All tagged children's ministry
While this is only a short list of ideas, my hope is that these suggestions offer a point of reference for what intentional intergenerationality could look like in your church as you think through your own context. Regardless of how your church seeks to include children more intentionally within its worship practices, the most important point is to start somewhere so that you can embody being a church where all God’s people gather.
It is not uncommon for a church to have a lot of volunteers but only a few VOLUNTEERS, requiring ministers to constantly be in recruitment mode. And of course, constant recruiting takes an enormous amount of time.
If we are to help our children find their place in God’s unfolding story, one of our priorities must be ensuring that our children know that God is big enough to handle all of the questions.
One church welcomes children as full participants in Christian fellowship, creating a true intergenerational fabric of faith community which exceeds merely worshipping in the same room.
As churches seek to support the development of a lifelong embedded faith, it will undoubtedly be a journey that requires perseverance and a willingness to challenge practices.
Many children’s ministers are working alone, and this space is designed to give support, encouragement and spark new ideas!
Liminality: it’s the ultimate “are we there yet?” And in fact, we’re not. If we’re honest, we’ll admit we don’t even know where there is, exactly, and lead with the spirit of contentment enjoying the missional pit stops with God while holding the destination loosely.
If we acknowledge the physical and/or emotional constraints that limit our capacity, then we also become intentional about focusing our ministry around these essentials and doing so in whatever format works.
Where do we locate the intersections of truth and love within this world? This week, theology and practicality meet in ways that will stretch us all.
What are these barriers these families face, and how can the church accommodate?
One of the best things your church can do to minister to children is to have conversations with them..
When children and adults spend time together in worship and fellowship, we get to know each other, learn from each other, and grow together.
Both of these gifts, hope and belonging, can be offered by the smallest churches with minimal resources, and they can be packaged in a million different ways.
Children are not only a blessing; they play an essential role in the divine plan and the identity of God’s people.
Treating children as pilgrims on a spiritual journey requires us to view children for what they are: God's image bearers.
What will spread the love of Jesus more effectively than a sermon, is a hug, validation, a knowing that someone has the time for you.
My focus for this post is not why cliques are created, but how to dismantle a clique and how to create a culture in your ministry where bullying and cliques are unacceptable.
I will submit to the importance of the entire body of Christ (yes, this includes children), meeting on a basis that is in congruence of the health of the congregation.
