Ministry to children is as foundational as ministry gets. The Lord says to His people, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart You shall teach them to your children (Dt 6:5-7a).” Teaching children—or we might say “discipling children,” because it’s a total life approach— is God’s calling for parents . . . and for churches. That’s why kids are a priority at Calvary Church. Your ministry to children pleases the Lord, strengthens the church and offers hope to the world. Teach a child and transform a life! So, give it your heart, soul and strength. All that you spend, the Lord will repay in eternal dividends. Whether this is your 1st or 50th year loving the Lord by ministering to children, may the Lord in His grace exceed your every expectation. Your fellow-servant in the Lord,
“Children are a priority”
Brad Mullen
Thank you for your willingness to serve the Lord by serving children. Your ministry is essential to the vitality of our church. Let me explain why. In many churches, the ministry to children is primarily for the purpose of the adults. That is, “child care” allows the adults to attend church or other ministries without being “bothered” by their children. That is not our perspective at all. The ministry to children is a priority. Yes, adults benefit from the opportunity to be taught, to worship and to serve while their children are ministered to, but that is not the primary goal of Children’s Ministry. Ministry to children at Calvary Church is a key component of our overall discipleship plan. Just as we are seeking to provide an intentional discipleship process for teens and adults, we understand that it must start with children.
“In essence,” the researcher noted, “what you believe by the time you are 13 is what you will die believing. Of course, there are many individuals who go through life-changing experiences in which their beliefs are altered, or instances in which a concentrated body of religious teaching changes one or more core beliefs. However, most people’s minds are made up and they believe they know what they need to know spiritually by age 13. Their focus in absorbing religious teaching after that age is to gain reassurance and confirmation of their existing beliefs rather than to glean new insights that will redefine their foundations.” “The most important resource, we believe, was the amazing amount of prayer for children and parents that was evident at the most effective ministries to children. Some money is required to see serious life change happen, but the more important resource is the commitment of adults to the spiritual wholeness of the children – which means sacrificing some of the emphasis upon the ministry to adults.” (Barna Research Group) That is one of the reasons you will hear us say, “Children are a priority.” But we are not only discipling children for the future, but for the present. We believe children can have a very meaningful relationship with the Lord, a great impact, and that they can develop a clear biblical world view that will allow them to continue to impact the world for the sake of Christ. Whether you are new to children’s ministry or have been involved for years, thank you for being involved in this vital and strategic ministry. May the Lord use you for His glory and for your good. Steve Kilgore,
Pastor of Adult Ministries and Chairman of C.C. Educational Team