his short life, at home and as part of that church family. One evening at home with his mum and dad, it all suddenly fell into place for him as he understood a little of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. With his parents, he prayed a prayer of faith and took the next step on his journey as a disciple of Jesus.
An integrated approach
This was not something that happened in isolation - it came from an active family of worship and an intentional teaching programme in a congregational children’s ministry, supporting and supplementing each other to impact the life of a small child. What an amazing example not only of partnership but of kingdom community.
Family worship and congregational children’s ministry do not always coordinate however, and so do not have the significant impact that they could in the lives of the children.
What we teach in children’s ministry can and should have a massive impact in supporting parents as they share their faith with their children and in helping introduce other children to Jesus. So let me encourage you to take the time to do just that. Step back and ask the big questions: How can we help children intentionally learn through how and what we teach? How can we support and equip parents as they bring their children up in their faith?
Don’t forget about your children’s ministry completely over the summer. Take some time to be intentional about how to make it the best that it can be before starting again in September.
Ruth Bromley is the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Children’s Development Officer.