Children's Ministry Message to the Church May 6, 2012
Dear Children's Ministry Volunteers
I am blessed to oversee a very dedicated group of individuals. I am really blessed by the opportunity to serve parents, teachers, and children in this capacity.
This may sound surprising, but our first priority is serving parents.
Research shows that 2 out of 3 churched youth will quit going to church once they are out of high school. Many will not return.
Disciples are most often the result of parents training their children and integrating home life, education, and spiritual development. Our vision for children’s ministry is to partner with each set of parents in equipping them to teach their children the love of God, the Bible, and the redemption in Jesus Christ. Secondarily, it is to help parents integrate the Christian worldview in their children’s education.
If Children are separating formal education from mom and dad, and mom and dad from Sunday school, there will inevitably be a breakdown in the child’s spiritual development.
Our vision is to integrate these three things:
- Mom and Dad’s home life
- What the children learn in public school
- What the children learn in Sunday School
The Pilgrims got it right when they recognized that teaching must begin and be overseen by the parents. It takes years of brainwashing to get children to believe in evolution, but a mere moment to believe that they were created in the image of a loving God. We are all looking at the same evidence and imparting the worldview of our either our convictions or of our choosing. However, the truth is on our side, so, although our job is constant, it is easier than the other side. I encourage all parents to be led by the Holy Spirit in how they can help their children with some of their homework as an opportunity to re-connect home life, formal education, and biblical teaching.
To serve parents to this end, we send home the next week’s lesson for preschool and Kid’s Club, so that the parents get the opportunity to introduce the lesson to the children, and it’s an easy way to spearhead family devotions. We reinforce that lesson in class the following week.
This is our classroom approach:
- The nursery workers are reading Bible stories and showing Bible cartoons to the babies and they are giving them a bunch of love and attention.
- The preschool workers are teaching the preschoolers Bible lessons, and incorporating the Gospel. They get to spend time playing with the children and using opportunities to show God’s love and biblical values to them.
- The Kid’s Club workers are helping the children understand the application of Bible Stories at a slightly deeper level than preschool.
- The youth group workers are teaching the students how to study the Bible in simple ways.
We teach stories from each book in the Bible so that we are able to cover each appropriate topic.
Sunday school is tons of fun. We are in need of three sets of teachers who can serve once a month. We are also in need of someone who loves arts and crafts. Couples make a great set of teachers, and a number of our teachers are single. Everybody plays a different part in this body of believers, so it is not possible for everybody to be teachers.
That being said, I would personally like to get to know each of you who are parents to learn how we may serve you and your children more effectively. Although we cannot incorporate every idea, I always want to hear your feedback on what we may do better. We do implement ideas that work with the church vision.
Our hearts go out to you as parents. You are the most influential people in your children’s spiritual development. You are doing a great job! We want to do all that we can to help you in your calling. Malachi 2:15 tells us that God created marriage because He seeks godly offspring. There is no time like the present!
Tim Coon
Children’s Ministry Overseer
(714) 791-6161
timothymichaelcoon@gmail.com
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